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8 Groundwater Management
8.2.3 Main Management Instruments
Groundwater development and protection plan
Groundwater resources development and protection plans are required under provincial groundwater legislation, such as applies in Yunnan and Xinjiang. The development and protection plan will generally analyze existing development; define
any overdraft zone; compile a development and protection program; set up control
targets and tasks for the overdraft zone; and then develop comprehensive supporting
measures for groundwater protection, development, and restoration.
These plans are formulated by the water administrative department, together with
the environmental protection and/or land and resources department, and approved by
the government. In 2007, the MWR began compiling groundwater resources development and protection plans.
3 Most provinces have now completed and approved
these plans. The provincial groundwater statutes provide that the plans should be
formulated based on the groundwater resources assessment and be the basis for
groundwater development and protection. However, the implementation of these
plans is questionable due to inadequate groundwater assessments.
Groundwater function zoning
The groundwater function zone system is not defined in the 2002 Water Law. At the
provincial level, Article 8 of the 2009 Yunnan Province Groundwater Management
Methods states that the water administrative departments should draft the groundwater function zone in cooperation with the environmental protection departments,
as well as ensuring implementation following approval.
China launched the groundwater function zoning process at the beginning of the
century. It is conducted separately by the MWR and the China Geological Survey
under the MLR. In 2005, the MWR compiled the Technical Guidance for Groundwater Function Zoning, which developed a two-level function zone system and
zoning basis. All provinces have now finished the zoning process, and some regions
have approved and issued the zones. The MLR issued the Technical Guideline for
Groundwater Function Assessment and Zoning in 2006, which defined the basic principles, main contents, and assessment standard for groundwater function assessment
and subsequently initiated zoning in northwest, northern, and northeast China.
Some differences exist between the two zoning systems. The MWR’s system is
relatively simple: it is based on the key functions of aquifers and used for development
and management purposes; however, this system’s application of the zoning standard
requires further improvement. The MLR’s system has a stronger theoretical basis
and more assessment indicators and is used for assessment purposes; however, the
system’s selection and weighting of indicators need further consideration (Tang et al.
2012). This paper emphasizes the MWR zoning system because it is utilized for
management purposes.
3 https://www.mwr.gov.cn/slzx/slyw/200704/t20070424_151013.html.
8 Groundwater Management
8.2.3 Main Management Instruments
Groundwater development and protection plan
Groundwater resources development and protection plans are required under provincial groundwater legislation, such as applies in Yunnan and Xinjiang. The development and protection plan will generally analyze existing development; define
any overdraft zone; compile a development and protection program; set up control
targets and tasks for the overdraft zone; and then develop comprehensive supporting
measures for groundwater protection, development, and restoration.
These plans are formulated by the water administrative department, together with
the environmental protection and/or land and resources department, and approved by
the government. In 2007, the MWR began compiling groundwater resources development and protection plans.
3 Most provinces have now completed and approved
these plans. The provincial groundwater statutes provide that the plans should be
formulated based on the groundwater resources assessment and be the basis for
groundwater development and protection. However, the implementation of these
plans is questionable due to inadequate groundwater assessments.
Groundwater function zoning
The groundwater function zone system is not defined in the 2002 Water Law. At the
provincial level, Article 8 of the 2009 Yunnan Province Groundwater Management
Methods states that the water administrative departments should draft the groundwater function zone in cooperation with the environmental protection departments,
as well as ensuring implementation following approval.
China launched the groundwater function zoning process at the beginning of the
century. It is conducted separately by the MWR and the China Geological Survey
under the MLR. In 2005, the MWR compiled the Technical Guidance for Groundwater Function Zoning, which developed a two-level function zone system and
zoning basis. All provinces have now finished the zoning process, and some regions
have approved and issued the zones. The MLR issued the Technical Guideline for
Groundwater Function Assessment and Zoning in 2006, which defined the basic principles, main contents, and assessment standard for groundwater function assessment
and subsequently initiated zoning in northwest, northern, and northeast China.
Some differences exist between the two zoning systems. The MWR’s system is
relatively simple: it is based on the key functions of aquifers and used for development
and management purposes; however, this system’s application of the zoning standard
requires further improvement. The MLR’s system has a stronger theoretical basis
and more assessment indicators and is used for assessment purposes; however, the
system’s selection and weighting of indicators need further consideration (Tang et al.
2012). This paper emphasizes the MWR zoning system because it is utilized for
management purposes.
3 https://www.mwr.gov.cn/slzx/slyw/200704/t20070424_151013.html.