<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2

                  CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND
                       RIGHTS OF SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK

                         Pursuant to Section 151 of the
                        Delaware General Corporation Law

         The undersigned President and Secretary, respectively, of Azurix Corp.,
a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), certify that pursuant to authority
granted to and vested in the Board of Directors of the Company by the provisions
of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the
provisions of Section 151 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, the Company's Board of Directors has duly adopted the following
resolutions creating the Series A Preferred Stock:

         RESOLVED, that, pursuant to the authority vested in the Board of
Directors of the Company by Article IV of the Company's Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, a series of preferred stock of the Company be, and it hereby is,
created out of the authorized but unissued shares of the capital stock of the
Company, such series to be designated Series A Preferred Stock (the "Series A
Preferred Stock"), to consist of 100 shares, par value $.01 per share, of which
the preferences and relative and other rights, and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof, shall be (in addition to those set forth in
the Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation) as follows:

1.       Certain Definitions.

         Unless the context otherwise requires, when used herein the following
terms shall have the meanings indicated:

         "Common Stock" means shares of the common stock, par value $.01 per
share, of the Corporation.

         "Dividend Payment Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
subparagraph 2(a).

         "Dividend Period" shall have the meaning set forth in subparagraph
2(a).

         "Final Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
subparagraph 4(e).

         "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture dated as of February 18, 2000
between the Company and Chase Bank of Texas, National Association, as Trustee.

         "Issue Date" shall mean the date the shares of Series A Preferred Stock
in question are issued by the Company.

         "Junior Stock" means the Common Stock and any other class or series of
securities of the Company (i) not entitled to receive any distributions unless
all distributions required to have been paid or declared and set apart for
payment on the Series A Preferred Stock shall have been so paid or declared and
set apart for payment, (ii) not entitled to receive any assets upon the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company until the
Series A Preferred Stock shall have received the entire amount to which such
shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or


<PAGE>   2

winding up, and (iii) not entitled to redemption until the Series A Preferred
Stock shall have been redeemed in full.

         "Liquidation Preference" means One Million Eight Hundred Thousand
Dollars ($1,800,000) per share of the Series A Preferred Stock.

         "Optional Redemption Date" means the first date that the Series A
Preferred Stock may be redeemed or repurchased by the Company and still not
constitute Redeemable Stock (as such term is defined in the Indenture) or, if
earlier, the date on which all Senior Notes (as such term is defined in the
Indenture) have been paid or redeemed.

         "Parity Stock" means (i) any class or series of securities of the
Company entitled to receive payment of dividends on a parity with the Series A
Preferred Stock and (ii) any class or series of securities of the Company
entitled to receive assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the affairs of the Company on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock.

         "Record Date" shall have the meaning set forth in subparagraph 2(a).

         "Redemption Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in subparagraph
4(d).

         "Redemption Date" shall have the meaning set forth in subparagraph
4(c).

         "Redemption Price" means the per share price to be paid upon redemption
of the Series A Preferred Stock, which shall equal the Liquidation Preference,
plus accrued and unpaid dividends (including any accrued but unpaid dividends
thereon) to and including the Redemption Date.

         "Senior Stock" means (i) any class or series of securities of the
Company ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in respect of the right
to receive payment of distributions and (ii) any class or series of securities
of the Company ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Stock in respect of the
right to receive assets upon the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
affairs of the Company.

         2.       Dividends.

         (a) Subject to the prior preferences and other rights of any Senior
Stock, the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive,
out of funds legally available for that purpose, cash dividends at a rate of
eleven percent (11%) per annum compounded quarterly and, subject to the
provisions hereof, no more. Such dividends shall be cumulative from their Issue
Date and shall be payable in arrears, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each
such date being herein referred to as a "Dividend Payment Date"), commencing on
the Dividend Payment Date next succeeding their Issue Date. The quarterly period
between consecutive Dividend Payment Dates shall hereinafter be referred to as a
"Dividend Period." Each such dividend shall be paid to the holders of record of
the Series A Preferred Stock as their names appear on the share register of the
Company on the corresponding Record Date. As used above, the term "Record Date"
means, with respect to the dividend payable on March 31, June 30, September 30
and December 31, respectively, of each year, the preceding March 15, June 15,
September 15 and December 15, or such other record date designated by the Board
of Directors of the Company with respect to the dividend payable on such

                                       2

<PAGE>   3

respective Dividend Payment Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the
dividend payable March 31, 2001, the Record Date shall be the Issue Date.
Dividends on account of arrears for any past Dividend Periods may be declared
and paid, together with any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon to and
including the date of payment, at any time, without reference to any Dividend
Payment Date, to holders of record on such date, not earlier than the 50th day
preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this paragraph 2 to the contrary,
dividends accruing prior to the Optional Redemption Date shall not be paid until
a date occurring after the Optional Redemption Date, which date of payment shall
be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion. Dividends that
accrue after the Optional Redemption Date shall be payable in cash on the dates
on which they accrue.

