5 Reality and Challenges of China’s Water Resources Management …
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Transportation respectively. Even farmland irrigation and water conservancy,
which is understood as a typical branch of water conservancy, used to be
managed by the Ministry of Agriculture over a considerable period.
(2) The infancy of institutional management predominantly built on administration
mandates (1978–1987): as water shortage made water resources management an
actual need, this period was mainly characterized by water engineering project
construction and water resources development. However, as the Ministry of
Water Resources lacked the functionality and legitimacy of water management
as an administrative organ in water-related affairs, conflicts among provinces
and cities in water usage had to be mediated by the State Council, which mapped
out plans for water sharing for certain river basins and water supply projects
through administration mandates. As production was subject to national plans in
a planned economy, it was only natural that conflicts in water use were handled
via governmental mandates.
(3) Introduction of a water withdrawal permit system (1988–1998): the promulgation of the Water Law of the People’s Republic of China in 1988 unveiled a new
stage of water management in China where the focus shifted towards comprehensive utilization of water, aiming at harmony between man and water. As per
the Water Law, a permit was obligatory to withdraw water. Administration Regulations on Water Withdrawal Permit and Water Resources Charge Collection
issued by the State Council in 1993 granted water management an independent
position from engineering management with its specific legal basis.
(4) Regular institutional management based on water right (2002–): the revised
Water Law took effect in 2002, which sought to preserve water ecology and
build eco-civilization. The new Water Law put in place the water assessment
system, stipulating that plans for national economy, social development, overall
urban development, and key construction projects must fit in with local water
conditions and flood prevention requirements and be approved through scientific
assessment; it also provided that the size of a city, industries, rural projects and
services involving significant water use should be constrained in regions lacking
water resources. The emergence of water assessment system has provided the
institutional safety net for the lead-time and scientific evaluation on water
management of plans and projects.
5.1.3.2 The “Three Red Lines” in Water Resources Management
The No. 1 Central Document of 2011 explicitly stated that the strictest water management regulations shall be implemented with “three systems” put in place, i.e. total
water consumption control, water efficiency control and water pollution limit in water
functional zones, thus drawing the “three red lines”, i.e. total water consumption,
water efficiency and pollution load limit in water functional zones. Such regulations were followed by Opinions of the State Council on the Implementation of the
Strictest Water Resources Management Regulations published in 2012 to confront
167
Transportation respectively. Even farmland irrigation and water conservancy,
which is understood as a typical branch of water conservancy, used to be
managed by the Ministry of Agriculture over a considerable period.
(2) The infancy of institutional management predominantly built on administration
mandates (1978–1987): as water shortage made water resources management an
actual need, this period was mainly characterized by water engineering project
construction and water resources development. However, as the Ministry of
Water Resources lacked the functionality and legitimacy of water management
as an administrative organ in water-related affairs, conflicts among provinces
and cities in water usage had to be mediated by the State Council, which mapped
out plans for water sharing for certain river basins and water supply projects
through administration mandates. As production was subject to national plans in
a planned economy, it was only natural that conflicts in water use were handled
via governmental mandates.
(3) Introduction of a water withdrawal permit system (1988–1998): the promulgation of the Water Law of the People’s Republic of China in 1988 unveiled a new
stage of water management in China where the focus shifted towards comprehensive utilization of water, aiming at harmony between man and water. As per
the Water Law, a permit was obligatory to withdraw water. Administration Regulations on Water Withdrawal Permit and Water Resources Charge Collection
issued by the State Council in 1993 granted water management an independent
position from engineering management with its specific legal basis.
(4) Regular institutional management based on water right (2002–): the revised
Water Law took effect in 2002, which sought to preserve water ecology and
build eco-civilization. The new Water Law put in place the water assessment
system, stipulating that plans for national economy, social development, overall
urban development, and key construction projects must fit in with local water
conditions and flood prevention requirements and be approved through scientific
assessment; it also provided that the size of a city, industries, rural projects and
services involving significant water use should be constrained in regions lacking
water resources. The emergence of water assessment system has provided the
institutional safety net for the lead-time and scientific evaluation on water
management of plans and projects.
5.1.3.2 The “Three Red Lines” in Water Resources Management
The No. 1 Central Document of 2011 explicitly stated that the strictest water management regulations shall be implemented with “three systems” put in place, i.e. total
water consumption control, water efficiency control and water pollution limit in water
functional zones, thus drawing the “three red lines”, i.e. total water consumption,
water efficiency and pollution load limit in water functional zones. Such regulations were followed by Opinions of the State Council on the Implementation of the
Strictest Water Resources Management Regulations published in 2012 to confront