The State Council has issued the Notice on the Promulgation of the “Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control.”

　　According to a report on the Chinese Government Website dated April 16, 2015, on April 2, the State Council issued the “Notice on the Issuance of the Action Plan for Water Pollution Prevention and Control” (Document No. Guofa [2015] No. 17), which was officially promulgated on April 16. The full text is as follows:

　　To the People’s Governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government; to all ministries and commissions of the State Council, and to all institutions directly affiliated with the State Council:

　　The “Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution” is hereby issued to you; please ensure its thorough implementation.

　　The Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution underscores that water environmental protection is vital to the immediate interests of the people, integral to building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and essential to realizing the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation. At present, in some regions of China, problems such as poor water quality, severe damage to aquatic ecosystems, and numerous environmental risks are particularly acute, adversely affecting public health and hindering sustainable economic and social development. To effectively strengthen efforts to prevent and control water pollution and safeguard national water security, this Action Plan has been formulated.

　　Overall requirements: Fully implement the spirit of the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second, Third, and Fourth Plenary Sessions of the 18th CPC Central Committee; vigorously advance ecological progress; place improving water‑environment quality at the core; adhere to the principles of “water conservation first, spatial balance, systematic governance, and dual‑pronged efforts”; uphold the guiding principle of “safety, cleanliness, and health”; strengthen source‑control measures; coordinate land‑and‑water management and integrate river‑and‑sea considerations; adopt a scientific, basin‑by‑basin, region‑by‑region, and phase‑by‑phase approach to govern rivers, lakes, and seas; and systematically promote water‑pollution prevention and control, aquatic‑ecosystem protection, and water‑resource management. Uphold the synergy between government and market, with a strong emphasis on reform and innovation; ensure comprehensive, law‑based advancement by implementing the strictest environmental‑protection regime; enforce accountability and performance assessment across all stakeholders; and foster public participation, making water conservation and clean water a shared responsibility for all. Together, we will establish a new mechanism for water‑pollution prevention and control—characterized by “government leadership, corporate action, market incentives, and public engagement”—to achieve win‑win outcomes in environmental, economic, and social terms, and strive to build a beautiful China where blue skies, green mountains, and clear waters endure.

　　Work objectives: By 2020, national water environmental quality will have achieved phased improvements; severely polluted water bodies will be significantly reduced; the level of drinking water safety will continue to rise; over-extraction of groundwater will be strictly controlled; the trend of worsening groundwater pollution will be preliminarily curbed; and the environmental quality of nearshore waters will steadily improve. In the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, and other areas, the condition of aquatic ecosystems will show marked improvement. By 2030, efforts will be made to achieve an overall improvement in national water environmental quality and a preliminary restoration of aquatic ecosystem functions. By mid-century, ecological and environmental quality will be comprehensively enhanced, and ecosystems will operate in a healthy, self‑sustaining cycle.

　　Key indicators: By 2020, the proportion of water bodies in the seven major river basins—Yangtze, Yellow, Pearl, Songhua, Huai, Hai, and Liao—that meet or exceed Class III quality standards will reach at least 70%; the proportion of black‑odor water bodies in built-up areas of prefecture‑level and above cities will be kept below 10%; the proportion of centralized drinking water sources at or above the prefecture level that meet or exceed Class III quality standards will exceed 93% overall; the share of groundwater with extremely poor quality nationwide will be limited to around 15%; and the proportion of nearshore waters with good or excellent (Classes I and II) quality will reach approximately 70%. In the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the proportion of river sections that have lost their functional use (worse than Class V) will decline by about 15 percentage points, while the Yangtze River Delta and the Pearl River Delta aim to eliminate all water bodies that have lost their functional use.

　　By 2030, the proportion of water bodies in the nation’s seven key river basins achieving good or excellent water quality will reach at least 75%; black and odorous water bodies in built-up urban areas will be largely eliminated; and approximately 95% of centralized drinking water sources in cities will meet or exceed Class III water quality standards.

　　I. Comprehensive Control of Pollutant Emissions

　　(1) Strengthen industrial pollution prevention and control. Ban “ten small” enterprises. Conduct a comprehensive survey of small industrial enterprises with outdated equipment and inadequate environmental protection facilities. By the end of 2016, in accordance with laws and regulations on water pollution prevention, all production projects that seriously pollute water—such as small-scale papermaking, leather tanning, textile dyeing, dye manufacturing, coke production, sulfur refining, arsenic smelting, oil refining, electroplating, and pesticide manufacturing—that do not comply with national industrial policies shall be shut down. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection will take the lead, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the National Energy Administration, and other relevant departments; local people’s governments at all levels will be responsible for implementation. The same applies to all subsequent measures, which will not be listed again.)

　　Carry out special rectification campaigns targeting ten key industries. Develop sector-specific action plans for papermaking, coking, nitrogen fertilizer production, nonferrous metals, textile dyeing and finishing, agricultural and sideline food processing, bulk pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, leather tanning, pesticide production, and electroplating, and implement clean‑production upgrades. For new, renovated, or expanded projects in these sectors, require equivalent or reduced emissions of major pollutants through emission‑offsetting measures. By the end of 2017, the papermaking industry will strive to complete elemental chlorine‑free bleaching or adopt other low‑pollution pulping technologies; steel enterprises will retrofit their coke ovens with dry quenching technology; the nitrogen fertilizer industry will upgrade urea production by implementing hydrolysis‑and‑desorption processes for process condensate; the textile dyeing and finishing sector will adopt low‑effluent dyeing and finishing technologies; the pharmaceutical (antibiotics and vitamins) industry will introduce green enzymatic production technologies; and the leather tanning industry will implement chromium‑reduction and closed‑loop recycling technologies. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and other relevant departments.)

　　Concentrate efforts on addressing water pollution in industrial clusters. Strengthen pollution control in industrial clusters such as economic and technological development zones, high-tech industrial development zones, and export processing zones. Industrial wastewater generated within these clusters must undergo preliminary treatment to meet centralized treatment standards before being discharged into centralized sewage treatment facilities. For newly established or upgraded industrial clusters, pollution-control infrastructure—including centralized sewage and waste‑treatment facilities—shall be planned and constructed concurrently. By the end of 2017, all industrial clusters shall have completed the construction of centralized sewage‑treatment facilities as required and installed automatic online monitoring systems; regions such as the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta are to achieve this one year ahead of schedule. Any cluster that fails to comply by the deadline will have its approval and authorization for new projects increasing water‑pollutant emissions suspended, and its park designation revoked in accordance with relevant regulations. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, and other relevant departments.)

