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The integrated agricultural water pricing reform (IAWPR) is by far the most systematic, complex and longest reform in the agricultural sector of China. It has lasted for decades from the stage of reform exploration to the current reform development. IAWPR can effectively address resourced price distortion and promote rational allocation of agricultural water resources. By improving China’s agricultural water pricing mechanism, government agricultural subsidy mechanism, water-saving incentive mechanism, operation and management (O&M) mechanism of irrigation systems and water quota mechanism, the reform will promote water conservation in agriculture and ensure the effective operation of irrigation systems. It is a major strategic decision made by the Chinese government to address the water security challenges facing sustainable development. This paper reviews the course of the reform, introduces the policy design, key tasks and implementation of the reform, and takes Jiangsu Province as an example to demonstrate the effect of the reform, but also discusses the problems existing in the reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water commonweal propaganda is an important measure to promote citizens' water resource conservation and water-saving behavior. Based on Amos 21.0, this paper adopts structural equation models, through variable extraction and path construction, to explore the mechanisms of how water commonweal propaganda influences citizens' water-saving behavior. The research investigates the case of China's water commonweal propaganda. The results show that: (1) when the same propaganda forms and channels are adopted, the impact of different water commonweal propaganda content on citizens' watersaving behavior is significantly different; (2) with the same water commonweal propaganda content, different propaganda forms and channels have different impacts on citizens' water-saving behavior. Therefore, selecting appropriate propaganda forms and channels for the water commonweal propaganda can significantly improve their impact on citizens' water-saving behaviors. The research aims to provide theoretical support and practical basis for China's follow-up water commonweal propaganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public participation in water conservation projects is gaining more and more attention in the information era. Public opinion, showing the focus and interests of the public, is the basis of public participation. This paper proposes a social sensing system based on social media platforms, which employs two natural language processing technologies, namely, sentiment analysis and topic modeling. The public opinion on water conservation projects is monitored from three perspectives: public opinion intensity (POI) monitoring, topic detection, and sentiment analysis. To test their effectiveness, a case study on the South-to-North Water Transfer Project (SNWTP) in China is conducted. The public opinion data were acquired from Sina Weibo, China's largest social media platform. The results indicate that: (1) POI peaks when hot project-related events occur, and POI of direct stakeholders apparently exceeds indirect stakeholders; (2) different stakeholders have different topics of concern closely associated with their interests; (3) negative events always lead to dramatic decreases in the sentiment value (SV), while positive events only slightly lift SV. The proposed system has achieved real-time monitoring of the public opinion on water conservation projects. Consequently, it can help to improve the level of public participation and provide a valuable reference in project management and policy-making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A co-governance program for five waters (CPFW), including sewage treatment, flood prevention, drainage, water supply and saving, is an innovative concept in water resource management. It includes current and near future system projects and advanced management policies for water utilization and protection. In this paper, the scientific connotation of CPFW is explained by multidisciplinary theory. Based on current guidance and technology, evaluation targets and water management countermeasures are specified. Combining hydraulic engineering and their characteristics, operable approaches for CPFW are suggested for projects' designation and construction. These approaches of CPFW are applied in a typical area. Systematic projects are composed of sewage interception projects, efficient water supply projects and hydraulic projects with ecological engineering. With the guidance of CPFW, all projects are connected together and their integrated benefits are evaluated in water saving, sewage drainage, increase in environmental capacity and ensuring security. The results show the CPFW is valuable and available both in theory and in practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve an efficient use and allocation of limited water resources and thus resolve increasing water use conflicts due to fast rising societal water demands, in 2000, the Chinese government started a management strategy of 'Construction of a Water Saving Society (WSS)'. It is guided by the principle that socio-economic development should consider the carrying capacity of the ecosystem and focuses on institutional innovation, building on the water rights concept. This paper explores the innovation process during the transition towards WSS by investigating the development course of the innovation process during the transition towards WSS, and the adaptive capacity of the existing water management regime underlying the innovation process. Accordingly, an analysis framework consisting of three types of governance activities and factors determining a regime's adaptive capacity was developed, based on the theory of transition management and adaptive governance. The Tianjin and Zhangye WSS experiments were selected for a deep understanding of local innovations. It is revealed that co-evolution of all three types of governance activities that are claimed to be essential for transition has taken place. However, the current adaptive capacity of the regime still needs further enhancement to support the transition towards the desired WSS in China. Finally, some general insights are provided for policy innovations in other political economies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper deals with heavy pressures to save water in natural resource management due to increased water scarcity. We take the example of a Chinese watershed and investigate the water use efficiency in Chinese irrigated agriculture through a field study as dependent on investments in on-farm water saving technologies and canal water conveyance. The economic and environmental impacts of farmers adopting modern irrigation technologies and public sectors improving water transit systems are studied in particular. A spatial mathematical programming model is employed for optimization. The emphasis is on private and public investments in water saving. Water saving in a canal system enables an extension of the system and provides food and income for more farmers, The model results are of great value for policy makers and project managers, who want to optimize irrigation projects, because scenarios (for instance water and product pricing) are provided. We also provide references for farmers in applying suitable irrigation technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As China continues to sustain high rates of economic growth, it is important to better understand patterns of resource use within the Chinese economy and the vulnerability of its growth to resource scarcity. This paper examines relationships between two of China's scarcest resources--energy and water--focusing on the energy implications of water use. Based on an analysis of economy-wide resource flows using China's input-output tables, we draw three overarching conclusions: First, the energy used both directly and indirectly in providing non-agricultural water currently represents only a small fraction of China's total energy consumption. However, this share is set to increase as the country expands its water treatment capacity and hydraulic infrastructure. A lifecycle assessment framework for evaluating these projects would aid policymakers as they choose between more and less energy-intensive modes of water provision. Second, energy-water price interactions are currently of little relevance to policymakers because water prices are low, but the high electricity-intensity of water treatment facilities and their need to recover costs may change this situation. Third, water "migration" from agriculture to non-agricultural uses will have important energy dimensions, which will be important for policymakers to bear in mind as they design water pricing and conservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]