BEIJING, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree issuing a regulation on water supply, which will take effect on June 1, 2026.

The regulation consists of eight chapters and 50 articles.

This file photo shows pipelines at the Muk Wu Raw Water Pumping Station in Hong Kong, south China on March 25, 2025. (Photo: Xinhua/Handout via HKSAR government)

It aims to promote high-quality development in the water supply sector, ensure water supply safety, and improve services to better meet the needs of economic and social development as well as people's livelihoods.

The regulation highlights both the development of water sources and the importance of water conservation, all while striving to ensure equal access to water supply services.

It further stresses enhancing the security of water supply sources and strengthening the construction of water supply projects.

The regulation also urges efforts to standardize water supply operations and services, reinforce the management and protection of water supply facilities, and improve emergency response systems.

Furthermore, the regulation underscores legal accountability, clarifying punishable violations and increasing the severity of penalties.