19.4 Outlook
449
understood by water professionals and managers. But from a practical perspective,
the implementation of the system is far from a sound water rights system, such as
those in Australia. This means water rights system development in China will be a
long process, a process that might extend another 20 years or more into the future.
In one aspect, the realization of the zero-increase goal in total water use decreases
the immediacy of a water rights system, compared to that at the end of the 1990s.
In other aspects, water rights is a market mechanism that will continue to progress
under general market-oriented reform. In the meantime, with the strengthening of
water resources ownership rights, the water rights system must be promoted. Under
the current step, the development of a modern and advanced water rights system will
require more time and efforts, compared to those works to introduce the system.
Continuing water pricing reform
Water pricing has been applied as an efficient, simple, and frequently used instrument since 1980. China has developed an advanced water pricing framework which
can incorporate resource value, reflect cost, and be accountable for environmental
loss. In the last 40 years, the focus of each reform has varied with socio-economic
development and water resources issues, although the general direction has gradually
been from an economic aspect to a social and then eco-environmental aspect. Each
reform did not realize the target. Water pricing reform will have to continue into the
future.
Strengthening of groundwater management
Groundwater management will be an area of emphasis in the near future, as a
response to severe problems in both quantity and quality and poor management practices. International experiences, however, even in the developed countries, provide
many lessons. Thus, the development of groundwater management systems will also
be an exploration process. With respect to the varieties of groundwater and their
development, local practices will be promoted.
Water quality and water ecological management as a new focus
International experiences show that water quality management and then waterbased ecological system management will be the next steps in water resources
management after China becomes a middle-developed economy. Quality-focused
and ecosystem-based water resources management will require innovations in both
ideas and management systems. Until now, China has not yet developed.
Valuation of water resources and increased cost to use water resources
With the introduction of water resources asset management and the establishment
of water rights ownership and its rights holder, a mechanism has been developed
for realizing benefits from the transfer of water rights from owner to user. The
water resources fee/tax can be regarded as the benefit gained by the water resources
owner from transferring water-use rights. Given this, with the establishment of water
resources valuations, the cost to obtain and use water resources will increase. To
some extent, this provides increasing space for water resources tax regulation.
449
understood by water professionals and managers. But from a practical perspective,
the implementation of the system is far from a sound water rights system, such as
those in Australia. This means water rights system development in China will be a
long process, a process that might extend another 20 years or more into the future.
In one aspect, the realization of the zero-increase goal in total water use decreases
the immediacy of a water rights system, compared to that at the end of the 1990s.
In other aspects, water rights is a market mechanism that will continue to progress
under general market-oriented reform. In the meantime, with the strengthening of
water resources ownership rights, the water rights system must be promoted. Under
the current step, the development of a modern and advanced water rights system will
require more time and efforts, compared to those works to introduce the system.
Continuing water pricing reform
Water pricing has been applied as an efficient, simple, and frequently used instrument since 1980. China has developed an advanced water pricing framework which
can incorporate resource value, reflect cost, and be accountable for environmental
loss. In the last 40 years, the focus of each reform has varied with socio-economic
development and water resources issues, although the general direction has gradually
been from an economic aspect to a social and then eco-environmental aspect. Each
reform did not realize the target. Water pricing reform will have to continue into the
future.
Strengthening of groundwater management
Groundwater management will be an area of emphasis in the near future, as a
response to severe problems in both quantity and quality and poor management practices. International experiences, however, even in the developed countries, provide
many lessons. Thus, the development of groundwater management systems will also
be an exploration process. With respect to the varieties of groundwater and their
development, local practices will be promoted.
Water quality and water ecological management as a new focus
International experiences show that water quality management and then waterbased ecological system management will be the next steps in water resources
management after China becomes a middle-developed economy. Quality-focused
and ecosystem-based water resources management will require innovations in both
ideas and management systems. Until now, China has not yet developed.
Valuation of water resources and increased cost to use water resources
With the introduction of water resources asset management and the establishment
of water rights ownership and its rights holder, a mechanism has been developed
for realizing benefits from the transfer of water rights from owner to user. The
water resources fee/tax can be regarded as the benefit gained by the water resources
owner from transferring water-use rights. Given this, with the establishment of water
resources valuations, the cost to obtain and use water resources will increase. To
some extent, this provides increasing space for water resources tax regulation.