Water Supply Regulations of the PRC — Full English Translation (2026)

Adopted at the 76th Executive Meeting of the State Council on December 31, 2025

Promulgated by Order No. 831 of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China on February 11, 2026

Effective: June 1, 2026

Table of Contents

Chapter I — General Provisions

Article 1 — These Regulations are formulated for the purposes of promoting the high-quality development of the water supply industry, ensuring the safety of water supply, raising the level of water supply services, and better adapting to the needs of economic and social development and of the people’s daily lives.

Article 2 — These Regulations apply to the performance of water supply work, the use of water supply, and related management activities.

For the purposes of these Regulations, “water supply” means the provision of water for living, production, public services and other purposes by relying on facilities for water intake, water conveyance, water purification and water distribution, and includes urban water supply and large-scale rural water supply.

For the purposes of these Regulations, “large-scale rural water supply” means the provision of water to rural areas (including townships and villages) through centralized water supply projects whose designed water supply volume and population served reach the prescribed scale, or through urban water supply pipe network extension projects; it does not include agricultural irrigation water supply.

Article 3 — The development of the water supply industry shall implement the line, principles and policies of the Party and the State as well as their decisions and arrangements, adhere to a people-centered approach and to coordinated development of urban and rural areas, uphold the public-interest nature of the industry, combine the development of water sources with water conservation, continuously strengthen the capacity to ensure the safety of water supply, and promote the equalization of water supply services.

Article 4 — The State shall improve policies and measures to support the development of the water supply industry.

People’s governments at or above the county level shall incorporate the development of the water supply industry into relevant plans for national economic and social development.

Article 5 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall bear primary responsibility for ensuring the safety of water supply within their respective administrative regions, strengthen organization and leadership over water supply work, conduct overall research on and coordination in resolving major issues in water supply work, and include the funds required for water supply work in their budgets at the corresponding level.

Article 6 — The competent departments of housing and urban-rural development and the competent water administration departments under the State Council shall be respectively responsible for guiding urban water supply work and rural water supply work nationwide. The competent departments of housing and urban-rural development and the competent water administration departments under the people’s governments of provinces and autonomous regions shall be respectively responsible for guiding urban water supply work and rural water supply work within their respective administrative regions.

The competent departments of housing and urban-rural development and the competent water administration departments under the people’s governments of municipalities directly under the Central Government, cities divided into districts, and counties shall be respectively responsible for the management of urban water supply and rural water supply within their respective administrative regions.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level may designate one single department to be uniformly responsible for guiding water supply work or for the management of water supply work.

The disease prevention and control departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for the supervision and management of drinking water hygiene.

The departments of ecology and environment, market regulation, natural resources and other relevant departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall be responsible for water supply-related work within the scope of their respective duties.

The departments prescribed in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of this Article are collectively referred to as the “competent departments for water supply.”

Article 7 — The State shall encourage and support scientific and technological research, development, transformation of achievements and promotion and application in relation to water supply, strengthen the training of water supply personnel, promote scientific and technological progress in water supply, and raise the level of automation, digitization and intelligence of water supply work.

Article 8 — Units and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in water supply work shall be rewarded in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.

Chapter II — Water Supply Sources

Article 9 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in light of the economic and social development of their respective regions and the endowment of water resources, reasonably arrange and lay out water supply sources and strengthen the construction of water supply sources.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, as needed in practice, organize the formulation of plans relating to the construction of water supply sources. Plans relating to the construction of water supply sources shall be coordinated with territorial and spatial plans, and the reasonable demand involving land and spatial use shall be incorporated into the monitoring and early-warning information system for the implementation of territorial and spatial plans for overall safeguard.

Article 10 — The construction of water supply sources shall make overall arrangements for surface water and groundwater, and for local water and transferred water, so as to achieve complementarity among multiple water sources; where a single water source is relied upon for water supply, emergency water sources or standby water sources shall be constructed in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State; and regions with the necessary conditions may carry out regional networked water supply.

Coastal water-deficient regions and islands shall be encouraged to promote desalinated seawater as a supplementary water source in light of local conditions.

Article 11 — Where transferred water is used as a drinking water source, local people’s governments at or above the county level shall ensure that local water sources and transferred water sources can be switched in a timely manner.

