19.3 Water Resources Policy After 1980
447
After 40 years, water resources management has finally become one of two components in the water sector, the counterpart to water infrastructure. Of course, there are
many developments in terms of content. Today, a modern water resources management system has been fully established in China. The system can respond to the
various water issues caused by external social and economic changes and to internal
water sector development.
19.4 Outlook
In reviewing water resources management policy in the past 40 years in China, it
could be said that water policy is struggling in the transformation from water sector
policy to water resources policy, from development policy to management policy,
from “hard” infrastructure policy to “soft” regulatory policy, from economic-focused
to social-focused and ecological-focused. During this process, the policy has experienced several fluctuations, but the role and increasing importance of water resources
management have steadily become more apparent. Now, China has put in place
a modern water resources management system incorporating market mechanisms
with governmental administration, but it is facing a critical challenge in developing
an advanced water resources management policy. In forecasting water resources
management in China, the following factors might be significant in the near future,
based on the author’s understanding.
More emphasis on water resources management
With the achievement of peak water use in the country, a signal of ending largescale water project construction, the key task to improve the sector and quality are
to strengthen water resources management. After 40 years, both sector and water
resources, as well as social and economic development, are required to improve
water resources management. But the focal fields for water resources management
will be changed by time and water issues.
More focus on implementation
Since the 2002 Water Law, no new water resources management system has been
introduced (river and lake chief is a water resources manager system, not a water
resources management system) in China. This demonstrates that water resources
management system development in China was almost completed in the 25 years
following 1978. However, the implementation of this system is quite problematic
and weak. It could be said that the strategies developed in the last 10 years, including
the strictest water resources management strategy and river and lake chief, all aim
to improve the developed system implementation. In the future, this process will
continue, and implementation improvement will be the focus of water resources
management.
447
After 40 years, water resources management has finally become one of two components in the water sector, the counterpart to water infrastructure. Of course, there are
many developments in terms of content. Today, a modern water resources management system has been fully established in China. The system can respond to the
various water issues caused by external social and economic changes and to internal
water sector development.
19.4 Outlook
In reviewing water resources management policy in the past 40 years in China, it
could be said that water policy is struggling in the transformation from water sector
policy to water resources policy, from development policy to management policy,
from “hard” infrastructure policy to “soft” regulatory policy, from economic-focused
to social-focused and ecological-focused. During this process, the policy has experienced several fluctuations, but the role and increasing importance of water resources
management have steadily become more apparent. Now, China has put in place
a modern water resources management system incorporating market mechanisms
with governmental administration, but it is facing a critical challenge in developing
an advanced water resources management policy. In forecasting water resources
management in China, the following factors might be significant in the near future,
based on the author’s understanding.
More emphasis on water resources management
With the achievement of peak water use in the country, a signal of ending largescale water project construction, the key task to improve the sector and quality are
to strengthen water resources management. After 40 years, both sector and water
resources, as well as social and economic development, are required to improve
water resources management. But the focal fields for water resources management
will be changed by time and water issues.
More focus on implementation
Since the 2002 Water Law, no new water resources management system has been
introduced (river and lake chief is a water resources manager system, not a water
resources management system) in China. This demonstrates that water resources
management system development in China was almost completed in the 25 years
following 1978. However, the implementation of this system is quite problematic
and weak. It could be said that the strategies developed in the last 10 years, including
the strictest water resources management strategy and river and lake chief, all aim
to improve the developed system implementation. In the future, this process will
continue, and implementation improvement will be the focus of water resources
management.