9.3 Management Instruments
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The delimitations of the protection zone are proposed by prefectural and
county governments and approved by the provincial government. For those crossprefecture/county zones, it shall be coordinated by relevant prefectural/country
governments and reported to the provincial government for approval; if these entities cannot reach an agreement, the provincial environmental protection department
is in charge of creating a proposal for the provincial government. For those crossprovince zones, the protection zone is delimited by relevant provincial governments
in consultation with the local RBO; if they cannot reach an agreement, MEE will
make a proposal to the State Council along with MWR, MNR, NHC, and MOHURD.
The scope of the protection zones could be revised by the approval agency in order
to guarantee drinking water safety and to protect drinking water sources.
Pollutant discharge outlets are not be allowed to be set up in protection zones. In
primary protection zones, project construction without relevant water supply facilities and water source protection is forbidden and the existed project will be closed
or demolished. Activities which may pollute water, including fish cage culture,
tourism, swimming, and fishing, are likewise forbidden (Article 64 and 65, 2017
Water Pollution Control Law).
In secondary zones, construction projects with pollutant discharge are forbidden.
Activities such as cage culture and tourism shall adopt measures to prevent water
pollution (Article 66, 2017 Water Pollution Control Law).
In the quasi-protection zone, new construction projects and expansions that
severely pollute water bodies are forbidden, and reconstruction projects are not
allowed to increase pollutant discharge (Article 67, 2017 Water Pollution Control
Law).
9.4 Key Issues in Water Quality Management in China
Lack of an integrated framework. China has introduced several types of management instruments into water quality management. However, the development process
of the management framework results in the following problems. At first, these
systems are designed and introduced separately. Secondly, these systems are designed
for an administrative system rather than based on water quality considerations and
the hydrological cycle. Thirdly, the implementation of the system is impacted by
factors beyond the control of the responsible agencies, such as water function zone.
Therefore, the integration of water quality management systems is weak among
water resources protection, water pollution control, and the provision of a clean
water supply.
Overlaps and conflicts between agencies. Lack of an integrated framework and lack
of coordination between the sectoral departments cause overlaps and gaps in water
quality management systems. For instance, in the permits system, there are three types
of discharge permits based on the place of the discharge: (a) the drainage permit
considers urban drainage networks and other parts of urban areas, such as rivers,
215
The delimitations of the protection zone are proposed by prefectural and
county governments and approved by the provincial government. For those crossprefecture/county zones, it shall be coordinated by relevant prefectural/country
governments and reported to the provincial government for approval; if these entities cannot reach an agreement, the provincial environmental protection department
is in charge of creating a proposal for the provincial government. For those crossprovince zones, the protection zone is delimited by relevant provincial governments
in consultation with the local RBO; if they cannot reach an agreement, MEE will
make a proposal to the State Council along with MWR, MNR, NHC, and MOHURD.
The scope of the protection zones could be revised by the approval agency in order
to guarantee drinking water safety and to protect drinking water sources.
Pollutant discharge outlets are not be allowed to be set up in protection zones. In
primary protection zones, project construction without relevant water supply facilities and water source protection is forbidden and the existed project will be closed
or demolished. Activities which may pollute water, including fish cage culture,
tourism, swimming, and fishing, are likewise forbidden (Article 64 and 65, 2017
Water Pollution Control Law).
In secondary zones, construction projects with pollutant discharge are forbidden.
Activities such as cage culture and tourism shall adopt measures to prevent water
pollution (Article 66, 2017 Water Pollution Control Law).
In the quasi-protection zone, new construction projects and expansions that
severely pollute water bodies are forbidden, and reconstruction projects are not
allowed to increase pollutant discharge (Article 67, 2017 Water Pollution Control
Law).
9.4 Key Issues in Water Quality Management in China
Lack of an integrated framework. China has introduced several types of management instruments into water quality management. However, the development process
of the management framework results in the following problems. At first, these
systems are designed and introduced separately. Secondly, these systems are designed
for an administrative system rather than based on water quality considerations and
the hydrological cycle. Thirdly, the implementation of the system is impacted by
factors beyond the control of the responsible agencies, such as water function zone.
Therefore, the integration of water quality management systems is weak among
water resources protection, water pollution control, and the provision of a clean
water supply.
Overlaps and conflicts between agencies. Lack of an integrated framework and lack
of coordination between the sectoral departments cause overlaps and gaps in water
quality management systems. For instance, in the permits system, there are three types
of discharge permits based on the place of the discharge: (a) the drainage permit
considers urban drainage networks and other parts of urban areas, such as rivers,