　　(II) Strengthen the control of urban domestic pollution. Accelerate the construction and upgrading of urban wastewater treatment facilities. Existing urban wastewater treatment plants shall be upgraded in accordance with local conditions to meet the relevant discharge standards or reuse requirements by the end of 2020. In sensitive areas—namely, key lakes, key reservoirs, and catchment areas of nearshore waters—urban wastewater treatment facilities must fully comply with Class 1A discharge standards by the end of 2017. For cities where water quality in built-up areas fails to meet Surface Water Grade IV standards, newly constructed urban wastewater treatment facilities shall adhere to Class 1A discharge standards. In line with the national New‑Type Urbanization Plan, by 2020 all county seats and key towns nationwide will have the capacity to collect and treat wastewater, with wastewater treatment rates reaching approximately 85% in county seats and 95% in urban areas. The Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta are expected to achieve these targets one year ahead of schedule. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Comprehensively strengthen the construction of supporting pipe networks. Enhance the interception and collection of sewage in urban villages, old urban areas, and peri‑urban fringe zones. Existing combined sewer systems should be expedited to implement stormwater–sewage separation; where such conversion is impractical, measures such as interception, storage‑and‑regulation, and treatment must be adopted. For newly built wastewater treatment facilities, the associated pipe networks shall be designed, constructed, and commissioned concurrently. Except in arid regions, all new urban developments shall adopt stormwater–sewage separation, and, where conditions permit, advance the collection, treatment, and resource recovery of first flush stormwater. By 2017, the built-up areas of municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capitals, and cities separately listed in state planning shall achieve nearly complete collection and treatment of sewage; by the end of 2020, the built-up areas of other prefecture‑level cities shall likewise attain this goal. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Promote the treatment and disposal of sewage sludge. Sludge generated by wastewater treatment facilities shall undergo stabilization, harmlessness treatment, and resource recovery; the entry of non‑compliant sludge into arable land is prohibited. All illegal sludge storage sites shall be shut down. Existing sludge treatment and disposal facilities must, by the end of 2017, complete compliance upgrades. By the end of 2020, the rate of harmless treatment and disposal of sludge in prefecture‑level and above cities should reach at least 90%. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　(3) Promote pollution prevention and control in agriculture and rural areas. Prevent and control pollution from livestock and poultry farming. Scientifically designate no‑breeding zones, and by the end of 2017, close or relocate, in accordance with the law, all livestock and poultry farms (farm complexes) and individual farmers located within these zones; regions such as the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta are to complete this task one year ahead of schedule. Existing large‑scale livestock and poultry farms (farm complexes) shall, in line with pollution‑control requirements, construct supporting facilities for the storage, treatment, and utilization of manure and wastewater. In areas with intensive smallholder farming, manure and wastewater shall be collected at the household level and subjected to centralized treatment and utilization. Starting in 2016, all newly built, renovated, or expanded large‑scale livestock and poultry farms (farm complexes) must implement separate stormwater and sewage systems and adopt resource‑based utilization of manure and wastewater. (Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.)

　　Control agricultural non-point source pollution. Formulate and implement a national comprehensive plan for the prevention and control of agricultural non-point source pollution. Scale up pilot programs providing subsidies for the use of low-toxicity, low-residue pesticides, and promote green pest and disease management as well as integrated pest management. Implement soil-testing‑based, formula‑driven fertilization, and advance precision fertilization technologies and equipment. Refine standards and specifications for high-standard farmland construction, land development, and land consolidation, clearly defining environmental protection requirements; newly constructed high-standard farmland must meet relevant environmental standards. In sensitive areas and large- and medium-sized irrigation districts, make use of existing ditches, ponds, and storage pits to establish aquatic plant communities, grates, and permeable dams, and build ecological ditches, wastewater‑treatment ponds, and surface runoff collection and storage facilities to purify agricultural drainage and surface runoff. By 2020, ensure that the coverage of soil-testing‑based, formula‑driven fertilization reaches over 90%, increase fertilizer use efficiency to above 40%, and achieve integrated pest management coverage of over 40%; the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta are to complete these targets one year ahead of schedule. (Led by the Ministry of Agriculture, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine.)

　　Adjust the structure and spatial distribution of crop production. In water-scarce areas, pilot land‑retirement and water‑reduction measures. In regions where groundwater is prone to contamination, prioritize the cultivation of crops that require low inputs of fertilizers and pesticides and deliver significant environmental benefits. In five provinces and autonomous regions—Gansu, Xinjiang (including the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps), Hebei, Shandong, and Henan—where surface‑water overdevelopment and groundwater overdraft are particularly severe and agricultural water use accounts for a large share of total water consumption, appropriately reduce the acreage devoted to high‑water‑demand crops and switch to drought‑tolerant varieties and economic forest plantations. By the end of 2018, implement comprehensive management on 33 million mu of irrigated land, reducing water withdrawals by more than 3.7 billion cubic meters. (Led by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Land and Resources, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Accelerate comprehensive rural environmental improvement. Taking county-level administrative units as the basic planning and implementation units, implement unified planning, construction, and management of rural wastewater treatment, and where conditions permit, actively extend urban wastewater treatment facilities and services to rural areas. Deepen the “incentive‑based governance” policy, carry out the Rural Clean‑Up Project, conduct dredging and desilting of waterways, and promote contiguous, large‑scale improvements to the rural environment. By 2020, an additional 130,000 administrative villages will have completed comprehensive environmental remediation. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　(4) Strengthen pollution control for ships and ports. Actively address ship‑borne pollution. Mandate, in accordance with the law, the scrapping of vessels that have exceeded their prescribed service life. Revise, by category and level, the relevant environmental protection standards for ships and their associated facilities and equipment. Coastal vessels put into service from 2018 and inland vessels from 2021 shall comply with the new standards; other vessels must complete retrofitting by the end of 2020, and those that still fail to meet the requirements after retrofitting shall be phased out within a specified timeframe. International‑route vessels operating in China’s waters are required to either exchange ballast water or install ballast‑water inactivation treatment systems. Regulate ship‑breaking activities and prohibit beaching for dismantling. (Led by the Ministry of Transport, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Agriculture, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Enhance the capacity of ports and terminals to prevent and control pollution. Develop and implement a national plan for pollution prevention and control at ports, terminals, and cargo‑handling facilities. Accelerate the construction of facilities for the reception, transfer, and treatment of waste, and strengthen capabilities for receiving and treating oil‑contaminated wastewater, chemical‑cleaning ballast water, and other pollutants, as well as emergency response capacities for pollution incidents. Ports, terminals, cargo‑handling facilities, and ship‑repair yards located along coastal areas and inland waterways shall meet the required standards by the end of 2017 and 2020, respectively. Operators of ports, terminals, and cargo‑handling facilities shall formulate emergency response plans to prevent and control pollution of the aquatic environment from ships and related activities. (Led by the Ministry of Transport, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　II. Promoting the Transformation and Upgrading of the Economic Structure

　　(5) Adjust the industrial structure. Phase out outdated production capacity in accordance with the law. Starting in 2015, all localities shall, based on the Guideline Catalogue for Phasing Out Outdated Production Processes, Equipment, and Products in Certain Industrial Sectors, the Guideline Catalogue for Industrial Structure Adjustment, and relevant industry pollutant emission standards, and in light of water quality improvement requirements and industrial development conditions, formulate and implement annual plans for phasing out obsolete production capacity, and file these plans with the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Environmental Protection. Regions that fail to meet their phase-out targets shall have the approval and ratification of new projects in the relevant industries suspended. (Led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other relevant departments.)