Water transfer project management units shall strengthen the monitoring, inspection, patrolling, repair and maintenance of the facilities and equipment of water transfer projects to ensure their safe operation; where the normal transfer of water may be affected as a result of the overhaul of facilities and equipment or the occurrence of emergencies, the water transfer project management unit shall, in light of the scope of impact, promptly notify the relevant local people’s governments at or above the county level in the receiving areas.

Article 12 — The departments of ecology and environment, water administration and other relevant departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the law, carry out the standardized construction of drinking water source areas, implement protective measures for drinking water source protection zones, establish monitoring, early-warning and information-sharing mechanisms for the water quality of drinking water sources, and ensure that the water quality of drinking water sources complies with the relevant standards of the State.

The competent water administration departments of people’s governments at or above the county level shall make overall arrangements for the allocation of water quantity in drinking water source areas and strengthen hydrological and water resource monitoring in drinking water source areas.

The competent departments of ecology and environment of people’s governments at or above the county level shall, together with relevant departments, do a good job of monitoring the water environment of drinking water source areas, strengthen the supervision and management of ecological and environmental protection of drinking water source areas, investigate and assess the environmental conditions and pollution risks of drinking water source areas, screen out possible pollution risk factors, and adopt corresponding risk prevention measures.

Water transfer project management units shall adopt measures to ensure that the water quality of transferred water complies with the relevant standards of the State.

Chapter III — Construction of Water Supply Projects

Article 13 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall strengthen the overall planning of the construction of water supply projects and ensure that the construction of water supply projects develops in coordination with urban and rural construction.

Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall carry out renewal and renovation of water supply facilities that affect water supply quality, endanger water supply safety, or are aging and out of repair.

In regions where underground utility tunnels have been constructed, urban water supply pipelines shall, where conditions permit, be incorporated into the underground utility tunnels.

Article 14 — The construction of water supply projects shall comply with the provisions of relevant laws, regulations and rules and the requirements of the relevant standards of the State.

The survey, design, construction and supervision of water supply projects shall be entrusted to units with the corresponding qualifications. Units that have not obtained the corresponding qualifications or that exceed the scope permitted by their qualification grades are prohibited from undertaking the survey, design, construction or supervision of water supply projects.

Article 15 — With respect to concealed works in water supply projects, the unit undertaking the construction of the project (hereinafter referred to as the “construction unit”) shall carry out quality inspections and truthfully record the relevant information. Before a concealed work is covered up, the construction unit shall, in accordance with the law, notify the owner unit of the project (hereinafter referred to as the “developer”) and others to conduct inspections. The developer may, as needed, invite relevant units to participate in the inspections.

Upon the completion of a water supply project, acceptance inspection shall be organized in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State; a project that has not undergone acceptance inspection or that fails the acceptance inspection shall not be put into use. Upon the completion and acceptance inspection of a water supply project, the developer shall, in accordance with the provisions, promptly transfer the archives of the water supply project to the relevant archival institutions.

Article 16 — The competent departments for water supply shall, in accordance with the requirements of the relevant standards of the State, make overall arrangements for the construction of regional centralized pressure regulation and storage facilities.

Where a newly built, renovated or expanded construction project has a requirement for water supply pressure that exceeds the service pressure of the water supply pipe network, the developer shall construct supporting pressure regulation and storage facilities.

Where the pressure regulation and storage facilities and other commonly-owned water supply facilities (hereinafter collectively referred to as “commonly-owned water supply facilities”) jointly owned by owners within residential building areas do not comply with the relevant provisions and the requirements of the relevant standards of the State, local people’s governments at or above the county level shall organize and carry out renovation in a planned manner in accordance with the law.

For the purposes of these Regulations, “pressure regulation and storage facilities” means water supply facilities used to adjust the water pressure and water volume in the water supply pipe network before conveying the water to water users and individuals (hereinafter collectively referred to as “users”).

Chapter IV — Water Supply Operation and Services

Article 17 — Water supply units shall be registered in accordance with the law and obtain legal person status, and shall meet the following conditions:
(1) having facilities and equipment commensurate with the water supply activities they engage in;
(2) having professionally trained qualified employees, and operators in relevant positions who have passed physical examination in accordance with the provisions;
(3) having management capacity and water quality testing capacity commensurate with the scale of water supply;
(4) having sound management systems for water quality testing and for the operation and maintenance of water supply facilities.

