China's top legislature reviews draft amendment to Water Law

BEIJING, Nov. 2 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislature on Monday began reviewing a draft amendment to the country's Water Law that would strengthen the development of a national water network.

An aerial drone photo taken on July 4, 2025 shows a view of the Sanmenxia Reservoir on the Yellow River in central China's Henan Province. (File photo: Xinhua)

The draft amendment was submitted for third reading at a session of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, which runs through Friday.

The draft proposes adding provisions on "enhancing water security safeguards" and "accelerating the development of a national water network that is systematic and complete, safe and reliable, intensive and efficient, green and smart, with smooth circulation and orderly regulation."

Meanwhile, the draft proposes improved provisions on the preparation of water resource plans, adding that such planning should coordinate water use for domestic, production and ecological purposes.

The draft stipulates that plan formulation should improve public participation mechanisms and expert consultation and appraisal systems, and make comprehensive use of modern information technologies and other means to improve planning quality.

The draft also adds provisions to strengthen the protection of water ecosystems, including implementing an ecological compensation system.

In addition, the draft includes provisions to encourage public participation in protecting and conserving water resources and preventing and controlling water-related disasters.