　　Implement stringent environmental access standards. In accordance with watershed water quality objectives and the requirements of the main functional zoning plan, clearly define regional environmental准入 criteria, refine functional zoning, and adopt differentiated environmental access policies. Establish a monitoring and evaluation system for water resource and water environment carrying capacity, and institute monitoring and early warning mechanisms. Regions that have already exceeded their carrying capacity must implement water pollutant reduction plans and accelerate adjustments to development plans and industrial structures. By 2020, complete status assessments of water resource and water environment carrying capacities at the municipal and county levels. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(6) Optimize spatial planning. Rationally determine the development layout, structure, and scale, taking full account of water resource availability and the carrying capacity of the water environment, and align urban development, land use, population distribution, and industrial activities with water resources. In principle, major projects should be located in optimized development zones and key development zones, and must comply with urban–rural planning and the overall land-use plan. Encourage the development of water‑saving, high‑efficiency modern agriculture, low‑water‑consumption high‑tech industries, and eco‑friendly tourism. Strictly restrict the expansion of high‑water‑consumption, high‑pollution industries in water‑scarce areas, severely polluted regions, and ecologically sensitive zones. For new, renovated, or expanded projects in priority sectors, implement a system of emission reduction and replacement for major pollutants. Along the mainstreams of the seven major river basins, rigorously control environmental risks associated with petroleum processing, chemical raw material and chemical product manufacturing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, chemical fiber production, non‑ferrous metal smelting, and textile dyeing and finishing, and appropriately site production facilities and storage facilities for hazardous chemicals. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with participation from the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant departments.)

　　Promote the relocation or closure of polluting enterprises. Existing steel, nonferrous metals, papermaking, textile dyeing, bulk pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturing, and chemical enterprises within urban built-up areas that pose significant environmental pollution shall be relocated and upgraded in an orderly manner or shut down in accordance with the law. (Led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection and other relevant departments.)

　　Actively protect ecological spaces. Strengthen management of the urban planning blue line, ensuring that a designated proportion of water areas is preserved within urban planning zones. No new projects shall, under any circumstances, illegally occupy water areas. Implement strict controls over the use of waterfront and shoreline areas; land development and utilization must comply with relevant laws, regulations, and technical standards, adequately reserving management and protection zones for rivers, lakes, and coastal zones, with illegal encroachments required to be phased out within a specified timeframe. (Led by the Ministry of Land and Resources and the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(7) Promote circular development. Strengthen industrial water recycling. Advance the comprehensive utilization of mine water, ensuring that replenishment water for coal mining areas and water used for production and ecological purposes in surrounding regions are prioritized for mine water. Enhance the recycling of coal-washing wastewater. Encourage enterprises in water-intensive industries—such as steel, textile dyeing and printing, papermaking, petroleum and petrochemicals, chemicals, and leather processing—to implement advanced treatment and reuse of their wastewater. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, with participation from the Ministry of Water Resources, the National Energy Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Promote the utilization of reclaimed water. Focusing on cities in areas facing severe water scarcity and water pollution, improve infrastructure for reclaimed‑water use, and prioritize its application in industrial processes, urban landscaping, road cleaning, vehicle washing, construction activities, and ecological landscape maintenance. Advance wastewater treatment and reuse at highway service areas. Projects in sectors such as steel, thermal power, chemicals, pulp and paper, and textile dyeing—where conditions permit but reclaimed water is underutilized—shall not be granted new water‑withdrawal permits. Starting in 2018, newly constructed public buildings with a single‑building floor area exceeding 20,000 square meters, as well as centrally developed affordable housing projects in Beijing (20,000 square meters), Tianjin (50,000 square meters), and Hebei Province (100,000 square meters or more), shall be required to install on‑site greywater‑treatment systems. Other new residential developments are encouraged to adopt similar systems. By 2020, the reclaimed‑water utilization rate in water‑scarce cities should reach at least 20%, with the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region aiming for over 30%. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Promote the utilization of seawater. In coastal regions, encourage industries such as power generation, chemical engineering, and petrochemicals to directly use seawater for industrial purposes, including circulating cooling water. In cities where conditions permit, accelerate the development of desalinated seawater as a supplementary source of domestic water. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the State Oceanic Administration, among others.)

　　III. Focusing on Water Conservation and Protection

　　(8) Control total water consumption. Implement the strictest possible water resource management. Improve the system of total water withdrawal control targets. Strengthen water resource assessments in relevant planning and project development, ensuring that national economic and social development plans, urban master plans, and the siting of major construction projects fully take into account local water resource conditions and flood‑control requirements. For regions where total water withdrawals have already reached or exceeded their control targets, suspend approval of new water‑withdrawal permits for construction projects. Apply planned water‑use management to entities subject to water‑withdrawal permit regulation and other large water users. Water use in new, renovated, and expanded projects must meet industry‑leading standards, and water‑saving facilities shall be designed, constructed, and commissioned concurrently with the main project. Establish a roster of key water‑using entities under monitoring. By 2020, nationwide total water consumption will be capped at no more than 670 billion cubic meters. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　Strictly control the over-extraction of groundwater. In areas prone to geological hazards such as land subsidence, ground fissures, and karst collapses, any development or utilization of groundwater must be preceded by a geological hazard risk assessment. The extraction of deep confined groundwater must be rigorously regulated, and the development of geothermal and mineral waters shall be subject to strict licensing for both water withdrawal and mining activities. Construction and management of groundwater wells shall be standardized in accordance with the law; all existing wells that have not been approved or are located within the coverage area of public water supply networks must be shut down. Groundwater drawdown plans shall be formulated for areas affected by land subsidence, seawater intrusion, and other such issues. Comprehensive remediation efforts shall be undertaken in the North China groundwater over-extraction zones, with new groundwater withdrawals for industrial, agricultural, and service-sector activities prohibited within these zones. In the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, agricultural infrastructure projects—including land consolidation, agricultural development, and poverty alleviation—shall not be conditioned on the construction of accompanying wells. By the end of 2017, the delineation of groundwater no‑withdrawal zones, restricted‑withdrawal zones, and land‑subsidence control zones shall be completed; the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions shall achieve this one year ahead of schedule. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Land and Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and the Ministry of Agriculture.)