Water supply units shall obtain sanitary licenses in accordance with the law. Products involving drinking water hygiene and safety used by water supply units shall comply with the national hygiene standards and hygiene norms, and the relevant sanitary licenses shall be obtained in accordance with the law.

Article 18 — The competent departments for water supply shall, through means such as signing operation service agreements with water supply units, specify the scope, standards, norms and requirements of water supply services, as well as matters such as service quality evaluation and exit mechanisms.

Water supply units shall comply with the service standards, norms and requirements relating to water supply, strengthen internal management, continuously improve the quality and efficiency of water supply services, and provide users with water supply services that are safe and convenient, continuous and stable, accurate in metering, and open and transparent.

Article 19 — Water supply units shall, through means easily accessible to the public, make public information such as the procedures for applying for water supply installation and connection, service standards, tariff standards and water quality testing, and shall provide information inquiry services.

Article 20 — Water supply units shall provide convenience for users to apply for water supply installation and connection through various service channels such as handling at business outlets and online handling.

Where a construction project within the coverage of the water supply pipe network needs to apply for installation and connection to the water supply, the developer shall apply for installation and connection before the commencement of construction, and the water supply unit shall handle the application in a timely manner.

Article 21 — Water supply units shall, in accordance with the testing indicators, testing frequency and testing methods prescribed by the State and required by the relevant standards, regularly test the water quality of raw water, finished water and pipe network water, to ensure that the quality of supplied water complies with the national hygiene standards for drinking water.

Where a water supply unit discovers that the quality of raw water does not comply with the relevant standards of the State, it shall promptly adopt corresponding measures and report to the competent department for water supply. The competent department for water supply shall promptly notify the departments of ecology and environment, disease prevention and control and other relevant departments, and the relevant departments shall promptly verify and handle the matter.

The competent departments for water supply of people’s governments at or above the provincial level shall, together with relevant departments, improve the water quality monitoring system for water supply.

Article 22 — Water supply units shall, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State, set up pressure monitoring points on the water supply pipe network, do a good job of water pressure monitoring, and ensure that the pressure of the water supply pipe network complies with the standards prescribed by the State.

Article 23 — Water supply units shall maintain uninterrupted water supply. Where it is truly necessary to temporarily suspend water supply due to project construction, equipment maintenance or other reasons, the water supply unit shall make a public announcement or notify users in writing 24 hours in advance, and strictly control the duration and scope of the suspension; where the suspension of water supply has a relatively large impact, it shall be reported to and approved by the competent department for water supply, and measures such as the provision of temporary water supply shall be adopted to guarantee the basic domestic water use of residents.

Where, due to emergencies such as natural disasters or accidents and disasters, users cannot be notified in advance in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, the water supply unit shall notify users while carrying out emergency repairs, and report to the competent department for water supply.

Where a temporary suspension of water supply may affect firefighting and rescue operations, the water supply unit shall notify the local fire and rescue agency in advance.

Article 24 — Users shall use water safely and conserve water. Water-using equipment such as pipes and faucets installed by water users themselves shall comply with the relevant standards of the State.

Water theft or the transfer of water supply without the consent of the water supply unit is prohibited.

Article 25 — Users shall pay water fees on time in accordance with the data produced by the settlement metering devices and the water price standards; rural users without water metering conditions shall pay water fees in accordance with the relevant provisions or as agreed.

Article 26 — The formulation and adjustment of urban water supply prices shall follow the principles of covering costs, ensuring reasonable returns and fair sharing of burdens, and shall comprehensively consider factors such as promoting water conservation and users’ capacity to bear costs. Tiered water prices shall be implemented for urban residential domestic water use, and progressive surcharges above quota (above plan) shall be implemented for non-residential water use. Where a water supply unit finds it difficult to achieve the permitted revenue because the water supply price has not been adjusted to an adequate extent, the urban people’s government shall provide appropriate compensation. Water supply units shall adopt measures to effectively control production and operation costs. The measures for the administration of urban water supply prices shall be formulated by the competent pricing department under the State Council together with the competent housing and urban-rural development department under the State Council.

The competent pricing department under the State Council shall, together with the competent water administration department under the State Council, improve the price formation mechanism for rural water supply in light of the actual conditions of rural water supply.

