166
W. Cai et al.
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
0
28000
56000
84000
112000
140000
Tibet
Qinghai
Yunnan
Hainan
Guangxi
Sichuan
Xinjiang
Guizhou
Heilongjiang
Jiangxi
…
Liaoning
Jiangsu
Henan
Shandong
Shanxi
Hebei
Ningxia
Beijing
Shanghai
Tianjin
water resources per capita (cu.m)
top ten
bottom ten
2018
Fig. 5.4 China’s top 10 and bottom ten provinces of the total water resources per capita in 2018
geographical distribution constitute a challenge to rational and efficient use of water
resources.
5.1.3 Water Resources Management Policies in China
5.1.3.1 Evolution of Water Resources Management System in China
A key solution to addressing the daunting challenge of water shortage is to step up the
management of water resources for sustainable water utilization, while the creation of
a stringent and well-structured water management system shall provide the safeguard
for effective management of water resources. According to the evolution of water
protection and utilization in China sorted out by Xia et al. (2016), Jia and Zhang
(2011), China’s water resources management system has undergone the following
four stages:
(1) Absence of proper resource management with a sole focus on engineering
projects rather than resources (1949–1977). Water management in China during
this period was fragmented, as the Ministry of Water Resources was only responsible for water conservancy efforts that mainly includes flood prevention and
water diversion across river basins; while hydropower, urban water supply and
inland navigation fell under the responsibilities of the Ministry of Fuel and
Industry (Ministry of Power), the Ministry of Construction and the Ministry of