On 17 November 2017, a press conference was held by the Ministry of Water Resources to release the results of assessment on the implementation of the most stringent water resources management system in 2016 and working plan during the 13th Five-Year Plan Period. Mr. Chen Mingzhong, Director General of the Department of Water Resources of MWR made an introduction on the progress of assessment, and Counselor Cheng Xiaobing and Deputy Director General Shi Qiuchi answered questions raised by the media during the conference.

1. Overall Planning of assessment during the 13th Five-year Plan Period

The assessment implementation plan of the most stringent water resources management system (hereinafter as the assessment) focused on fulfillment of goals, system building and implementation of measures. The improvement of assessment indicators and scoring methods has been realized and mainly reflected as follows.

First, the assessment plays a guiding role. The assessment incorporates the implementation of the river chief system, the action of dual control of water consumption in both quantity and intensity, and other new requirements upon water resource management, introduces such indicators as decrease in water use per 10,000 yuan of GDP, and highlights the water resource management systems like the river chief system and the water resource utilization control system which we are trying to establish or promote at present. Water conservation and water resource protection are prioritized in the implementation of the measures. Moreover, awards for outstanding achievements in innovation and the approach of “one-vote veto” fully demonstrate the innovative and authoritative feature of assessment.

Second, the assessment method is optimized. Emphasis has placed on coordination among various departments and fulfillment of the government’s responsibilities, with special concentration on integration of overall assessment with supervision on routine basis as well as outcome and results.

Third, the assessment reflects the regional difference in water resource endowment. In view of different characteristics of water resources condition in northern part and southern part of China, separate indicators and scores are adopted to make the assessment more targeted and operable.

2. Results of assessment in 2016

The Ministry of Water Resources, together with eight ministries and commissions including and the National Development and Reform Commission, set up a working team to assess the implementation of the most stringent water resource management system. According to the Implementation Plan, the assessment team conducted comprehensive evaluation upon 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the jurisdiction of central government, regarding the fulfillment of goals, system building and implementation of relevant measures in 2016. The results of evaluation passed the approval of the State Council and detailed as follows.

2.1 The evaluated 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities all satisfied the assessment standards in 2016. Among which, five provinces including Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shandong, Beijing and Chongqing rated as excellent.

2.2 In 2016, the total water consumption of 31 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities totaled 604.02 billion m3. The water use per 10,000 yuan of GDP decreased by 7.2% than that in 2015; the water use per 10,000 yuan of added industrial value decreased by 7.6% than that in 2015; the coefficient of irrigated water use increased to 0.542; the compliance rate of water quality parameters in key water function zones of rivers and lakes reached 73.4%. The goals for the year were achieved across the board.

2.3 The river chief system, the action of dual control of water consumption in both quantity and intensity and other measures are being implemented across the country, According to the Opinion on Comprehensively Promoting the River Chief System, most provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have worked out working plans for the implementation of river chief system, and the river chiefs were appointed.

All provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have formulated working plans for dual control of water consumption in both quantity and intensity, with specific indicators of controlling water use intensity during the 13th Five-year Plan Period

With regard to distribution and allocation of water resources, most provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have formulated plans for water resource allocation with publication of regulations on water resource appraisal. The indicators for the control of total water consumption were broken down to provincial, municipal and county levels.

In terms of giving priority to water conservation, most of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities have formulated regulations and mid- and long-term plans for water conservation, and released guidelines on implementing the tiered water pricing system for household water consumption. Progress has been made in water pricing reform and planned water use of various industries.

As for strengthening water resources protection, most provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities formulated rules and regulations related to monitoring of water function zones and pollution discharge outlets of rivers, safety evaluation system for drinking water sources, and specified protection zone for drinking water sources and water security standards. Moreover, various attempts are made in introducing water right and market to allow a payable based water resources utilization.