Article 27 — Water supply units shall establish a mechanism for handling complaints about the quality of water supply services, promptly and properly handle issues such as the quality of water supply services reported by users, and give feedback to users on the results of handling; where a user is dissatisfied with the result of handling, the user may file a complaint with the competent department for water supply, and the competent department for water supply shall reply in a timely manner. Users may also file complaints directly with the competent department for water supply on issues such as the quality of water supply services.

Chapter V — Management and Protection of Water Supply Facilities

Article 28 — Water supply units shall, with respect to the water supply facilities under their management, such as special water supply reservoirs, water diversion channels, water intakes, pumping stations, pressure regulation and storage facilities, well groups, water transmission (distribution) pipe networks, metering devices, water purification (distribution) plants and public water stations, carry out operation and maintenance in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State and technical norms, implement various safety precautions, conduct regular patrolling and overhaul, carry out safety risk monitoring and the investigation and treatment of hidden dangers, and ensure safe operation.

Water supply units shall adopt measures such as the renewal and renovation of water supply pipe networks, water supply pressure control and intelligent management, to strictly control leakage and loss in water supply pipe networks.

When water supply units maintain or carry out emergency repairs on water supply facilities, no unit or individual may obstruct them, and relevant units shall provide support and assistance.

Article 29 — The commonly-owned water supply facilities of newly built residential buildings, and the commonly-owned water supply facilities of residential buildings after renovation organized and implemented by local people’s governments, shall be handed over to water supply units for operation and maintenance in accordance with the law. With respect to the commonly-owned water supply facilities of residential buildings other than those prescribed above, local people’s governments at or above the county level shall organize their gradual handover to water supply units for operation and maintenance in accordance with the law. Where the commonly-owned water supply facilities of residential buildings are handed over to water supply units for operation and maintenance, the operation and maintenance costs shall be implemented in accordance with the relevant provisions of the State.

Where water supply facilities such as pressure regulation and storage facilities constructed as supporting facilities of buildings other than residential buildings are entrusted to water supply units for operation and maintenance, the operation and maintenance costs shall be borne by the entrusting party and shall not be included in water supply costs.

The operation and maintenance of pressure regulation and storage facilities shall comply with the relevant provisions of the State and technical norms. The relevant operation and maintenance units shall establish and improve their management systems, regularly carry out cleaning and disinfection and water quality testing and make public water quality information, and ensure that the water quality and water pressure comply with the relevant standards of the State.

Article 30 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, as needed in practice, delimit the above-ground and underground safety protection scope for water supply facilities. Within the safety protection scope, the following activities that endanger the safety of water supply facilities are prohibited:
(1) digging pits or taking soil;
(2) constructing buildings or structures;
(3) stacking or dumping flammable, explosive, toxic or harmful articles or corrosive, radioactive or infectious substances;
(4) other activities that endanger the safety of water supply facilities.

Article 31 — No unit or individual may modify, dismantle or relocate water supply facilities without authorization.

Where it is truly necessary to modify, dismantle or relocate water supply facilities due to project construction, the developer shall consult with the water supply unit, determine the project plan, and adopt measures to ensure the safe and stable operation of the water supply facilities; the costs of modification, dismantling, relocation and the adoption of measures shall be borne by the developer. The developer shall report to the competent department for water supply 15 days before the commencement of construction.

Where the modification, dismantling or relocation of water supply facilities involves fire water supply facilities, it shall comply with the fire protection technical standards and shall not affect fire suppression and fire emergency rescue; the water supply unit shall notify the local fire and rescue agency in advance.

Article 32 — Before the commencement of construction of a construction project, the developer or construction unit shall ascertain the relevant conditions of underground water supply facilities within the scope of the construction project. Water supply units and relevant archival institutions and other units shall promptly provide relevant materials.

Where the construction of a construction project may affect the safety of water supply facilities, the developer or construction unit shall, in advance, agree with the water supply unit on corresponding protective measures, which shall be implemented by the construction unit.

Article 33 — Units that produce or use toxic or harmful articles or corrosive, radioactive or infectious substances shall not directly connect their production water use facilities to the water supply facilities of water supply units.

