The Department of Water Resources of Hunan Province recently issued the “14th Five-Year Plan for Water Resources Allocation and Water Supply in Hunan Province”. It specifies that by 2025, the total water consumption of Hunan Province will have been controlled within 35.5 billion cubic meters, and the newly-added project water supply capacity will reach 1 billion cubic meters. The water resources utilization efficiency will be significantly improved and the water resources allocation more reasonable and efficient. The balance between supply and demand of water resources is basically achieved in moderate drought years.

The plan not only clarifies the binding and expected targets, but also considers combination of regions and watersheds. There are five areas: the Changsha-Zhuzhou-Xiangtan City Cluster, southern Hunan, central Hunan, western Hunan, and Dongting Lake and its surrounding area. It formulates water resources optimized allocation and water supply plan by area. It also mentions such water supply guarantee schemes as optimizing the layout of reservoir water sources, maintaining the security of urban and rural water supply, reasonably rationing industrial water, effectively guaranteeing irrigation water demand, and implementing ecological flow control. It states clearly water resources management measures, including a rigid restraint system, strengthening water conservation and intensive water use, enhancing drinking water source management, and promoting the reform of the water resources property rights system.

During the “14th Five-Year Plan” period, through the construction of key water sources, inter-basin, and regional water transfer projects, Hunan Province will accelerate the building of a water resource allocation pattern with backbone reservoirs on mainstream and tributaries and regional water transmission and distribution projects as the main body; gradually form a relatively complete water resource supply system; improve water resources allocation capacity and water supply guarantee level; and, effectively guarantee water supply security, food security, and economic security, so as to provide a solid water resources guarantee for high-quality economic and social development.

This article is from Hunan Provincial Government www.enghunan.gov.cn. 

Translator: Yu Jiangjiang

Chinese source: hunan.gov.cn