Chapter 8
Groundwater Management
Abstract This chapter discusses the groundwater development and problems,
management instruments, and institutions in China. China is facing critical groundwater problems, including overdraft, declining water levels, and water quality degradation, resulting in land subsidence and seawater intrusion. At the same time, the
current scattered groundwater management system, mainly consisting of development and protection planning, groundwater function zones, FDZs and RDZs, water
resources justification reports for construction projects, water abstraction permitting, planned water use and water resources fees, cannot provide an effective and
efficient solution. The lack of integrated systems, coordinated management institutions, quality management arrangements, institutional capacity, and coordinated
relationships all worsen the current groundwater problems. Thus, China should
urgently adopt the aquifermanagement concept, develop a comprehensive groundwater management system, reorganize current groundwater-related management
systems, reform abstraction permitting, develop a groundwater quality management
system, and build the capacity of its managers.
Keywords Groundwater management · FDZ and RDZ · Scattered management
system · Aquifer management
With stable yields, better water quality, and proximity to use locations, groundwater is widely developed worldwide. It differs from surface water because of the
contrasting physical and chemical environment (GWMATE 2006). The sustainable
management of groundwater resources has become a global issue. In most countries, groundwater is a very important water source, and it has been extensively
exploited in areas with water shortages, such as India and Pakistan. However, severe
water and environmental problems are a very common consequence of overdrafting
such groundwater resources. Moreover, considering the uncertain consequences of
development, strong restrictions are applied in some countries, such as in the Great
Artesian Basin in Australia (Queensland Government 2006).
The chapter is based on Shen, D. ( 2015) Groundwater management in China. Water policy, 17(1):
61–82.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_8
175
Groundwater Management
Abstract This chapter discusses the groundwater development and problems,
management instruments, and institutions in China. China is facing critical groundwater problems, including overdraft, declining water levels, and water quality degradation, resulting in land subsidence and seawater intrusion. At the same time, the
current scattered groundwater management system, mainly consisting of development and protection planning, groundwater function zones, FDZs and RDZs, water
resources justification reports for construction projects, water abstraction permitting, planned water use and water resources fees, cannot provide an effective and
efficient solution. The lack of integrated systems, coordinated management institutions, quality management arrangements, institutional capacity, and coordinated
relationships all worsen the current groundwater problems. Thus, China should
urgently adopt the aquifermanagement concept, develop a comprehensive groundwater management system, reorganize current groundwater-related management
systems, reform abstraction permitting, develop a groundwater quality management
system, and build the capacity of its managers.
Keywords Groundwater management · FDZ and RDZ · Scattered management
system · Aquifer management
With stable yields, better water quality, and proximity to use locations, groundwater is widely developed worldwide. It differs from surface water because of the
contrasting physical and chemical environment (GWMATE 2006). The sustainable
management of groundwater resources has become a global issue. In most countries, groundwater is a very important water source, and it has been extensively
exploited in areas with water shortages, such as India and Pakistan. However, severe
water and environmental problems are a very common consequence of overdrafting
such groundwater resources. Moreover, considering the uncertain consequences of
development, strong restrictions are applied in some countries, such as in the Great
Artesian Basin in Australia (Queensland Government 2006).
The chapter is based on Shen, D. ( 2015) Groundwater management in China. Water policy, 17(1):
61–82.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_8
175