30
2 Water Resources Management Framework
dams, canals, man-made river channels, siphon pipes, pumps, wells, and hydropower
stations.
The WADs above county level are responsible for the organization, implementation, supervision, and management of the water permit system according to the classified management rights. Each RBO established by the WAD of the State Council
in major state rivers and lakes is required, in accordance with the provisions of the
Regulations and with the authorization of WAD of the State Council, to be responsible for the organization and implementation of the water abstraction permit system
within its jurisdiction.
Besides water use by rural collective economic organizations and small amounts of
household and livestock drinking water, temporary emergency uses are also exempted
from the permit system. These emergency uses include abstraction and drainage to
ensure the construction and production safety of underground works such as mines,
to eliminate danger to public safety or public interests and to support agricultural
anti-drought measures and eco-environmental protection.
Design characteristics of the water abstraction permit in China. The abstraction activity is set as an entry point to achieve water source management. From
the perspective of water cycle and water resource development and utilization, the
design of the water abstraction permit system in China takes abstraction activities at
abstraction engineering and facilities as the management entry point. The management of water abstraction can realize the sustainable development and utilization of
water resources. Moreover, it can achieve management goals by impacting on other
water-related activities.
The water abstraction permit system establishes the objects that need to be
included in management and those that should be exempted. Three key factors are
considered for exemption. The first is historical reasons, which refers to exemptions of water abstraction permits for pools and reservoirs belonging to rural collective economic organizations. According to the definition in Article 81 of the 1986
General Principles of Civil Law, state-owned natural resources, including forests,
mountains, grassland, wastelands, tidal flats, surface water, and others, can be used
by the collective; to respect history and to fully protect the interests of rural collective
economic organizations and farmers to develop rural water infrastructure and water
resources, the legislation stipulates that water resources in the pools of and reservoirs built and managed by rural collective economic organizations are to be used by
the rural collective economic organizations. Second is management costs and possibilities, which refers to small amounts of water use for households and livestock.
Due to the large number of rural households in China and their low domestic water
consumption, it is too costly and impractical to apply a permit for the management
of these withdrawals. Therefore, for reasons of management costs and implementation, it is not necessary to apply for a permit to make such water withdrawals. Third
is emergency management, which refers to the exemption of water withdrawals
for emergency purposes, such as ensuring the construction and production safety
of underground works, eliminating dangers to public safety or public interests and
implementing agricultural anti-drought and eco-environmental protection measures.
2 Water Resources Management Framework
dams, canals, man-made river channels, siphon pipes, pumps, wells, and hydropower
stations.
The WADs above county level are responsible for the organization, implementation, supervision, and management of the water permit system according to the classified management rights. Each RBO established by the WAD of the State Council
in major state rivers and lakes is required, in accordance with the provisions of the
Regulations and with the authorization of WAD of the State Council, to be responsible for the organization and implementation of the water abstraction permit system
within its jurisdiction.
Besides water use by rural collective economic organizations and small amounts of
household and livestock drinking water, temporary emergency uses are also exempted
from the permit system. These emergency uses include abstraction and drainage to
ensure the construction and production safety of underground works such as mines,
to eliminate danger to public safety or public interests and to support agricultural
anti-drought measures and eco-environmental protection.
Design characteristics of the water abstraction permit in China. The abstraction activity is set as an entry point to achieve water source management. From
the perspective of water cycle and water resource development and utilization, the
design of the water abstraction permit system in China takes abstraction activities at
abstraction engineering and facilities as the management entry point. The management of water abstraction can realize the sustainable development and utilization of
water resources. Moreover, it can achieve management goals by impacting on other
water-related activities.
The water abstraction permit system establishes the objects that need to be
included in management and those that should be exempted. Three key factors are
considered for exemption. The first is historical reasons, which refers to exemptions of water abstraction permits for pools and reservoirs belonging to rural collective economic organizations. According to the definition in Article 81 of the 1986
General Principles of Civil Law, state-owned natural resources, including forests,
mountains, grassland, wastelands, tidal flats, surface water, and others, can be used
by the collective; to respect history and to fully protect the interests of rural collective
economic organizations and farmers to develop rural water infrastructure and water
resources, the legislation stipulates that water resources in the pools of and reservoirs built and managed by rural collective economic organizations are to be used by
the rural collective economic organizations. Second is management costs and possibilities, which refers to small amounts of water use for households and livestock.
Due to the large number of rural households in China and their low domestic water
consumption, it is too costly and impractical to apply a permit for the management
of these withdrawals. Therefore, for reasons of management costs and implementation, it is not necessary to apply for a permit to make such water withdrawals. Third
is emergency management, which refers to the exemption of water withdrawals
for emergency purposes, such as ensuring the construction and production safety
of underground works, eliminating dangers to public safety or public interests and
implementing agricultural anti-drought and eco-environmental protection measures.