It is prohibited to connect self-constructed water supply facilities to the water supply facilities of water supply units without authorization; where connection is truly necessary under special circumstances, the consent of the water supply unit shall be obtained, and necessary protective measures shall be adopted at the connection point.

Without the consent of the water supply unit, water shall not be drawn by installing a pump directly on the water supply facilities.

Article 34 — The operation and maintenance units of water supply facility information systems shall establish and improve network security management systems and implement security requirements such as network security protection measures; the important network facilities and information systems among them shall, in accordance with the law, be included in the scope of critical information infrastructure and subject to priority protection.

Article 35 — The competent departments for water supply and other relevant departments shall, in accordance with the division of duties, strengthen supervision and inspection of water supply operation and services and the operation and maintenance of water supply facilities, and standardize supervision and inspection practices. The competent departments for water supply and other relevant departments shall strengthen coordination and cooperation; where joint inspections can be implemented, joint inspections shall be implemented, and where off-site inspections can be carried out through non-contact technical means and other means, no on-site inspection shall be conducted.

Where the competent departments for water supply and other relevant departments conduct on-site inspections of water supply units as needed, they may require relevant units and individuals to give explanations on relevant matters, consult and copy relevant materials, inquire about and inspect relevant information systems, and carry out on-site testing. Relevant units and individuals shall cooperate and shall not refuse or obstruct.

Chapter VI — Emergency Management and Response for Water Supply

Article 36 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the law, formulate emergency plans for water supply in their respective regions, make overall arrangements for the reserve and dispatch of water supply emergency materials, and regularly organize water supply emergency drills.

Article 37 — Water supply units shall formulate their own specific water supply emergency plans in accordance with the water supply emergency plans of their respective regions, equip themselves with corresponding water supply emergency materials, and regularly carry out water supply emergency drills.

Water supply units shall strengthen the management and control of water supply safety risks, implement various safety precautions, and promptly investigate and eliminate hidden dangers to water supply safety.

Article 38 — After the occurrence of an emergency that affects water supply safety, local people’s governments at or above the county level shall immediately activate emergency response and, in light of the specific circumstances of the emergency, organize and carry out emergency water supply, pollution treatment, water source switching and other work, giving priority to ensuring domestic water use while taking into account other water uses, so as to minimize the impact of the emergency.

The relevant departments of local people’s governments at or above the county level shall, in accordance with the unified arrangements of the people’s governments at the corresponding level, do a good job of all aspects of water supply emergency response work.

Article 39 — After the occurrence of an emergency that affects water supply safety, water supply units shall, in light of the specific circumstances of the emergency, adopt emergency response measures such as repairing water supply facilities, adding raw water pretreatment facilities and upgrading and renovating the treatment processes of water purification facilities, to ensure normal water supply. Where normal water supply genuinely cannot be ensured under special circumstances, the water supply unit may adopt measures such as reducing the quantity of water supplied or lowering the pressure of water supply, promptly inform users of precautions for water use, and report to the competent department for water supply.

Article 40 — Relevant units and individuals shall cooperate with the water supply emergency response measures adopted by local people’s governments and water supply units, actively participate in emergency response work, and assist in maintaining social order.

Chapter VII — Legal Liability

Article 41 — Where a water transfer project management unit fails to monitor, inspect, patrol, repair or maintain the facilities and equipment of a water transfer project, or fails to adopt measures to ensure the quality of transferred water, the competent water administration department shall order it to make corrections and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan; where it refuses to make corrections or causes serious consequences, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan shall be imposed.

Where a water transfer project management unit fails, in accordance with the provisions, to notify the relevant local people’s governments at or above the county level in the receiving areas of circumstances that may affect the normal transfer of water, the competent water administration department shall give it a warning and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan; where serious consequences are caused, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan shall be imposed.

Article 42 — Where a water supply unit fails to make public information such as the procedures for applying for water supply installation and connection, service standards and water quality testing, the competent department for water supply shall order it to make corrections; where it refuses to make corrections, a fine of not less than 20,000 yuan and not more than 100,000 yuan shall be imposed.