　　(9) Enhance water-use efficiency. Establish a water-efficiency assessment system, including an indicator for water consumption per ten thousand yuan of GDP, and incorporate the achievement of water-saving targets into local governments’ performance evaluations. Integrate non-conventional water resources—such as reclaimed water, rainwater, and brackish water—into the unified allocation of water resources. By 2020, nationwide water consumption per ten thousand yuan of GDP and water consumption per ten thousand yuan of industrial value added will be reduced by at least 35% and 30%, respectively, compared with 2013 levels. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Strengthen industrial water conservation. Develop a national catalog of water‑use technologies, processes, products, and equipment that are encouraged or phased out, and refine water‑withdrawal quotas for high‑water‑consumption industries. Conduct water‑conservation diagnostics, water‑balance tests, and assessments of water‑use efficiency, and enforce strict management of water‑use quotas. By 2020, high‑water‑consumption sectors—including power generation, iron and steel, textiles, papermaking, petroleum and petrochemicals, chemicals, and food fermentation—will have reached advanced quota standards. (Led by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Strengthen water conservation in urban areas. Prohibit the production and sale of products and equipment that fail to meet water‑saving standards. Public buildings must install water‑efficient fixtures, and a deadline shall be set for phasing out substandard faucets, toilet cisterns, and other domestic water‑use appliances in public facilities. Encourage residential households to adopt water‑saving devices. Upgrade and renovate water supply networks that have been in service for over 50 years or are made of outdated materials; by 2017, nationwide leakage rates in public water‑supply networks will be kept below 12%, and by 2020, below 10%. Actively promote low‑impact development and construction practices, and build rainwater harvesting and utilization systems that integrate detention, infiltration, storage, reuse, and discharge. In newly developed urban areas, at least 40% of impervious surfaces should be designed to allow water infiltration. By 2020, all prefecture‑level and above cities facing water scarcity will meet the national standards for water‑conserving cities, with the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, Yangtze River Delta, and Pearl River Delta regions achieving this goal one year ahead of schedule. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Water Resources, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Promote water conservation in agriculture. Widely implement water-saving irrigation technologies such as canal seepage control, pressurized pipeline conveyance, sprinkler irrigation, and micro‑irrigation, and upgrade water‑measurement facilities for irrigation. In regions including Northeast China, Northwest China, and the Huanghuaihai Plain, advance large‑scale, high‑efficiency water‑saving irrigation and promote crop‑specific water‑saving and drought‑resistant technologies. By 2020, the renovation and upgrading of large and key medium‑sized irrigation districts to improve water‑use efficiency will be substantially completed; the nationwide area under water‑saving irrigation will reach approximately 700 million mu, and the effective utilization coefficient of irrigation water in farmland will reach at least 0.55. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Agriculture, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(10) Safeguard water resources through science-based approaches. Improve the assessment and evaluation system for water resource protection. Strengthen oversight and management of water functional zones, and rigorously determine the pollutant‑carrying capacity of water bodies. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Strengthen the management of water allocation and dispatch for rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Refine water‑allocation plans and implement measures such as coordinated operation of sluices and dams and ecological water replenishment, rationally scheduling downstream releases and release periods to meet the basic ecological water needs of rivers and lakes, with particular emphasis on ensuring ecological base flows during low‑flow periods. Intensify the construction of water‑conservancy projects and leverage the role of key control‑type water‑conservancy works in improving water quality. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.)

　　Scientifically determine ecological flow. Conduct pilot projects in river basins such as the Yellow River and the Huai River, and progressively establish ecological flow (water level) targets as an important reference for basin‑wide water allocation and management. (Led by the Ministry of Water Resources, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.)

　　IV. Strengthening Science and Technology Support

　　(11) Promote and demonstrate applicable technologies. Accelerate the dissemination and application of technological achievements, with a focus on advancing technologies for drinking water purification, water conservation, water pollution control and recycling, urban rainwater harvesting and utilization, safe reuse of reclaimed water, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and pollution prevention and control in livestock and poultry farming. Improve the environmental technology evaluation system, strengthen the development of a national platform for sharing environmental science and technology achievements, and facilitate the sharing and commercialization of these innovations. Leverage the role of enterprises as the primary drivers of technological innovation by encouraging key water‑treatment companies to form industry–university–research strategic alliances with research institutes and universities, thereby demonstrating and promoting advanced technologies for source control and emission reduction, as well as clean production. (Led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(12) Tackle key R&D challenges in cutting-edge technologies. Integrate scientific and technological resources, leveraging relevant national science and technology programs (special projects, funds, etc.), to accelerate the development of technologies for advanced treatment of industrial wastewater, low-cost, high-standard treatment of domestic sewage, desalination of seawater and removal of salts from high-salinity industrial effluents, remediation of trace toxic contaminants in drinking water, restoration of groundwater contamination, and emergency response to hazardous chemical accidents and oil spills on water bodies. Conduct research on water‑environment benchmarks for organic compounds and heavy metals, the health impacts of water pollution, risk assessments of emerging pollutants, evaluations of water‑environment damage, and the use of high‑quality reclaimed water as a supplement to drinking‑water sources. Strengthen international exchanges and cooperation in areas such as aquatic ecosystem protection, prevention and control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution, water‑environment monitoring and early warning, and water‑treatment process technologies and equipment. (Led by the Ministry of Science and Technology, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the National Health and Family Planning Commission.)

　　(13) Vigorously develop the environmental protection industry and standardize its market. Conduct a comprehensive review of laws, regulations, and provisions related to market access and business conduct in the environmental protection sector, and abolish any rules or practices that impede the establishment of a unified national environmental protection market and fair competition. Improve tendering and procurement management measures and technical standards in areas such as environmental engineering design, construction, and operation. Promote the industrialization of advanced, applicable technologies and equipment for water conservation, pollution control, and ecological restoration. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission, with participation from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant departments.)

　　Accelerate the development of the environmental protection services sector. Clarify the responsibilities and obligations of regulatory authorities, polluting enterprises, and environmental service providers, and improve mechanisms for risk sharing and performance assurance. Encourage the adoption of comprehensive environmental service contracting models—covering system design, turnkey equipment supply, engineering construction, commissioning and operation, and maintenance management—as well as public–private partnership models. Focusing on wastewater and waste treatment and industrial parks, promote third-party environmental pollution control. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, with participation from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and other relevant agencies.)

