The new concept of water resources management in China: ensuring water security in changing environment

Abstract

The Chinese government has planned to adopt the strictest water resource management (SWRM) system as a new concept to tackle the increasing water shortages the country facing with economic development and population growth. In this paper, the present status of China’s water resources including low availability of per capita water resources, uneven temporal and spatial distributions, inconsistency in spatial distributions and productivity, and fragile water ecology and environment has been discussed. The challenges in water resources due to population growth, economic development and climate change have also been analyzed. The essence of the new policy of SWRM to promote coordination between supporting capacity of water resources and socioeconomic development, harmonious interactions between human and nature, and changes in traditional lifestyles and activities is discussed. Finally, the measures taken to implement the new system and achievements toward the target have been discussed. Study reveals that SWRM is a promising concept which has the potential to control total amount of water use, increase water use efficiency and reduce water pollution.