122
5 Water Resources Allocation and Regulation
5.2 Water Resource Regulation in China
The framework described in Sect. 5.1 outlines the mechanism for allotting longterm allocations of water resources, typically based on average annual volumes.
However, the water availability and use in a specific year or season shall be adjusted
to the stochastic characteristics of water resources with precipitation and inflow as
they change from year to year or season to season. Then, the annual/seasonal water
use plans at each allocation level shall be formulated and implemented accordingly.
In China, this is done via a series of regulation plans, abstraction plans, and water
use plans, which together regulate actual water use (Shen 2020).
5.2.1 River Basin and Regional Water Resource Regulation
At the river basin or regional level, an annual water resources regulation plan is
prepared based on the relevant water resources allocation plans and annual inflow
forecasts. Article 46 of the 2002 Water Law defines that the WADs of the local
governments above the county levels or RBO shall—according to the approved water
allocation plan and the annual inflow forecast—formulate an annual water resources
allocation plan and regulation plan and implement integrated water resource regulation. Further, Article 12 of the 2007 Interim Measures for Water Resources Allocation
details that the annual water resources allocation plan and regulation plan shall be
formulated, according to water use demand and in combination with water project
operation, to define water use time and volume and implement annual water use caps
and integrated water resource regulation.
As for implementation at the river basin level, RBO shall consult WADs of relevant
provinces and other relevant agencies according to the following year’s annual water
resources allocation plan, annual inflow forecast, and reservoir storage. Based on
the principles of total volume control, increases in water per year and decreases in
water per year and the need to compensate for less water with more water, the RBO
must formulate an annual water resources regulation plan or a contingency regulation
plan for the dry season for important river systems in the river basin by coordinating
surface water and groundwater (Article 40, 2008 Water Abstraction Management
Methods).
At the regional level, local water resources departments must formulate an annual
water resources regulation plan or a contingency regulation plan for the dry season
for the region, in accordance with the annual water resources allocation plan and
annual water resources regulation plan issued by the water resources department of
the upper level government or RBO, and they must report to the water resources
department of the upper level government or RBO for recording (Article 40, Water
Abstraction Management Methods).
5 Water Resources Allocation and Regulation
5.2 Water Resource Regulation in China
The framework described in Sect. 5.1 outlines the mechanism for allotting longterm allocations of water resources, typically based on average annual volumes.
However, the water availability and use in a specific year or season shall be adjusted
to the stochastic characteristics of water resources with precipitation and inflow as
they change from year to year or season to season. Then, the annual/seasonal water
use plans at each allocation level shall be formulated and implemented accordingly.
In China, this is done via a series of regulation plans, abstraction plans, and water
use plans, which together regulate actual water use (Shen 2020).
5.2.1 River Basin and Regional Water Resource Regulation
At the river basin or regional level, an annual water resources regulation plan is
prepared based on the relevant water resources allocation plans and annual inflow
forecasts. Article 46 of the 2002 Water Law defines that the WADs of the local
governments above the county levels or RBO shall—according to the approved water
allocation plan and the annual inflow forecast—formulate an annual water resources
allocation plan and regulation plan and implement integrated water resource regulation. Further, Article 12 of the 2007 Interim Measures for Water Resources Allocation
details that the annual water resources allocation plan and regulation plan shall be
formulated, according to water use demand and in combination with water project
operation, to define water use time and volume and implement annual water use caps
and integrated water resource regulation.
As for implementation at the river basin level, RBO shall consult WADs of relevant
provinces and other relevant agencies according to the following year’s annual water
resources allocation plan, annual inflow forecast, and reservoir storage. Based on
the principles of total volume control, increases in water per year and decreases in
water per year and the need to compensate for less water with more water, the RBO
must formulate an annual water resources regulation plan or a contingency regulation
plan for the dry season for important river systems in the river basin by coordinating
surface water and groundwater (Article 40, 2008 Water Abstraction Management
Methods).
At the regional level, local water resources departments must formulate an annual
water resources regulation plan or a contingency regulation plan for the dry season
for the region, in accordance with the annual water resources allocation plan and
annual water resources regulation plan issued by the water resources department of
the upper level government or RBO, and they must report to the water resources
department of the upper level government or RBO for recording (Article 40, Water
Abstraction Management Methods).