194
8 Groundwater Management
basis, while also meeting China’s administrative system requirements. Aquifer-level
management would be a revolution in groundwater management, however, requiring
China to reform and redevelop every aspect of its groundwater management systems,
especially planning and institutional responsibilities.
Developing a comprehensive groundwater management system
Following the phase of “designing the system following the problems,” it is an
ideal time for China to design a comprehensive groundwater management system
to solve water quality and quantity issues. The system should cover every aspect
of groundwater development, utilization, and protection; the management process
of assessment, planning, implementation, and supervision; and the various scales
from aquifers to administrative regions to individual users. Moreover, the system
should reflect China’s administrative system, while adopting the characteristics of
groundwater resources.
Restructuring groundwater-related management systems
It is necessary to restructure the current groundwater management systems, clarifying their relationships and linkages. The relationships between macro-management
systems, including the development and protection plans, function zones, FDZs and
RDZs, should be rendered more explicit. In particular, the relationships between the
plans and zones (e.g., between the development plan and the development zone or the
protection plan and the protection zone, etc.) must be clarified further. Furthermore,
the linkages between macro-management and micro-management systems, such as
between zones, plans, and permits, should be adequately defined.
Reforming groundwater abstraction permit system to solve governmental
failure
Given the large number of wells in China, it is impossible for water resources management agencies to effectively manage groundwater development based on the current
water abstraction permit system. The key problem here is the gap between the number
of management staff and of wells required to be managed. Reducing the number of
groundwater permits by altering the form of permit holdings could improve the effectiveness. It is suggested that the individual groundwater abstraction permit, which
is based on wells, be reformed to a group or bulk permit, which could be held by a
specific group such as a village or groundwater use association. The water resources
management agency would then only need to manage a limited number of group
permits. Within the village or water user association, the water abstractors would be
responsible for managing their members’ water use. This system would significantly
reduce management tasks and costs, while increasing effectiveness and efficiency
(Fig. 8.5).
Exploring development of groundwater quality management system
A groundwater resources protection system needs to be urgently developed in China
to address the serious pollution levels. An effective system needs to incorporate
the aquifer management concept and combine macro- and micro-systems. Market
8 Groundwater Management
basis, while also meeting China’s administrative system requirements. Aquifer-level
management would be a revolution in groundwater management, however, requiring
China to reform and redevelop every aspect of its groundwater management systems,
especially planning and institutional responsibilities.
Developing a comprehensive groundwater management system
Following the phase of “designing the system following the problems,” it is an
ideal time for China to design a comprehensive groundwater management system
to solve water quality and quantity issues. The system should cover every aspect
of groundwater development, utilization, and protection; the management process
of assessment, planning, implementation, and supervision; and the various scales
from aquifers to administrative regions to individual users. Moreover, the system
should reflect China’s administrative system, while adopting the characteristics of
groundwater resources.
Restructuring groundwater-related management systems
It is necessary to restructure the current groundwater management systems, clarifying their relationships and linkages. The relationships between macro-management
systems, including the development and protection plans, function zones, FDZs and
RDZs, should be rendered more explicit. In particular, the relationships between the
plans and zones (e.g., between the development plan and the development zone or the
protection plan and the protection zone, etc.) must be clarified further. Furthermore,
the linkages between macro-management and micro-management systems, such as
between zones, plans, and permits, should be adequately defined.
Reforming groundwater abstraction permit system to solve governmental
failure
Given the large number of wells in China, it is impossible for water resources management agencies to effectively manage groundwater development based on the current
water abstraction permit system. The key problem here is the gap between the number
of management staff and of wells required to be managed. Reducing the number of
groundwater permits by altering the form of permit holdings could improve the effectiveness. It is suggested that the individual groundwater abstraction permit, which
is based on wells, be reformed to a group or bulk permit, which could be held by a
specific group such as a village or groundwater use association. The water resources
management agency would then only need to manage a limited number of group
permits. Within the village or water user association, the water abstractors would be
responsible for managing their members’ water use. This system would significantly
reduce management tasks and costs, while increasing effectiveness and efficiency
(Fig. 8.5).
Exploring development of groundwater quality management system
A groundwater resources protection system needs to be urgently developed in China
to address the serious pollution levels. An effective system needs to incorporate
the aquifer management concept and combine macro- and micro-systems. Market