46
2 Water Resources Management Framework
2.3 Relationships Among Water Resources Management
Systems
The previous section has discussed the key water resources management systems
in China one by one and analyzed the internal design and implementation of each
system. As the elements of the water cycle, as well as water resources development
and utilization, are interconnected, these management systems are also interrelated
and mutually influencing. The interrelationships of these systems form a complicated
and systematic water resources management system that promotes effective water
resources management from various aspects (Figs. 2.2 and 2.3). Therefore, taking into
account the perspective of each system, this section will investigate the relationships
among these systems.
2.3.1 Water Resources Development and Use Process
The complete process of water resources development and use includes water abstraction, supply, use, and discharge. Of these aspects, water supply is a service and is
therefore not managed by the resources systems. Water bodies, including water
sources for abstraction and waters for wastewater discharge, and various water
activities such as abstraction, use, and discharge are involved in this process.
In China’s water resources management framework, most systems are designed
to manage water resources. These systems include the medium- and long-term water
supply and demand planning system, the water resources allocation system, the
water resources justification system, the water function zone system, the planned
water use system (annual water resources regulation plan), the total water volume
control system, and the groundwater management system. Of these, the mediumand long-term water supply and demand planning system is concerned with future
water resources development and use; the water resources allocation system manages
water resources allocation in the present; the water resources justification system
offers assessments of water sources, while the water quality management for water
sources is dependent on the water function zone system. For groundwater resources,
the groundwater management system will be applied.
The management of water abstraction is jointly conducted by the water resources
justification system, the water abstraction permit system, the water resources fee
system, the overcharge system for plan/quota-exceeding use, and the planned water
use system (annual water abstraction plan). As discussed above, the water resources
justification system emphasizes technical reviews, while the water abstraction permit
system belongs to the administrative management sphere. The collection of water
resource fees and the overcharge system for plan/quota-exceeding use are economic
incentives. The planned water use system (the annual water abstraction plan) implements the water abstraction permit system and manages water abstraction activities
in a given year.
2 Water Resources Management Framework
2.3 Relationships Among Water Resources Management
Systems
The previous section has discussed the key water resources management systems
in China one by one and analyzed the internal design and implementation of each
system. As the elements of the water cycle, as well as water resources development
and utilization, are interconnected, these management systems are also interrelated
and mutually influencing. The interrelationships of these systems form a complicated
and systematic water resources management system that promotes effective water
resources management from various aspects (Figs. 2.2 and 2.3). Therefore, taking into
account the perspective of each system, this section will investigate the relationships
among these systems.
2.3.1 Water Resources Development and Use Process
The complete process of water resources development and use includes water abstraction, supply, use, and discharge. Of these aspects, water supply is a service and is
therefore not managed by the resources systems. Water bodies, including water
sources for abstraction and waters for wastewater discharge, and various water
activities such as abstraction, use, and discharge are involved in this process.
In China’s water resources management framework, most systems are designed
to manage water resources. These systems include the medium- and long-term water
supply and demand planning system, the water resources allocation system, the
water resources justification system, the water function zone system, the planned
water use system (annual water resources regulation plan), the total water volume
control system, and the groundwater management system. Of these, the mediumand long-term water supply and demand planning system is concerned with future
water resources development and use; the water resources allocation system manages
water resources allocation in the present; the water resources justification system
offers assessments of water sources, while the water quality management for water
sources is dependent on the water function zone system. For groundwater resources,
the groundwater management system will be applied.
The management of water abstraction is jointly conducted by the water resources
justification system, the water abstraction permit system, the water resources fee
system, the overcharge system for plan/quota-exceeding use, and the planned water
use system (annual water abstraction plan). As discussed above, the water resources
justification system emphasizes technical reviews, while the water abstraction permit
system belongs to the administrative management sphere. The collection of water
resource fees and the overcharge system for plan/quota-exceeding use are economic
incentives. The planned water use system (the annual water abstraction plan) implements the water abstraction permit system and manages water abstraction activities
in a given year.