Situated along the southeast coast of the People’s Republic of China, Zhejiang Province lies  between 118°00＇ and 123°00＇east longitude and 27°12＇and 31°31＇north latitude. The total land area of the province is 101,800 square kilometers and the population 48.98 million by the end of 2005. There are 11 cities under the direct jurisdiction of Zhejiang provincial government, under which there are 36 counties, 22 town-level cities and 30 county-level districts.

The macro topography of the province slopes from southwest to northeast, showing a high southwestern mountains and low northeastern alluvial plains. Within the total land area, the mountainous and hilly area occupies 70.4%, plains and basins 23.2% and rivers and lakes 6.4%, thus having a saying of “ seven tenth mountain, one tenth water and two tenth farmland “ in the province. The province boasts a coastline extending 6,400 kilometers and over 30 lakes such as the West Lake and the Dongqian Lake with water storage capacity exceeding 1 million cubic meters. The eight main rivers form the basic river network in the province, which are Tiaoxi River , the Beijing—Hangzhou Great Canal (Zhejiang Section), Qiantang River, Yong River, Jiao River, Ou River, Feiyun River and Ao River, among which the Qiantang River comes the longest one. All the rivers except the Beijing—Hangzhou Grand Canal (Zhejiang Section) and Tiaoxi River, empty into the sea independently.

Subjecting to the subtropical monsoon climate, Zhejiang is one of the richer rainfall area in the country, with an average annual precipitation of about 1,600 mm. The total amount of yearly average water resource reaches 93.7 billion cubic meters, but the per capita water resource quantity is only 2,000 cubic meters since the province is densely populated.

Owing to the unique geological situation and climatic condition, Zhejiang suffers natural disasters ranging from flooding, water loggings, typhoons and droughts alternately. On the one hand, The plum rains concentrate in May and June of the year resulting in flooding or water   loggings; While in July and August the droughts may take place due to the subtropical high pressure overwhelming the region; The typhoons in August through October frequently hit the coastal area of the province causing the great losses to the people and the property. On the other hand, the gap between supply and demand for the uneven distributed water resources in the province becomes wider under the pressure of increasing population and rapid  economic development.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, more than 3,900 reservoirs with a total storage capacity of about 35 billion cubic meters and  over 10,000 kilometer long seawall and river dykes have been constructed in the province, protecting the people and property from flooding and storm surge. Besides, the huge amount of water supply facilities provides water of more than 18 billion cubic meters annually for the residents and industrial and agricultural uses. Zhejiang also abounds in its hydropower resources with a total exploitable amounts of above 8 million KW. By the end of 2005, the total installed capacity of hydropower reached 4.89 million KW.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF DWRZJ

The Department of Water Resources of Zhejiang Province (DWRZJ ) is the department of the provincial government that is responsible for water administration and is given the following mandates.

⑴Implementation of the Water Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Water and Soil Conservation, etc. , formulation of the water-related guidelines and policies based on the actual situation of the province; drafting, implementation and supervision of the execution of the provincial codes and regulations in relation to water;

⑵Drafting of the water-related development strategies, medium and long-term development plans as well as annual plans; Drafting and supervision of the execution of the watershed and regional comprehensive and specialized plans for the provincial major rivers;

⑶Implementation of the integrated management of water resources of the province; Organization of the monitoring and assessment of the water resources; formulation and supervision of the execution of the provincial and inter-regional development plans of water supply and demand, and schemes for water allocation; implementation of the water-drawing permit system; and the mediation and arbitration of inter-sector and inter-regional water disputes.

⑷Management of water area and coast lines such as river courses, reservoirs, lakes, artificial waterways, flood-propagation area, flood detention area and beaches, etc.; responsibility for the comprehensive harnessing and development of the major rivers and lakes in the province.

⑸Implementation of integrated management of the flood and drought mitigation as well as water and soil conservation activities of the province; responsibility for the day-to-day work of the Provincial  Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters and the Provincial Committee for Water and Soil Conservation. 

⑹Management of construction activities related to rural water resources, water supply for townships and villages, water supply for human and livestock use, and water-related rural service system; responsibility for the construction of the surface water supply sources for cities and towns.

⑺Organization of the construction and management of hydropower plants and small-scale grids run by water resources management authorities at all levels within the province；responsibility for the construction of the rural hydro-electrification counties.

⑻Implementation of the sector administration of the provincial hydrological activities.

⑼Implementation of the sector management of the water facilities construction; organization of the construction and management of the key controlling or inter-regional water works; implementation of the sector administration for the water-related businesses.

⑽Responsibility for the administration for the hydro-science, education and international cooperation; provision of the guidance to and administration for the development of a competent work force for the provincial water sector.

⑾Implementation of the supervision and management of the state-owned assets authorized by the provincial government in accordance with the relevant state regulations.

⑿Administration of the Bureau of Reclamation of Zhejiang Province in accordance with the relevant regulations.

⒀Other duties and responsibilities assigned by the provincial government.

CONTACT US

The Department of Water Resources of Zhejiang Province, The People’s Republic of China

7 Meihuabei, Hangzhou 310009

Telephone: 86-571-87826578

Fax: 86-571-87808508

Website: www.zjwater.gov.cn

Email: bgs@zjwater.gov.cn