Chapter 19
Review and Outlook
Abstract This chapter reviews water policy in China and outlooks for future directions. Water policy in China since 1980 is divided into four periods: the 1980s,
1990–1998, 1998–2009, and after 2009. Since 1980, China’s water policies have
experienced dramatic changes: attempting to improve benefits in the face of criticism for low efficiency in the 1980s; allocating large investments to acknowledge
the important role of water in the country’s economy during 1990–1998; redefining
the water–human relationship during 1998–2009; and providing the strictest water
resources management as the definitive solution after 2009. For the future, it is estimated that water resources management, particularly regarding groundwater, will
continue to strengthen. Reforms, such as water pricing, institutions, and water rights,
will deepen, but water rights development and water quality management will be a
long process. Macro- and micro-management instruments will be emphasized, but
improving implementation and management of resources, rather than managers, will
be a critical issue, and integrated water resources management will be a challenge.
Keywords Water policy · Water resources development and use · Improving
benefits · Role of water sector · Redefining water–human relationship · Integrated
water resources management
China’s social and economic development since 1978 has been remarkable. China
has successfully transformed from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial
one, and from a command economy to a market-based one (World Bank 2013).
The achievements in China’s water sector are impressive too, with its traditional
approach to water resources management replaced by a modern and sustainable water
sector. Sophisticated water resource legislation and institutions are in place, and the
sector has adapted to meet its new role in the market economy; water-use efficiency
and effectiveness have been greatly improved (Chen 2008). However, China is still
facing critical water problems: frequent water disasters, conflicts between water
supply and demand, serious water pollution, and a degraded water ecosystem.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_19
431
Review and Outlook
Abstract This chapter reviews water policy in China and outlooks for future directions. Water policy in China since 1980 is divided into four periods: the 1980s,
1990–1998, 1998–2009, and after 2009. Since 1980, China’s water policies have
experienced dramatic changes: attempting to improve benefits in the face of criticism for low efficiency in the 1980s; allocating large investments to acknowledge
the important role of water in the country’s economy during 1990–1998; redefining
the water–human relationship during 1998–2009; and providing the strictest water
resources management as the definitive solution after 2009. For the future, it is estimated that water resources management, particularly regarding groundwater, will
continue to strengthen. Reforms, such as water pricing, institutions, and water rights,
will deepen, but water rights development and water quality management will be a
long process. Macro- and micro-management instruments will be emphasized, but
improving implementation and management of resources, rather than managers, will
be a critical issue, and integrated water resources management will be a challenge.
Keywords Water policy · Water resources development and use · Improving
benefits · Role of water sector · Redefining water–human relationship · Integrated
water resources management
China’s social and economic development since 1978 has been remarkable. China
has successfully transformed from a rural, agricultural society to an urban, industrial
one, and from a command economy to a market-based one (World Bank 2013).
The achievements in China’s water sector are impressive too, with its traditional
approach to water resources management replaced by a modern and sustainable water
sector. Sophisticated water resource legislation and institutions are in place, and the
sector has adapted to meet its new role in the market economy; water-use efficiency
and effectiveness have been greatly improved (Chen 2008). However, China is still
facing critical water problems: frequent water disasters, conflicts between water
supply and demand, serious water pollution, and a degraded water ecosystem.
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
D. Shen, Water Resources Management of the People’s Republic of China,
Global Issues in Water Policy 26, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-61931-2_19
431