　　V. Fully leverage the role of market mechanisms

　　(14) Streamline pricing and taxation. Accelerate water‑pricing reform. By the end of 2015, cities at the county level and above should fully implement a tiered water‑pricing system for residential users, and established towns meeting the requisite conditions should also actively advance its adoption. By the end of 2020, a progressive pricing mechanism for non‑residential water use exceeding allocated quotas or plans should be fully in place. Further deepen the comprehensive reform of agricultural water pricing. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission, with participation from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　Improve the fee‑collection policy. Revise the administrative measures for the collection of urban sewage‑treatment fees, pollutant‑discharge fees, and water‑resource fees; appropriately raise the collection standards to ensure full recovery of all due charges. Urban sewage‑treatment fees should not be lower than the costs of sewage treatment and sludge treatment and disposal. Water‑resource fees for groundwater should be set higher than those for surface water, and in areas subject to excessive groundwater extraction, such fees should be higher than in non‑overexploited areas. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Finance, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant departments.)

　　Improve the tax policy framework. Implement, in accordance with the law, preferential tax policies related to environmental protection, energy and water conservation, and comprehensive resource utilization. Exempt domestic enterprises from customs duties on key components and raw materials that must be imported for the production of large-scale environmental protection equipment supported by the state. Accelerate efforts to enact legislation on the environmental protection tax and to reform the resource tax and related tax systems. Study the inclusion of certain high‑energy‑consumption and high‑pollution products within the scope of the consumption tax. (Led by the Ministry of Finance and the State Taxation Administration, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and other relevant departments.)

　　(15) Promote diversified financing. Guide the participation of social capital. Actively advance the establishment of financing guarantee funds and foster the development of financial leasing for environmental protection equipment. Expand collateral‑based financing using equity, project revenue rights, franchise rights, and pollution‑discharge rights. Adopt mechanisms such as environmental performance‑based contracts and the granting of development and operation rights to encourage greater investment by social capital in water‑environment protection. (Led by the People’s Bank of China, the National Development and Reform Commission, and the Ministry of Finance, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.)

　　Increase government funding. The central government will strengthen financial support for water‑environment protection projects that fall under its jurisdiction, appropriately assume responsibility for a portion of those shared with local authorities, and prioritize less‑developed and key regions. It will also explore the use of special transfer payments and other mechanisms to implement a “reward‑instead‑of‑subsidy” approach. Local governments at all levels are to give priority to supporting projects and initiatives such as wastewater treatment, sludge treatment and disposal, river channel remediation, drinking‑water source protection, pollution prevention and control in livestock and poultry farming, aquatic ecosystem restoration, and emergency spill response. Necessary funding shall be allocated on a tiered basis to cover the costs of building and operating environmental regulatory capacity. (Led by the Ministry of Finance, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(16) Establish an incentive mechanism. Improve the “Leader” system for water conservation and environmental protection. Encourage leading enterprises and industrial clusters in energy conservation and emissions reduction to achieve higher standards in water-use efficiency and pollutant discharge intensity, and support the implementation of demonstration projects in clean production, water conservation, and pollution control. (Led by the National Development and Reform Commission, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and the Ministry of Water Resources.)

　　Promote green credit. Actively leverage the role of policy banks and other financial institutions in water‑environment protection, with a focus on supporting circular economy initiatives, wastewater treatment, water conservation, aquatic ecosystem protection, and the development and utilization of clean and renewable energy. Strictly restrict lending to enterprises that violate environmental laws. Strengthen the construction of an environmental credit system, establishing mechanisms for rewarding good faith and sanctioning breaches of trust. Enhance coordination and collaboration among environmental protection authorities, banks, securities regulators, and insurance agencies, and by the end of 2017, establish a tiered enterprise environmental credit rating system. Encourage industries with high environmental risks—such as those involving heavy metals, petrochemicals, and the transportation of hazardous chemicals—to obtain environmental pollution liability insurance. (Led by the People’s Bank of China, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Water Resources, the China Banking Regulatory Commission, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the China Insurance Regulatory Commission.)

　　Implement cross‑border water‑environment compensation. Explore mechanisms such as horizontal financial subsidies, counterpart assistance, and industrial relocation to establish a cross‑border water‑environment compensation system, and launch pilot programs. Further advance pilot projects for the paid use and trading of pollutant discharge rights. (Led by the Ministry of Finance, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant agencies.)

　　VI. Strengthening Environmental Law Enforcement and Supervision

　　(17) Improve laws and standards. Strengthen the legal and regulatory framework. Accelerate the formulation and revision of laws and regulations on water pollution prevention and control, marine environmental protection, pollutant discharge permitting, and chemical environmental management. Conduct research to develop legislation on environmental quality target management, environmental functional zoning, water conservation and recycling, drinking water source protection, pollution liability insurance, supervision and management of water functional zones, groundwater management, environmental monitoring, ecological flow assurance, and the prevention and control of pollution from ships and land-based sources. Localities may, in light of their specific circumstances, draft local regulations on water pollution prevention and control. (Led by the Legislative Affairs Office, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the China Insurance Regulatory Commission, and the State Oceanic Administration.)

　　Improve the standards system. Develop and revise environmental quality standards for groundwater, surface water, and marine environments, as well as pollutant discharge standards for urban wastewater treatment, sludge treatment and disposal, and agricultural drainage. Enhance the special emission limits for water pollutants in key industries, pollution prevention and control technical policies, and the clean production evaluation indicator system. Localities may formulate local water pollutant discharge standards that are stricter than national standards. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine, and other relevant departments.)

　　(18) Strengthen law enforcement. All pollution‑discharging entities must achieve full compliance with emission standards in accordance with the law. Conduct a systematic review of industrial enterprises’ pollutant discharges; compliant enterprises shall implement measures to ensure sustained compliance. Enterprises exceeding standards or total discharge limits shall receive a “yellow card” warning and be subject to production restrictions or shutdown for remediation. Those that, despite remediation, still fail to meet requirements and whose violations are serious shall be issued a “red card,” resulting in mandatory suspension of operations or closure. Starting in 2016, regularly publish lists of enterprises receiving “yellow cards” and “red cards.” Conduct periodic spot checks on compliance with emission standards by polluting entities and make the results publicly available. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible.)

　　Improve the environmental supervision and law enforcement mechanism featuring national oversight, provincial inspections, and prefectural‑city‑level checks; strengthen coordination among environmental protection, public security, supervisory, and other relevant departments and agencies; refine the mechanisms for seamless linkage and cooperation between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice; and enhance regulations governing case referral, acceptance, filing, and notification. Strengthen oversight of local people’s governments and relevant departments in their environmental protection efforts, and explore the establishment of a national environmental inspector system. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Public Security, the Central Organization Department, and others.)

