6.4 Challenges and Suggestions to Improve Water Rights System …
139
under statutory exemptions. Groundwater–surface water connections are not always
addressed.
No trading framework. The rights being traded are not always clearly specified;
what rights can be traded is unclear; there are limited mechanisms for protecting the
rights of other users and the environment; regulatory and contractual arrangements
have been bundled together in transfer contracts.
Limited rights of farmers. Within irrigation districts, generally no rights have been
granted at the farmer level. It is also unclear who possesses the right to water under
the irrigation district water permit. Water user associations are usually affiliated with
the irrigation district management agency.
Limited system capabilities. Many of the systems necessary to support water rights
management do not exist: hydrologic modeling is not available to support permit and
trading decisions, systems for the registration of rights are not of a high standard,
and metering and water accounting systems require strengthening.
Limited transparency and public reporting. Improved public reporting and greater
transparency in decision-making are required to improve confidence and security, and
it will (ultimately) be necessary to provide the information required to support a water
market.
6.4.2 Recommendations for Implementing Water Rights
System in China
The following are the key recommendations based on the foregoing review of the
water rights system in China:
Improving consultation and public participation. Mechanisms should be established to improve the public awareness of water resources management issues and
to promote public involvement in management decisions. In particular, water user
associations should be reformed to provide a vehicle for representing the interests of
farmers.
Increasing transparency. The transparency of allocation and management decisions
should be improved by setting requirements for reporting and making information
and decisions regarding water resources management publicly available.
Improving definition and protection of rights. Water rights, including the sharing
and operational rules that determine the actual availability of water, should be clearly
defined. The duration of rights and the conditions under which such rights or rules
can be altered should be established.
Providing technical guidance and allocation principles for water resources allocation plans. Guidelines for the development of water resources allocation plans
139
under statutory exemptions. Groundwater–surface water connections are not always
addressed.
No trading framework. The rights being traded are not always clearly specified;
what rights can be traded is unclear; there are limited mechanisms for protecting the
rights of other users and the environment; regulatory and contractual arrangements
have been bundled together in transfer contracts.
Limited rights of farmers. Within irrigation districts, generally no rights have been
granted at the farmer level. It is also unclear who possesses the right to water under
the irrigation district water permit. Water user associations are usually affiliated with
the irrigation district management agency.
Limited system capabilities. Many of the systems necessary to support water rights
management do not exist: hydrologic modeling is not available to support permit and
trading decisions, systems for the registration of rights are not of a high standard,
and metering and water accounting systems require strengthening.
Limited transparency and public reporting. Improved public reporting and greater
transparency in decision-making are required to improve confidence and security, and
it will (ultimately) be necessary to provide the information required to support a water
market.
6.4.2 Recommendations for Implementing Water Rights
System in China
The following are the key recommendations based on the foregoing review of the
water rights system in China:
Improving consultation and public participation. Mechanisms should be established to improve the public awareness of water resources management issues and
to promote public involvement in management decisions. In particular, water user
associations should be reformed to provide a vehicle for representing the interests of
farmers.
Increasing transparency. The transparency of allocation and management decisions
should be improved by setting requirements for reporting and making information
and decisions regarding water resources management publicly available.
Improving definition and protection of rights. Water rights, including the sharing
and operational rules that determine the actual availability of water, should be clearly
defined. The duration of rights and the conditions under which such rights or rules
can be altered should be established.
Providing technical guidance and allocation principles for water resources allocation plans. Guidelines for the development of water resources allocation plans