Implementing the dual-control mechanism in China: pathways for enforcing the Regulation of Groundwater Management

Groundwater resources in China exhibit significant regional disparities, over-extraction, land subsidence and ecological degradation. This study explores the implementation of the dual-control mechanism under the 2021 Chinese Regulation on Groundwater Management, which sets targets for groundwater extraction volumes and water table levels. The Regulation mandates sustainable yield assessments and adaptive targets. Yet the complexity of groundwater systems, limited monitoring data, the need for easily understood indicators, and the necessity of ensuring manageability present significant difficulties. The dual-control mechanism seeks to address these concerns and sets targets for 2025 and 2030 that balance operational simplicity with ecological and socioeconomic considerations.