12.1 Water Resources and Management Challenges in 2008
257
than focusing solely on water infrastructure, which is the conventional investment
approach in China.
In the past two decades, particularly since the 2002 revised Water Law, China
has established an improved water resources management system to meet socioeconomic development requirements. But poor enforcement of this system has
added to water resources problems and their deterioration. China has developed
a combined system of total volume control and quota management, but technically
no total volume targets have been formulated, managerially no total volume has been
enforced, and any quota formulation has failed to meet real requirements. A water
abstraction permit system was introduced as part of the 1988 Water Law, as well as
a water resource fee system, but the approved volumes for permits lack rationality.
Similarly, plans for water-use and water-saving systems were developed, but not
fully enforced. These problems existed in water function zone and water resources
justification system too.
An analysis of these problems a decade ago showed, from the point of view of
water resources management, that two issues were key: (1) the lack of control over the
total volume of water resources development (abstraction) and wastewater discharge;
and (2) the limited implementation of water resources management systems, coupled
with the impacts of the external environment, such as those related to the pursuit of
economic development.
12.2 Strategic Framework for the “Strictest Water
Resources Management Strategy”
In 2009, the Chinese government established a strategy which recognized the importance of water to China’s future sustainable development and prosperity. It brought
together past experiences and lessons learned and referred to good practice adopted
in other sectors, such as the land administrative department.
The strategy recognized that for economic and social development to be sustainable, water resources must be at the heart of planning, must serve the whole country,
and be managed on the basis of scientific, evidence-based decision-making. Any
program must improve peoples’ well-being, emphasize the allocation, saving, and
protection of water resources, and take full account of measures to control both water
quantity and quality. Other issues to take into account included the use of innovation
and reform as driving forces behind resource management and building capacity as
a basis for implementing the management strategy.
257
than focusing solely on water infrastructure, which is the conventional investment
approach in China.
In the past two decades, particularly since the 2002 revised Water Law, China
has established an improved water resources management system to meet socioeconomic development requirements. But poor enforcement of this system has
added to water resources problems and their deterioration. China has developed
a combined system of total volume control and quota management, but technically
no total volume targets have been formulated, managerially no total volume has been
enforced, and any quota formulation has failed to meet real requirements. A water
abstraction permit system was introduced as part of the 1988 Water Law, as well as
a water resource fee system, but the approved volumes for permits lack rationality.
Similarly, plans for water-use and water-saving systems were developed, but not
fully enforced. These problems existed in water function zone and water resources
justification system too.
An analysis of these problems a decade ago showed, from the point of view of
water resources management, that two issues were key: (1) the lack of control over the
total volume of water resources development (abstraction) and wastewater discharge;
and (2) the limited implementation of water resources management systems, coupled
with the impacts of the external environment, such as those related to the pursuit of
economic development.
12.2 Strategic Framework for the “Strictest Water
Resources Management Strategy”
In 2009, the Chinese government established a strategy which recognized the importance of water to China’s future sustainable development and prosperity. It brought
together past experiences and lessons learned and referred to good practice adopted
in other sectors, such as the land administrative department.
The strategy recognized that for economic and social development to be sustainable, water resources must be at the heart of planning, must serve the whole country,
and be managed on the basis of scientific, evidence-based decision-making. Any
program must improve peoples’ well-being, emphasize the allocation, saving, and
protection of water resources, and take full account of measures to control both water
quantity and quality. Other issues to take into account included the use of innovation
and reform as driving forces behind resource management and building capacity as
a basis for implementing the management strategy.