Abstract: The practice of water right assignment in our country can be summarized as the three models of regional water right assignment,industry water right assignment,and peasant household water right assignment,each of which cannot be simply said to be a certain right assignment.The three models of water right assignment indicate that water right assignment,in essence,has the complex natures of function,right,and power.The legal construction of water right assignment should be based on these complex natures,and suited to local conditions.Also,it is important to adhere to the public attribute of water resources at the same time,avoiding being captured by capital in the name of the dealing.

Key words: water right assignment, functional complex, power complex