The purpose of the article is to develop financial and economic prerequisites and priorities of state regulation of innovation modernization of the water management complex of Ukraine. Research methods. The research is carried out with the application of general scientific approaches and methods, in particular, institutional analysis - to select the most effective mechanisms for activating financial support processes for innovative modernization of the water management complex. Research results. The financial-economic preconditions and priorities of state regulation of processes of modernization and innovative development of separate subsystems of the water management complex of Ukraine are determined. Elements of scientific novelty. The mechanisms and tools of the state regulation of financial and economic provision of innovation modernization of the water management sector in domestic practice in the framework of the introduction of a new fiscal, customs, regulatory, budgetary and monetary policy are defined. Practical significance. Based on the best foreign experience, effective mechanisms of state regulation of innovation modernization of the water management complex are proposed. This will ensure the formation of a financial-credit and investment resource base for innovative modernization of the water management complex within the framework of convergence / approximation of the standards of the European Union Water Directives into the national legislative base and will promote increase of energy efficiency and energy saving, lowering the cost of communal services in water supply and drainage, increasing the level of environmental safety in as a whole. Figs.: 1. Refs.: 12