　　Severely crack down on environmental violations. Focus on addressing such offenses as the unauthorized installation of clandestine pipelines or the use of seepage wells, seepage pits, and karst caves to discharge or dump wastewater containing toxic and hazardous pollutants or pathogenic substances; falsification of monitoring data; improper operation of water‑pollutant treatment facilities; and the dismantling or idling of such facilities without approval. Hold those responsible for ecological damage strictly accountable under the compensation system. Rigorously investigate and prosecute illegal and non‑compliant practices in the field of environmental impact assessment for construction projects, including overstepping authority in approvals, commencing construction before approval, proceeding with construction while awaiting approval, and conducting prolonged trial operations without subsequent verification. Where criminal offenses are established, pursue criminal liability in accordance with the law. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, and other relevant agencies.)

　　(19) Enhance regulatory standards. Improve basin‑wide coordination mechanisms. Strengthen inter‑departmental, inter‑regional, inter‑basin, and inter‑maritime water‑environment protection consultation and coordination frameworks; leverage the roles of regional environmental inspection offices and basin‑level water‑resource protection agencies; and explore the establishment of an integrated land‑sea ecosystem conservation and restoration mechanism. Governments at all levels and relevant departments upstream and downstream within a basin should strengthen coordination and collaboration, hold regular joint consultations, and implement joint monitoring, joint law enforcement, emergency response coordination, and information sharing. By the end of 2015, regions such as the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta shall establish coordinated mechanisms for water pollution prevention and control. Establish a rigorous water‑environment protection management system that strictly regulates the discharge of all pollutants. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Improve the water‑environment monitoring network. Standardize the planning and placement of monitoring cross‑sections (monitoring sites). Enhance technical support for comprehensive monitoring of drinking‑water source quality, aquatic‑biological monitoring, groundwater‑environment monitoring, chemical‑substance monitoring, and environmental risk prevention and control. By the end of 2017, unified water‑environment monitoring networks will be established in regions and marine areas including the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Pearl River Delta. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the State Oceanic Administration.)

　　Enhance environmental regulatory capacity. Strengthen specialized technical training in areas such as environmental monitoring, environmental inspection, and emergency response; rigorously enforce the certification‑required‑for‑work system for enforcement and monitoring personnel; bolster grassroots environmental law‑enforcement capabilities; and ensure that eligible townships (subdistricts) and industrial parks are equipped with the necessary environmental oversight resources. Starting in 2016, all cities and counties shall implement grid‑based management of environmental regulation. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible.)

　　VII. Effectively Strengthen Water Environment Management

　　(20) Strengthen management of environmental quality targets. Clearly define water quality protection goals for all types of water bodies and conduct a systematic assessment of compliance status. Regions that fail to meet these targets shall develop action plans, assigning pollution‑control tasks to each discharging entity within the relevant catchment area, specifying preventive and control measures and setting deadlines for achieving compliance. Such plans shall be submitted to the next higher level of people’s government for record‑keeping and, starting in 2016, shall be regularly made public. For areas where water quality fails to meet standards, implement a “listed supervision” mechanism and, when necessary, adopt measures such as restricting project approvals in the affected region. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Water Resources.)

　　(21) Deepen the total pollutant emission control system. Improve the pollutant statistics and monitoring framework, bringing all types of pollution sources—including industrial, urban domestic, agricultural, and mobile sources—within the scope of surveys. Focus on pollutants that have a significant impact on water quality, such as total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and heavy metals, and explore their inclusion in the binding indicator system for total pollutant emission controls at the river basin and regional levels. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　(22) Strengthen environmental risk control and prevent environmental risks. Conduct regular assessments of environmental and health risks associated with industrial enterprises and industrial clusters located along rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and implement corresponding preventive and control measures. Evaluate the environmental and health risks of existing chemical substances; by the end of 2017, publish a list of priority-controlled chemicals, impose strict restrictions on the production and use of high-risk chemicals, and phase out and replace them gradually. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the State Administration of Work Safety, and other relevant agencies.)

　　Ensure the prudent handling of sudden water‑environment pollution incidents. People’s governments at all local levels shall formulate and refine emergency response plans for water‑pollution accidents, assign clear responsibilities, and specify procedures for early warning, forecasting, and response, as well as measures for emergency response and support; they shall also promptly disclose early‑warning information in accordance with the law. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, and other relevant departments.)

　　(23) Fully implement the pollutant discharge permit system and issue permits in accordance with the law. By the end of 2015, complete the issuance of discharge permits for nationally monitored key pollution sources and for pollution sources in pilot areas where pollutant discharge rights are subject to paid use and trading; all other pollution sources shall have their permits issued by the end of 2017. (The Ministry of Environmental Protection is responsible.)

　　Strengthen permit management. With the goals of improving water quality and preventing environmental risks, incorporate the types, concentrations, total amounts, and discharge destinations of pollutants into the scope of permit regulation. Prohibit discharging without a permit or failing to comply with permit conditions. Enhance oversight of marine pollution discharges and explore the establishment of a marine pollution discharge permitting system. By the end of 2017, complete the construction of the national pollutant discharge permit management information platform. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the State Oceanic Administration.)

　　VIII. Fully Ensuring the Safety of the Aquatic Ecological Environment

　　(24) Ensure the safety of drinking water sources. Implement comprehensive oversight of drinking water safety throughout the entire supply chain, from source to tap. People’s governments at all local levels and water supply entities shall conduct regular monitoring, testing, and assessment of drinking water quality at source areas, at water treatment plant outlets, and at household taps within their jurisdictions. Starting in 2016, cities at or above the prefecture level shall publicly disclose such information on a quarterly basis. Beginning in 2018, all counties and above shall also make public information on drinking water safety. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, among others.)

　　Strengthen environmental protection of drinking water sources. Implement standardized management of drinking water sources, and, in accordance with the law, remove illegal structures and discharge outlets within source protection zones. Prefecture-level and above cities relying on a single water source should, by the end of 2020, have basically completed the construction of backup or emergency water sources; where conditions permit, this timeline may be advanced. Enhance protection of rural drinking water sources and improve water quality monitoring. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and the National Health and Family Planning Commission, among others.)

　　Prevent and control groundwater pollution. Conduct regular surveys and assessments of the environmental conditions in areas such as recharge zones for centralized groundwater‑based drinking water sources. Petrochemical production, storage, and sales enterprises, industrial parks, mining areas, and landfill sites shall implement necessary seepage‑prevention measures. By the end of 2017, all underground oil tanks at gas stations must be replaced with double‑walled tanks or equipped with seepage‑proof containment sumps. Decommissioned mines, wells, and water‑extraction wells shall be properly sealed and backfilled. Publish a list of groundwater‑contaminated sites within regions such as the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area that pose significant environmental risks and seriously affect public health, and carry out pilot remediation projects. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Commerce, and other relevant departments.)