Article 43 — Where a water supply unit falls under any of the following circumstances, the competent department for water supply shall order it to make corrections and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan; where it refuses to make corrections or causes serious consequences, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan shall be imposed:
(1) engaging in water supply operation and services without meeting the conditions prescribed by these Regulations;
(2) failing to comply with the service standards, norms and requirements relating to water supply;
(3) failing to test, in accordance with the provisions, the water quality of raw water, finished water and pipe network water;
(4) upon discovering that the quality of raw water does not comply with the relevant standards of the State, failing to adopt measures or failing to report to the competent department for water supply;
(5) the pressure of the water supply pipe network failing to comply with the standards prescribed by the State;
(6) suspending water supply without authorization, or failing to make a public announcement or notify users in writing when it is truly necessary to temporarily suspend water supply;
(7) failing to carry out operation and maintenance of the water supply facilities under its management in accordance with the provisions;
(8) failing to promptly carry out emergency repairs after a fault occurs in water supply facilities.

Where the operation and maintenance of pressure regulation and storage facilities does not comply with the relevant provisions of the State and technical norms, the competent department for water supply and the disease prevention and control department shall, in accordance with the division of duties, impose penalties in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

Where a water supply unit uses products involving drinking water hygiene and safety that do not comply with the national hygiene standards and hygiene norms or for which sanitary licenses have not been obtained in accordance with the law, the disease prevention and control department of the people’s government at or above the county level shall order it to make corrections and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan; where it refuses to make corrections or causes serious consequences, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 200,000 yuan shall be imposed.

Article 44 — Where a developer or construction unit fails to ascertain, before the commencement of construction, the relevant conditions of underground water supply facilities within the scope of the construction project, or fails to agree in advance with the water supply unit on corresponding protective measures, the competent department for water supply shall order it to stop construction, make corrections within a time limit or adopt other remedial measures, give it a warning, and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan on the unit or a fine of not more than 10,000 yuan on the individual; where it refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 300,000 yuan shall be imposed on the unit, or a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan and not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed on the individual.

Article 45 — Where any of the following acts affecting water supply safety is committed, the competent department for water supply shall order the cessation of the illegal act and the restoration of the original state or the adoption of other remedial measures, and may impose a fine of not more than 50,000 yuan on the unit or a fine of not more than 10,000 yuan on the individual; where the offender refuses to make corrections or the circumstances are serious, a fine of not less than 50,000 yuan and not more than 500,000 yuan shall be imposed on the unit, or a fine of not less than 10,000 yuan and not more than 50,000 yuan shall be imposed on the individual; where there are illegal gains, the illegal gains shall be confiscated; and where water supply safety is seriously affected, the water supply may be suspended for a certain period:
(1) carrying out activities that endanger the safety of water supply facilities as prescribed by these Regulations within the above-ground and underground safety protection scope of water supply facilities;
(2) modifying, dismantling or relocating water supply facilities without authorization;
(3) a unit that produces or uses toxic or harmful articles or corrosive, radioactive or infectious substances directly connecting its production water use facilities to the water supply facilities of a water supply unit;
(4) connecting self-constructed water supply facilities to the water supply facilities of a water supply unit without authorization;
(5) drawing water by installing a pump directly on the water supply facilities without the consent of the water supply unit.

Article 46 — Where staff members of local people’s governments at various levels or of relevant departments of people’s governments at or above the county level neglect their duties, abuse their powers or engage in malpractice for personal gain in water supply work, they shall be given sanctions in accordance with the law.

Article 47 — Whoever violates the provisions of these Regulations and causes damage to others shall bear civil liability in accordance with the law; where the act constitutes a violation of public security administration, public security administration penalties shall be imposed by the public security organs in accordance with the law; and where a crime is constituted, criminal liability shall be pursued in accordance with the law.

Chapter VIII — Supplementary Provisions

Article 48 — Where an urban enterprise or public institution provides water for domestic and public service use to urban water users and individuals other than those within its own unit through water supply pipelines and ancillary facilities constructed by itself, such activities shall be included in urban water supply management.

Article 49 — Local people’s governments at or above the county level shall adopt measures to promote the standardized construction and professional management and maintenance of rural water supply other than large-scale rural water supply, and establish and improve water quality safeguard systems to ensure that the water supply complies with the relevant standards of the State. The measures for the administration of rural water supply other than large-scale rural water supply shall be formulated by the competent water administration department under the State Council together with the relevant departments under the State Council.

Article 50 — These Regulations shall come into force on June 1, 2026. The Urban Water Supply Regulations shall be repealed simultaneously.