These Regulations are formulated in accordance with the Water Law of the People's Republic of China, aiming to regulate the village and township water supply activities, maintain the legitimate rights and interests of water supply units and users, and protect the safety of drinking water. The Text consists of 55 articles divided into 8 Chapters: General provisions (I); Planning and construction (II); Water sources and water quality (III); Project management (IV); Water supply management (V); Water use management (VI); Legal liabilities (VII); Supplementary provisions (VIII).
The Regulations cover, among others, the following: regulating village and township water supply construction, water supply operation and water use behavior; establishing a reasonable pricing mechanism; and strengthening water quality and safety management and the protection of water sources and facilities.
According to Article 8 and 9, water competent authorities of local people's governments at or above the county level shall prepare village and township water supply planning and report to the people's government at the same level for approval. The preparation of village and township water supply planning shall be consistent with the urban and rural planning and linked with the overall land use planning and other special planning.
In the area covered by village and township water supply network, drawing water from self-owned water source shall be strictly controlled and a drawing water permit shall be obtained (art.17).
The water quality of village and township water supply shall be in conformity with the national sanitary standards for drinking water (art.19).