208
9 Water Quality Management
disagreements related to the reforms among the agencies involved, particularly MWR
and MOHURD, the 2008 governmental reorganization reform gave decision-making
power to local governments (see Chap. 16).
Although the specific structure and allocation of responsibilities to the provincial
departments may vary depending on local decisions and requirements, nevertheless, they very much follow the structure established at the central level. Therefore,
most agencies at the central level are vertically linked with relevant administrative
departments with comparable responsibilities in each province.
Clearly, the vertical and horizontal arrangements for water quality management
make institutional arrangements in China relatively complex (Fig. 9.1). Horizontally,
MEE is responsible for most functions. MWR, MOHURD, and NHC have specific
functions in relation to discharge outlets into water bodies, urban water supply,
wastewater treatment, and health-related issues. Vertically, in addition to regional
and local administrative agencies, river basin management organizations and their
river basin water resources protection bureaus (and the river basin eco-environmental
supervision and management bureau after 2018) are operated between the central
government and the provinces. The water affairs reform rendered the vertical and
horizontal institutional relationships more complicated.
9.3 Management Instruments
9.3.1 Standards
There are a number of national water quality standards issued by China’s Standardization Administration, as well as sectoral standards issued by related ministries,
covering surface water, groundwater, water supply, wastewater treatment, and
discharge, in addition to water use benchmarks. These standards could be grouped
into comprehensive standards, such as those for surface water, groundwater,
and wastewater discharge; and sub-sector standards for drinking, irrigation, and
wastewater discharge for specific industries.
Among these standards, the most important and extensively used measures include
the following:
• Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water (GB3838) is applicable to
surface waters and their use. It defines five classes according to their use: (1)
Class I is applicable to water sources and national natural reserves; (2) Class
II is applicable to the first protection zone of surface-centralized drinking water
sources, rare aquatic habitats, fish and shrimp spawning areas, and immature
fish feeding places; (3) Class III is applicable to the secondary protection zone
of surface-centralized drinking water sources, fish and shrimp wintering fields,
migration pathways, and aquaculture zone and swimming places; (4) Class IV is
applicable to industrial water use zones and indirect human body contact, such as
9 Water Quality Management
disagreements related to the reforms among the agencies involved, particularly MWR
and MOHURD, the 2008 governmental reorganization reform gave decision-making
power to local governments (see Chap. 16).
Although the specific structure and allocation of responsibilities to the provincial
departments may vary depending on local decisions and requirements, nevertheless, they very much follow the structure established at the central level. Therefore,
most agencies at the central level are vertically linked with relevant administrative
departments with comparable responsibilities in each province.
Clearly, the vertical and horizontal arrangements for water quality management
make institutional arrangements in China relatively complex (Fig. 9.1). Horizontally,
MEE is responsible for most functions. MWR, MOHURD, and NHC have specific
functions in relation to discharge outlets into water bodies, urban water supply,
wastewater treatment, and health-related issues. Vertically, in addition to regional
and local administrative agencies, river basin management organizations and their
river basin water resources protection bureaus (and the river basin eco-environmental
supervision and management bureau after 2018) are operated between the central
government and the provinces. The water affairs reform rendered the vertical and
horizontal institutional relationships more complicated.
9.3 Management Instruments
9.3.1 Standards
There are a number of national water quality standards issued by China’s Standardization Administration, as well as sectoral standards issued by related ministries,
covering surface water, groundwater, water supply, wastewater treatment, and
discharge, in addition to water use benchmarks. These standards could be grouped
into comprehensive standards, such as those for surface water, groundwater,
and wastewater discharge; and sub-sector standards for drinking, irrigation, and
wastewater discharge for specific industries.
Among these standards, the most important and extensively used measures include
the following:
• Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water (GB3838) is applicable to
surface waters and their use. It defines five classes according to their use: (1)
Class I is applicable to water sources and national natural reserves; (2) Class
II is applicable to the first protection zone of surface-centralized drinking water
sources, rare aquatic habitats, fish and shrimp spawning areas, and immature
fish feeding places; (3) Class III is applicable to the secondary protection zone
of surface-centralized drinking water sources, fish and shrimp wintering fields,
migration pathways, and aquaculture zone and swimming places; (4) Class IV is
applicable to industrial water use zones and indirect human body contact, such as