The Regulations on Water Supply (hereby referred to as the Regulations) came into effect on June 1, 2026, while the Regulations on Urban Water Supply were repealed at the same time.

The Regulations was issued in February this year. To advance integrated urban-rural development and ensure equal access to water supply services for urban and rural residents, the Regulations, based on former Regulations on Urban Water Supply, brings rural water supply within its scope. It will promote unified standards, institutional alignment, mutual integration, and coordinated development in urban and rural water supply in terms of planning and layout, infrastructure development, and management and services, thereby advancing urban and rural water supply systems featuring “the same water source, the same supply network, the same water quality, the same regulatory standards, and the same level of service.”

According to a responsible official of the Ministry of Water Resources, the Regulations focuses on prominent issues concerning urban and rural water supply security and water supply services. It emphasizes institutional design and seeks to establish a comprehensive institutional framework covering the entire water supply process from source to tap. At the same time, it strengthens the binding force of the regulation by stipulating clear legal liabilities for acts that endanger water supply security, damage water supply facilities, or violate requirements for water supply services, thereby ensuring the effective implementation of various management requirements. For rural water supply other than large-scale water supply, the Regulations provides that the water administrative department under the State Council shall, together with relevant departments, formulate separate administrative measures.

A responsible official of the Ministry stated that solid efforts will be made to publicize and implement the Regulations. The Ministry will expedite the formulation and issuance of measures for the administration of small-scale rural water supply, improve supporting systems and policy provisions, intensify law enforcement in rural water supply, and enhance the quality and effectiveness of enforcement, thereby providing strong safeguards for the high-quality development of rural water supply.

Original Source: Xinhua

Journalist: Wei Hongyi

Translation: INTCE