(adopted on May 11, 1984)

(amended on May 15, 1996)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 This Law is enacted for the purposes of preventing and controlling water pollution, protecting and improving the environment, safeguarding human health, ensuring effective utilization of water resources and promoting progress of the socialist modernization drive.

Article 2 This Law applies to prevention and control of pollution of rivers, lakes, canals, irrigation channels, reservoirs and other surface water bodies and of ground water bodies within the territory of the People's Republic of China.

This Law is not applicable to prevention and control of marine pollution, which is provided for by a separate law.

Article 3 Relevant departments under the State Council and local people's governments at various levels must incorporate protection of the water environment into their plans and adopt ways and measures to prevent and control water pollution...

Full Text