　　(25) Deepen pollution prevention and control in key river basins. Develop and implement water pollution prevention plans for the seven major river basins. Study the establishment of a basin‑wide management system for classifying water ecological and environmental functions. Adopt targeted measures to address chemical oxygen demand, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, heavy metals, and other pollutants that affect human health, and intensify remediation efforts. Rivers discharging into eutrophic lakes and reservoirs shall implement total nitrogen emission controls. By 2020, the overall water quality of the Yangtze and Pearl Rivers will reach good or excellent levels; the Songhua, Yellow, Huai, and Liao Rivers will see further improvement from their current mild pollution status; and the degree of pollution in the Haihe River will be alleviated. Water quality in the Three Gorges Reservoir area will remain good, and water‑diversion projects such as the South-to-North Water Diversion Project and the Luanjiang–Tianjin Water Diversion Project will ensure water quality safety. The eutrophication levels of Taihu, Chaohu, and Dianchi Lakes will show some improvement. Pollution in lakes such as Baiyangdian, Wuliangsuhai, Hulun Lake, and Aibi Lake will be reduced. In areas with limited environmental capacity, fragile ecosystems, and high environmental risks, special emission limits for water pollutants shall be enforced. Localities may, based on the need to improve water‑environment quality, expand the scope of application of these special emission limits. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant departments.)

　　Strengthen the protection of high-quality water bodies. Conduct ecological and environmental safety assessments for river sources and for rivers, lakes, and reservoirs whose current water quality meets or exceeds Class III standards, and develop and implement corresponding ecological and environmental protection plans. These efforts shall be completed by the end of 2017 in the basins of the Dongjiang River, the Luanhe River, Qiandao Lake, and the South Four Lakes. Water quality in the Zhejiang–Fujian river systems, the rivers of Southwest China, the rivers of Northwest China, and transboundary water bodies shall be maintained at stable levels. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Water Resources, the State Forestry Administration, and other relevant departments.)

　　(26) Strengthen environmental protection in nearshore waters. Implement a pollution prevention and control plan for nearshore waters, with priority given to addressing pollution in estuaries and bays such as the Yellow River Estuary, the Yangtze River Estuary, the Minjiang River Estuary, the Pearl River Estuary, Liaodong Bay, Bohai Bay, Jiaozhou Bay, Hangzhou Bay, and the Beibu Gulf. Coastal cities at or above the prefecture level shall adopt total nitrogen discharge caps. Study the establishment of a total pollutant discharge control system for key sea areas. Standardize the siting of marine outfalls, and by the end of 2017, comprehensively rectify all illegal or improperly sited outfalls. By 2020, coastal provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities directly under the central government) will have essentially eliminated water bodies in rivers discharging into the sea that are rated below Class V. Raise the准入 thresholds for marine-related projects. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Oceanic Administration, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　Promote eco‑healthy aquaculture. Designate restricted aquaculture zones in key rivers, lakes, and nearshore waters. Implement standardized upgrades of aquaculture ponds and offshore cage farms, and encourage eligible fishery enterprises to engage in offshore marine aquaculture and intensive farming. Actively promote the use of formulated feed and gradually reduce reliance on frozen and fresh mixed‑fish feed. Strengthen management of aquaculture inputs, regulate and restrict the use of antibiotics and other chemical agents in accordance with the law, and carry out targeted remediation campaigns. By 2015, keep the area under mariculture at approximately 2.2 million hectares. (Responsibility: Ministry of Agriculture)

　　Strictly control pollution from endocrine-disrupting chemicals. By the end of 2017, complete a survey of the production and use of such chemicals, monitor and assess risks in water source areas, agricultural production zones, and concentrated aquaculture areas, and implement measures to phase out, restrict, or substitute these chemicals. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　(27) Remediate urban black and odorous water bodies. Implement measures such as source control and sewage interception, waste removal, dredging and desilting, and ecological restoration to intensify efforts to address these issues, and publicly disclose progress every six months. By the end of 2015, built-up areas of prefecture-level and above cities shall complete an inventory of water bodies and publish the names of black and odorous water bodies, responsible parties, and deadlines for achieving compliance; by the end of 2017, they shall ensure that river surfaces are free of large-scale floating debris, riverbanks are clean of litter, and there are no illegal discharge outlets; and by the end of 2020, they shall achieve the established remediation targets. The built-up areas of municipalities directly under the central government, provincial capitals, and cities separately listed in the national plan shall essentially eliminate black and odorous water bodies by the end of 2017. (Led by the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　(28) Protect water and wetland ecosystems. Strengthen ecological protection of rivers and lakes, and scientifically delineate ecological red lines. Prohibit the encroachment upon natural wetlands and other water‑conserving areas; any already encroached areas must be restored within a specified time limit. Enhance the construction and protection of water‑source conservation forests, carry out wetland protection and restoration, and intensify efforts to return farmland to forests, grasslands, and wetlands. Strengthen ecological development along riverbanks and lake shores, establishing vegetation buffer zones and isolation belts on both sides of waterways. Increase protection for aquatic wildlife nature reserves and aquatic genetic resource conservation areas, implement in‑situ and ex‑situ conservation of rare and endangered aquatic species and key aquatic genetic resources, and enhance aquatic biodiversity. By the end of 2017, formulate and implement conservation plans for aquatic biodiversity in seven major river basins. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Forestry Administration, with participation from the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and other relevant departments.)

　　Protect marine ecosystems. Strengthen conservation efforts for coastal wetlands, estuaries, and bays—such as mangrove forests, coral reefs, and seagrass beds—as well as critical fishery habitats, including spawning grounds, feeding grounds, wintering grounds, and migratory corridors. Implement stock enhancement and release programs, and construct artificial reefs. Conduct research on marine ecological compensation and damage assessment, and carry out marine ecological restoration. Strictly enforce the land reclamation control plan, and rigorously manage and supervise reclamation activities. Prohibit reclamation in key bays, core and buffer zones of marine nature reserves, priority protection zones and reserved areas within marine special protection zones, major estuarine areas, important coastal wetland areas, areas of significant sandy shorelines and sand‑source protection, as well as specially protected islands and vital fishery waters. In ecologically fragile and sensitive areas, and in waters with limited self‑purification capacity, impose strict restrictions on reclamation. Severely investigate and prosecute illegal reclamation activities, and hold responsible parties accountable. Incorporate the protection of natural coastlines into the performance evaluation system for coastal local governments. By 2020, the national rate of preserved natural coastline shall not fall below 35% (excluding island coastlines). (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and the State Oceanic Administration, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Agriculture, the State Forestry Administration, and other relevant agencies.)