         (b) If, on any Dividend Payment Date, the holders of the Series A
Preferred Stock shall not have received the full dividends provided for the
benefit of such holders, then such dividends shall cumulate and shall accrue
additional dividends to and including the date of payment thereof at the rate of
eleven percent (11%) per annum compounded quarterly on each Dividend Payment
Date whether or not earned or declared. Unpaid dividends for any period less
than a full Dividend Period shall cumulate on a day-to-day basis and shall be
computed on the basis of a 90-day Dividend Period.

3.       Distributions Upon Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

         In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution
or other winding up of the affairs of the Company, subject to the prior
preferences and other rights of any Senior Stock, but before any distribution or
payment shall be made to the holders of Junior Stock, the holders of the Series
A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be paid the Liquidation Preference of all
outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock as of the date of such
liquidation or dissolution or such other winding up, plus any accrued but unpaid
dividends (including any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon), if any, to such
date, and no more. If such payment shall have been made in full to the holders
of the Series A Preferred Stock, and if payment shall have been made in full to
the holders of any Senior Stock and Parity Stock of all amounts to which such
holders shall be entitled, the remaining assets and funds of the Company shall
be distributed among the holders of Junior Stock, according to their respective
shares and priorities. If, upon any such liquidation, dissolution or other
winding up of the affairs of the Company, the net assets of the Company
distributable among the holders of all outstanding shares of the Series A
Preferred Stock and of any Parity Stock shall be insufficient to permit the
payment in full to such holders of the preferential amounts to which they are
entitled, then the entire net assets of the Company remaining after the
distributions to holders of any Senior Stock of the full amounts to which they
may be entitled shall be distributed among the holders of the Series A Preferred
Stock and of any Parity Stock ratably in proportion to the full amounts to which
they would otherwise be respectively entitled. Neither the consolidation or
merger of the Company into or with another corporation or corporations nor the
sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company to another
corporation or corporations shall be deemed a liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the affairs of the Company within the meaning of this paragraph 3.

4.       Redemption by the Company.

         (a) The Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemed in whole or in
part on or prior to the Optional Redemption Date. After the Optional Redemption
Date, the Company may, at its option, redeem in cash at any time in whole or in
part the Series A Preferred Stock at the Redemption Price per share. The Company
shall be obligated to redeem in cash all outstanding Series A

                                       3

<PAGE>   4

Preferred Stock, if any, at the Redemption Price per share on the second
anniversary of the Optional Redemption Date (the "Mandatory Redemption Date").

         (b) If fewer than all of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock are to be redeemed pursuant to subparagraph 4(a) then the Company shall
select the shares of Series A Preferred Stock to be redeemed by such method as
the Board of Directors of the Company shall deem fair and appropriate.

         (c) Notice of redemption of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be
sent by or on behalf of the Company, by hand delivery or first class mail,
postage prepaid, to the holders of record of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock to be redeemed at their respective addresses as they shall
appear on the records of the Company, not later than the 30th day nor earlier
than the 60th day prior to the date fixed for redemption (the "Redemption
Date"), which notice, in the case of a redemption pursuant to the second
sentence of subparagraph 4(a) above, shall (i) notify such holders of the
election of the Company to redeem such shares and of the Redemption Date, (ii)
state the place or places at which the shares called for redemption shall, upon
presentation and surrender of the certificates evidencing such shares, be
redeemed, and the Redemption Price therefor, and (iii) state the name and
address of any Redemption Agent selected by the Company in accordance with
subparagraph 4(d) below, and the name and address of the Company's transfer
agent for the Series A Preferred Stock. The Company may act as the transfer
agent for the Series A Preferred Stock.

