Current State of Water Management in Chongming Island

Abstract

Chongming Island is the largest alluvial island in the world and is an ecologically sensitive area. It has 15,924 rivers with an overall length of 9352.3 km. Rapid economic growth in Chongming has presented great challenges to its water resource managers because of a scarcity of water resources, severe water pollution, growing domestic and industrial water demands, and the requirement for food security. This paper provides an overview of water resources and their management in Chongming. It describes the key water issues faced in Chongming, as well as the institutional, legal water regulatory arrangements, and the construction of an eco-island to address these challenges, including approaches to water resource allocation and management, pollution control, and water supply regulations. This paper concludes with a discussion of the priorities and challenges for water management, the progress that has been made, and the improvements that will be required to ensure the long-term sustainability of water resources in Chongming Island.