　　IX. Clarify and Implement the Responsibilities of All Parties

　　(29) Strengthen the responsibility of local governments for water environmental protection. People’s governments at all levels are the principal entities responsible for implementing this Action Plan. By the end of 2015, they shall each formulate and publicly release work plans for preventing and controlling water pollution, and annually set out priority tasks and annual targets by river basin, region, and industry. They should continuously refine policies and measures, increase financial investment, coordinate urban and rural water pollution control, strengthen oversight and regulation, and ensure the comprehensive completion of all assigned tasks. Work plans submitted by each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the central government shall be filed with the State Council. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant departments.)

　　(30) Strengthen inter‑departmental coordination and collaboration. Establish a national collaborative mechanism for water pollution prevention and control, and conduct regular reviews to address major issues. All relevant departments shall conscientiously fulfill their respective responsibilities and effectively carry out related work on water pollution prevention and control. The Ministry of Environmental Protection shall strengthen unified guidance, coordination, and oversight, and promptly report progress to the State Council. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the State Oceanic Administration, among others.)

　　(31) Implement the principal responsibility of pollutant-discharging entities. All types of pollutant‑discharging entities shall strictly comply with environmental protection laws, regulations, and institutional requirements; strengthen the construction and operational management of pollution control facilities; conduct self‑monitoring; and fulfill their obligations to control pollution, reduce emissions, and prevent environmental risks. Central enterprises and state‑owned enterprises shall take the lead in implementation, while enterprises within industrial clusters should explore the establishment of self‑regulatory mechanisms for environmental protection. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission.)

　　(32) Strengthen the assessment of targets and tasks. The State Council shall sign water pollution prevention and control target responsibility agreements with the people’s governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, break down and implement specific targets and tasks, and ensure effective implementation of the “dual responsibility” system for each post. Each year, progress in implementing the action plan shall be assessed by river basin, region, and sea area; the assessment results shall be made public and serve as an important basis for the comprehensive evaluation of leading teams and leading cadres. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Central Organization Department.)

　　The assessment results shall serve as a reference for the allocation of funds related to water pollution prevention and control. (Led by the Ministry of Finance and the National Development and Reform Commission, with participation from the Ministry of Environmental Protection.)

　　For those who fail the annual assessment, relevant officials of the provincial people’s government and its related departments shall be summoned for talks, corrective measures shall be proposed, and follow-up oversight shall be ensured; project environmental impact assessments in the affected regions and enterprises shall be subject to restricted approval. For cases where inadequate performance or dereliction of duty results in an ineffective response to water‑environment pollution incidents, as well as for instances of data manipulation or falsification, or failure to meet annual targets, the responsible units and individuals shall be held accountable in accordance with laws and disciplinary regulations. Leading cadres who, disregarding ecological and environmental considerations, make reckless decisions that lead to a deterioration in water‑environment quality and cause serious consequences shall be placed on record; depending on the severity of the circumstances, they shall be subject to organizational measures or Party‑disciplinary and administrative sanctions, and even those who have already left office shall remain subject to lifelong accountability. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Supervisory Commission.)

　　X. Strengthening Public Participation and Social Oversight

　　(33) Publicly disclose environmental information in accordance with the law. Taking into account factors such as water quality and compliance status, the State shall annually publish lists of the 10 worst-performing and 10 best-performing cities, as well as reports on the water‑environment conditions of each province, autonomous region, and municipality directly under the central government. For cities with poor water‑environment performance that, after remediation, still fail to meet the required standards, their titles as Model Environmental Protection Cities, Demonstration Zones for Ecological Civilization, Water‑Conserving Cities, Garden Cities, Sanitary Cities, and other honors shall be revoked, and such decisions shall be publicly announced. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, the National Health and Family Planning Commission, the State Oceanic Administration, and other relevant departments.)

　　The people’s governments of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government shall regularly publish the water‑environment quality status of each prefecture‑level city, prefecture, or league within their administrative jurisdictions. Key pollutant‑discharging entities designated by the state shall, in accordance with the law, publicly disclose the names of the major pollutants they generate, the methods of discharge, the concentrations and total amounts discharged, instances of exceeding emission standards, as well as the construction and operational status of pollution‑prevention and control facilities, and shall proactively accept public oversight. Efforts shall be made to develop and release indicators such as the environmental‑friendliness index for industrial clusters, the pollutant‑emission intensity of key industries, and the urban environmental‑friendliness index. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, and other relevant departments.)

　　(34) Strengthen social oversight. Provide training and advisory services on water pollution prevention and control laws and regulations to the public and civil society organizations, and invite them to participate throughout the entire process of key environmental enforcement actions and investigations into major water pollution incidents. Publicly expose typical cases of environmental violations. Improve the whistleblowing system and fully leverage the role of the “12369” environmental hotline and online platforms. Ensure timely handling of environmental issues reported or complained about by the public; once verified, reward whistleblowers. Through public hearings, online consultations, and other mechanisms, solicit and incorporate public input on major policy decisions and construction projects. Actively promote environmental public interest litigation. (Responsible: Ministry of Environmental Protection)

　　(35) Foster a nationwide participatory framework. Establish the principle that “conserving and protecting water is everyone’s responsibility.” Strengthen public awareness‑raising and education by integrating knowledge of water resources, water‑environment protection, and water‑related issues into the national education system, thereby enhancing public understanding of the objective laws governing economic and social development and environmental protection. Leverage national social practice bases for water‑conservation education, soil‑and‑water conservation education, and environmental education in primary and secondary schools to carry out community‑based environmental protection activities. Support the work of civil‑society environmental organizations and volunteers. Promote a new trend of green consumption, launch mass‑participation initiatives in communities, schools, and households, advance water‑saving practices, and encourage the purchase and use of water‑efficient products and environmentally labeled goods. (Led by the Ministry of Environmental Protection, with participation from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Housing and Urban–Rural Development, the Ministry of Water Resources, and other relevant agencies.)

　　China is currently in a phase of rapid development characterized by new‑type industrialization, informatization, urbanization, and agricultural modernization, making the task of preventing and controlling water pollution both arduous and demanding. All regions and relevant departments must earnestly balance economic and social development with ecological progress, and, in accordance with the principle of “local governments assuming jurisdictional responsibilities and departments strengthening sector‑specific management,” clearly define enforcement and accountability entities, ensure that each plays its designated role, fulfill its duties conscientiously, prioritize key areas, carry out comprehensive remediation, and pursue tangible results. With a spirit of unwavering commitment and concrete action, they should rigorously implement policies and measures in strict compliance with laws and regulations, so as to ensure that national goals for water environment governance and protection are achieved on schedule, thereby contributing to the realization of the Two Centenary Goals and the Chinese Dream of national rejuvenation.