8.2 Groundwater Management System in China
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defined in the water abstraction permit. Given that almost all agricultural groundwater abstraction is not managed under the permit system, however, the system is in
reality implemented only for industrial and urban groundwater development.
Well-drilling permit/approval
In some regions, a well-drilling permit/approval is required for drilling a new well.
The well-drilling permit system is applied before or parallel to the water abstraction
permit. If it is applied before the abstraction permit, the approval will be a condition
for the abstraction permit. The county water resources bureau is in charge of the
system.
In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Article 9 of the 2002 Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region Well Drilling Management Methods stipulates that the welldrilling construction unit should submit a well-drilling program to the local county
water administrative department for approval after signing the well-drilling contract
with the well owner; only after approval is granted can a well be drilled. The program
is required to specify the nature of the project, the geo-hydrological conditions, the
tube well design, the well-drilling technique, the implementation organization, and
the quality control issues.
Given the increasing groundwater overdraft, well-drilling permits are being
applied in more regions. However, the permit system is not supported by the
2002 Water Law and is also inconsistent with recent reforms designed to reduce
government administrative permits in China.
Dual control on groundwater total abstraction and table
Recently, a dual control on both groundwater abstraction volume and table has been
introduced. In Hebei Province, the provincial and prefectural water departments
intend to establish groundwater total abstraction and use volume and table for prefectures and counties, respectively, based on jurisdiction. The annual groundwater use
plan will be formulated and issued according to a regional groundwater abstraction
control volume and control table, as well as annual groundwater demand. The region
of groundwater abstraction or table approaching control indicators will be limited to
approve new groundwater development, and that reaching or exceeding the control
indicators will be applied to stop approval (Articles 16, 17 and 18, Groundwater
Management Regulation of Hebei Province) (Standing Committee of Hebei Province
People’s Congress 2018).
8.3 Problems with Groundwater Management in China
Although China has established some groundwater management systems, these
systems are currently facing numerous problems.
Lack of groundwater management systems distinct from surface water management systems. This is a key problem that indicates China has not yet established
191
defined in the water abstraction permit. Given that almost all agricultural groundwater abstraction is not managed under the permit system, however, the system is in
reality implemented only for industrial and urban groundwater development.
Well-drilling permit/approval
In some regions, a well-drilling permit/approval is required for drilling a new well.
The well-drilling permit system is applied before or parallel to the water abstraction
permit. If it is applied before the abstraction permit, the approval will be a condition
for the abstraction permit. The county water resources bureau is in charge of the
system.
In the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Article 9 of the 2002 Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region Well Drilling Management Methods stipulates that the welldrilling construction unit should submit a well-drilling program to the local county
water administrative department for approval after signing the well-drilling contract
with the well owner; only after approval is granted can a well be drilled. The program
is required to specify the nature of the project, the geo-hydrological conditions, the
tube well design, the well-drilling technique, the implementation organization, and
the quality control issues.
Given the increasing groundwater overdraft, well-drilling permits are being
applied in more regions. However, the permit system is not supported by the
2002 Water Law and is also inconsistent with recent reforms designed to reduce
government administrative permits in China.
Dual control on groundwater total abstraction and table
Recently, a dual control on both groundwater abstraction volume and table has been
introduced. In Hebei Province, the provincial and prefectural water departments
intend to establish groundwater total abstraction and use volume and table for prefectures and counties, respectively, based on jurisdiction. The annual groundwater use
plan will be formulated and issued according to a regional groundwater abstraction
control volume and control table, as well as annual groundwater demand. The region
of groundwater abstraction or table approaching control indicators will be limited to
approve new groundwater development, and that reaching or exceeding the control
indicators will be applied to stop approval (Articles 16, 17 and 18, Groundwater
Management Regulation of Hebei Province) (Standing Committee of Hebei Province
People’s Congress 2018).
8.3 Problems with Groundwater Management in China
Although China has established some groundwater management systems, these
systems are currently facing numerous problems.
Lack of groundwater management systems distinct from surface water management systems. This is a key problem that indicates China has not yet established