China will trial a new use-based scheme to better manage, develop and protect water resources across the country as of Thursday.
The announcement by the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources called for a quick implementation of a report on China's water resources.
In the report, 1,407 rivers, 248 lakes and reservoirs representing seven major river systems have been classified into 3,122 sub groups according to need whether for purposes of protection, buffer, development and utilization or preservation.
Rivers listed for development and utilization are regrouped into seven different resource types, including drinking water, water for industrial and agricultural use, water for fisheries, water resources for sightseeing and entertainment, and controlled sewage discharge.
As well as listing rivers and their functions, the report also analyses the present situation of regional water resources development and utilization, and demand for economic and social development, plus water protection and pollution control goals for rivers with different uses.
China's seven major river systems are based on the Yangtze River, Yellow River, Songhua-Liaohe rivers, Haihe River, Huaihe River, Pearl River and Taihu Lake.
Experts believe that with the new protection and management method, China will easily solve problems arising from previous river management under which the functions of rivers were not clearly defined, leading to competition among different regions or
different sectors over water use.
(Xinhua News Agency April 19, 2002)
