Li Qiang signs State Council decree and promulgates "Water Supply Regulations".

Premier Li Keqiang recently signed a State Council decree to promulgate the "Water Supply Regulations," which will take effect on June 1, 2026. The regulations aim to promote the high-quality development of the water supply industry, ensure water supply safety, improve water supply service levels, and better meet the needs of economic and social development and people's lives. The regulations consist of 8 chapters and 50 articles, mainly stipulating the following contents. First, clarify the overall requirements for the development of the water supply industry. Adhere to the people-oriented approach, coordinate urban and rural development, adhere to the public welfare nature, implement the combination of water source development and water conservation, continuously enhance the capacity to ensure water supply safety, and promote equal access to water supply services. Second, increase the protection of water sources for water supply. Promote the formation of a multi-source guarantee for water supply safety, stipulate that the construction of water sources for water supply should coordinate surface water and groundwater, local water and externally supplied water, and achieve mutual complementarity of multiple water sources; strengthen the protection of water quality for drinking water sources and carry out standardized construction of drinking water source areas. Third, strengthen water supply engineering construction. It is stipulated that local governments should renovate and upgrade water supply facilities; clarify the responsible subjects for ensuring the quality of hidden water supply projects, the construction of pressure regulation and storage facilities, and the organization and implementation of reconstruction. Fourth, standardize water supply operation services. Clarify the conditions that water supply units should have and the overall requirements for water supply services, strengthen the disclosure of information on water supply services, strict water quality testing requirements, and enhance social supervision. Fifth, strengthen the management and protection of water supply facilities. Require water supply units to operate and maintain various facilities in accordance with relevant national regulations and technical standards, implement various safety precautions, conduct regular inspections and repairs to ensure safe operation; clarify that the operation and maintenance of pressure regulation and storage facilities must comply with relevant national regulations and technical standards. Sixth, improve emergency management and response systems for water supply. Enact provisions for local governments and water supply units to formulate emergency plans and conduct regular drills, as well as emergency response measures after the occurrence of sudden events. Seventh, improve legal responsibilities. Further clarify the illegal circumstances that should be punished and increase the severity of penalties.