         (d) The Company may act as the redemption agent to redeem the Series A
Preferred Stock. The Company may also appoint as its agent for such purpose a
bank or trust company in good standing, organized under the laws of the United
States of America or any jurisdiction thereof, and having capital, surplus and
undivided profits aggregating at least Two Hundred Million Dollars
($200,000,000), and may appoint any one or more additional such agents which
shall in each case be a bank or trust company in good standing organized under
the laws of the United States of America or of any jurisdiction thereof, having
an office or offices in the City of New York, New York, or such other place as
shall have been designated by the Company, and having capital, surplus and
undivided profits aggregating at least Two Hundred Million Dollars
($200,000,000). The Company or such bank or trust company is hereinafter
referred to as the "Redemption Agent." Following such appointment and prior to
any redemption, the Company shall deliver to the Redemption Agent irrevocable
written instructions authorizing the Redemption Agent, on behalf and at the
expense of the Company, to cause such notice of redemption to be duly made as
herein provided as soon as practicable after receipt of such irrevocable
instructions and in accordance with the above provisions. All funds necessary
for the redemption shall be deposited with the Redemption Agent in trust no
later than the second business day prior to the Redemption Date, for the pro
rata benefit of the holders of the shares so called for redemption, so as to be
and continue to be available therefor. Neither failure to provide any such
notice to one or more such holders nor any defect in any notice shall affect the
sufficiency of the proceedings for redemption as to other holders.

         (e) If notice of redemption shall have been given as hereinbefore
provided, and the Company shall not default in the payment of the Redemption
Price, then each holder of shares called for redemption shall be entitled to all
preferences, relative and other rights accorded by this resolution until and
including the Redemption Date. If the Company shall default in making payment or
delivery as aforesaid on the Redemption Date, then each holder of the shares
called for redemption shall be entitled to all preferences, relative and other
rights accorded by this resolution until and including the date (the "Final
Redemption Date") when the Company makes payment or delivery as aforesaid to the
holders of the Series A Preferred Stock. From and after the Redemption

                                       4

<PAGE>   5

Date or, if the Company shall default in making payment or delivery as
aforesaid, the Final Redemption Date, the shares called for redemption shall no
longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights of the holders of such shares
shall cease and terminate, except the right of the holders of such shares, upon
surrender of certificates therefor, to receipt of amounts to be paid hereunder.
The deposit of monies in trust with the Redemption Agent shall be irrevocable
except that the Company shall be entitled to receive from the Redemption Agent
the interest or other earnings, if any, earned on any monies so deposited in
trust, and the holders of any shares redeemed shall have no claim to such
interest or other earnings, and any balance of monies so deposited by the
Company and unclaimed by the holders of the Series A Preferred Stock entitled
thereto at the expiration of two (2) years from the Redemption Date or, if the
Company shall default in making payment or delivery as aforesaid, the Final
Redemption Date shall be repaid, together with any interest or other earnings
thereon, to the Company, and after any such repayment, the holders of the shares
entitled to the funds so repaid to the Company shall look only to the Company
for such payment, without interest.

5.       Voting Rights.

         Except as otherwise required by law, shares of Series A Preferred Stock
shall not entitle the holder thereof to any voting rights, except the consent or
approval of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class, shall be required to approve, and
the Company shall not without such approval, (i) amend, alter or repeal (whether
by merger, consolidation or otherwise) any of the provisions of this Certificate
of Designation or (ii) authorize or issue any Senior Stock or Parity Stock.

6.       Exclusion of Other Rights.

         Except as may otherwise be required by law, the shares of Series A
Preferred Stock shall not have any preferences or relative, participating,
optional or other special rights, other than those specifically set forth in
this Certificate of Designation (as such may be amended from time to time) and
in the Company's Certificate of Incorporation.

7.       Headings of Subdivisions.

         The headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of
reference only and shall not affect the interpretation of any of the provisions
hereof.

8.       Severability of Provisions.

         If any right, preference or limitation of the Series A Preferred Stock
set forth in this Certificate of Designation (as such may be amended from time
to time) is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any
rule of law or public policy, all other rights, preferences and limitations set
forth in this Certificate of Designation (as so amended) which can be given
effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable right, preference or
limitation shall, nevertheless, remain in full force and effect, and no right,
preference or limitation herein set forth shall be deemed dependent upon any
other such right, preference or limitation unless so expressed herein.

                                       5

<PAGE>   6

9.       Status of Reacquired Shares.

         Shares of Series A Preferred Stock that have been issued and reacquired
in any manner shall (upon compliance with any applicable provisions of the laws
of the State of Delaware) have the status of authorized and unissued shares of
Preferred Stock issuable in series undesignated as to series and may be
redesignated and reissued.

                                       6

<PAGE>   7



         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate has been duly executed by the
undersigned, the respective President and Secretary of the Company this 15th day
of March, 2001.

                                                   AZURIX CORP.



                                                   By: /S/ JOHN L. GARRISON, JR.
                                                       -------------------------
                                                   Name:  John L. Garrison, Jr.
                                                   Title: President and Chief
                                                          Operation Officer



ATTEST:



By:/S/ NORMA A. TIDROW
   ---------------------------------
Name:  Norma A. Tidrow
Title: Secretary