42
2 Water Resources Management Framework
available for their use. The drying up of the Yellow River from the 1970 s to the
1990s and the disappearance of many tail lakes in inland river basins in northwest
China have generated the demand to manage consumption rather than abstraction.
The use volume is applied at the user level, including industrial enterprises and
farmers. Such use occurs at the end of the supply and allocation system. To some
extent, it is costly and unnecessary to manage in terms of abstraction or consumption.
The annual average total control indicators generally refer to the planned indicators, regardless of the changes in water resources between years. These indicators
are reflected in the river basin water resources allocation plan or the total amount
of water abstraction permitted volume. For a water abstractor, the annual average
control indicator is the amount of water specified on the water abstraction permit.
The annual or seasonal control indicators are the volume in the annual plan or the
real water use, formulated according to an annual water resources regulation plan,
an annual water use plan, and an annual water abstraction plan.
With the increasing conflict between water supply and demand, the total water
volume control system is being subjected to increasing scrutiny in China. At present,
the river basin water resources allocation plan is formulated at the central level and in
the provinces, including the regional total water abstraction volume. With the implementation of the strictest water resources management strategy, control indicators
have been developed, covering the country, province, prefecture, and county levels.
The total water volume control system is a macro-water resources technical review
system, and it provides the guidance for and is implemented through the planned
water use system and the water abstraction permit system.
2.2.11 Quota Management System
Quota management is a system combined with the total water volume control system
in China. The water use quota is a water usage allocation per unit of product or
service that is determined by the water budgeting test. This quota is the microcontrol index in water resources management and provides the basis to formulate
macro-control indicators, such as total water use volume, water abstraction permit
approval, and others. The water use allowance, such as in the permit application,
could be determined by the sectoral water use quota and the quantity of the product
or service.
The quota management system includes the management and implementation
of the water use quota. Quota management involves formulating, promulgating, and
revising specific water use quotas. Quota implementation concerns how to implement
the quotas in water resources management practices.
Article 47 of the 2002 Water Law establishes the quota management system.
Article 16 of Regulation on the Management of Water Abstraction Permits and
Water Resources Fee Collection stipulates that the amount of water use verified in
accordance with the sectoral water use quota is the primary basis for the approval of
abstraction volume. Based on this article, the provincial WAD and quality supervision
2 Water Resources Management Framework
available for their use. The drying up of the Yellow River from the 1970 s to the
1990s and the disappearance of many tail lakes in inland river basins in northwest
China have generated the demand to manage consumption rather than abstraction.
The use volume is applied at the user level, including industrial enterprises and
farmers. Such use occurs at the end of the supply and allocation system. To some
extent, it is costly and unnecessary to manage in terms of abstraction or consumption.
The annual average total control indicators generally refer to the planned indicators, regardless of the changes in water resources between years. These indicators
are reflected in the river basin water resources allocation plan or the total amount
of water abstraction permitted volume. For a water abstractor, the annual average
control indicator is the amount of water specified on the water abstraction permit.
The annual or seasonal control indicators are the volume in the annual plan or the
real water use, formulated according to an annual water resources regulation plan,
an annual water use plan, and an annual water abstraction plan.
With the increasing conflict between water supply and demand, the total water
volume control system is being subjected to increasing scrutiny in China. At present,
the river basin water resources allocation plan is formulated at the central level and in
the provinces, including the regional total water abstraction volume. With the implementation of the strictest water resources management strategy, control indicators
have been developed, covering the country, province, prefecture, and county levels.
The total water volume control system is a macro-water resources technical review
system, and it provides the guidance for and is implemented through the planned
water use system and the water abstraction permit system.
2.2.11 Quota Management System
Quota management is a system combined with the total water volume control system
in China. The water use quota is a water usage allocation per unit of product or
service that is determined by the water budgeting test. This quota is the microcontrol index in water resources management and provides the basis to formulate
macro-control indicators, such as total water use volume, water abstraction permit
approval, and others. The water use allowance, such as in the permit application,
could be determined by the sectoral water use quota and the quantity of the product
or service.
The quota management system includes the management and implementation
of the water use quota. Quota management involves formulating, promulgating, and
revising specific water use quotas. Quota implementation concerns how to implement
the quotas in water resources management practices.
Article 47 of the 2002 Water Law establishes the quota management system.
Article 16 of Regulation on the Management of Water Abstraction Permits and
Water Resources Fee Collection stipulates that the amount of water use verified in
accordance with the sectoral water use quota is the primary basis for the approval of
abstraction volume. Based on this article, the provincial WAD and quality supervision