The Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress approved a revised
Water Law on Nov. 6; it takes effect March 22, 2027. The law comprises nine
chapters covering planning, protection, development and use of water resources;
allocation and conservation; river and lake management; water-project
construction and operation; dispute resolution and supervision; legal
liabilities and final provisions. It requires implementation of Party and state
policies and China’s water-governance guidance, prioritizes water saving,
spatial balance and systemic governance, and calls for coordinated use of
government authority and market mechanisms. The law mandates comprehensive
planning, integrated treatment of root causes and symptoms, efficiency-oriented
use of water’s multiple functions, and coordinated management of water
resources, water ecology, the water environment and water-disaster control.
