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W. Cai et al.
the mounting water challenge. This document, commonly known as “Three Red
Lines”, identified the following goals:
(1) To determine the red line for water resources exploitation and use, with a strict
cap on total water consumption. By 2030, China’s annual water consumption shall be kept under 700 billion m
3 . The Document stated that the focus
of water management should move from water supply management to water
demand management. Water distribution plans of major river basins should be
executed and targets for total water withdrawal should be created respectively
at catchment, provincial, municipal and county levels.
(2) To determine the red line for water efficiency control and put a resolute stop to
water waste. By 2030, water efficiency in China should reach or approach the
top level in the world with water use per 10,000 yuan of industrial output (at
constant price of 2000, same hereinafter) down to below 40 m
3 , and effective
use coefficient of farmland irrigation water increased above 0.6.
(3) To determine the red line for pollution limit in water functional zones. By 2030,
the discharge of main pollutants into rivers and lakes should be controlled within
the environmental capacity of water functional zones, of which over 95% should
measure up to water quality standard.
Since the earnest implementation of the strictest water management regulations
and the issuance of the “Three Red Lines”, China has made steady headway in water
quality improvement and instituted Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and
Control. By 2018, water environment in China saw an upgrade in various dimensions,
reversing the trend of growing water pollution across the country. According to 2018
Bulletin on Ecological Environment of China, 1009 black and foul water bodies in
36 key cities were eliminated or largely eliminated, accounting for 95% of all such
areas; 99.9% of 6251 problems observed in 1586 water resources were solved.
5.1.3.3 Trend of Water Resources Management
With water management regulations and measures gradually taking shape and
strengthened, new demands for water utilization and protection have emerged amid
greater attention to eco-environmental protection and the pursuit of green development. From the implementation standpoint, the future trend of water resources
management includes:
(1) Encouragement of eco-economic management: a stress on water-efficient
economy, i.e. enhancement of water use efficiency on top of more effective
water use management.
(2) Creation of a unified water management system: a holistic approach shall be
adopted for the scientific and comprehensive utilization of water resources. A
unified authority for water management shall be created for coordinated use of
water resources, while ensuring more appropriate use of funds and more rational
industrial footprint.
W. Cai et al.
the mounting water challenge. This document, commonly known as “Three Red
Lines”, identified the following goals:
(1) To determine the red line for water resources exploitation and use, with a strict
cap on total water consumption. By 2030, China’s annual water consumption shall be kept under 700 billion m
3 . The Document stated that the focus
of water management should move from water supply management to water
demand management. Water distribution plans of major river basins should be
executed and targets for total water withdrawal should be created respectively
at catchment, provincial, municipal and county levels.
(2) To determine the red line for water efficiency control and put a resolute stop to
water waste. By 2030, water efficiency in China should reach or approach the
top level in the world with water use per 10,000 yuan of industrial output (at
constant price of 2000, same hereinafter) down to below 40 m
3 , and effective
use coefficient of farmland irrigation water increased above 0.6.
(3) To determine the red line for pollution limit in water functional zones. By 2030,
the discharge of main pollutants into rivers and lakes should be controlled within
the environmental capacity of water functional zones, of which over 95% should
measure up to water quality standard.
Since the earnest implementation of the strictest water management regulations
and the issuance of the “Three Red Lines”, China has made steady headway in water
quality improvement and instituted Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and
Control. By 2018, water environment in China saw an upgrade in various dimensions,
reversing the trend of growing water pollution across the country. According to 2018
Bulletin on Ecological Environment of China, 1009 black and foul water bodies in
36 key cities were eliminated or largely eliminated, accounting for 95% of all such
areas; 99.9% of 6251 problems observed in 1586 water resources were solved.
5.1.3.3 Trend of Water Resources Management
With water management regulations and measures gradually taking shape and
strengthened, new demands for water utilization and protection have emerged amid
greater attention to eco-environmental protection and the pursuit of green development. From the implementation standpoint, the future trend of water resources
management includes:
(1) Encouragement of eco-economic management: a stress on water-efficient
economy, i.e. enhancement of water use efficiency on top of more effective
water use management.
(2) Creation of a unified water management system: a holistic approach shall be
adopted for the scientific and comprehensive utilization of water resources. A
unified authority for water management shall be created for coordinated use of
water resources, while ensuring more appropriate use of funds and more rational
industrial footprint.