China Releases Draft National Standards for Industrial Water Use in Yellow River Basin

On May 12, 2025, China’s Ministry of Water Resources has released a draft set of 14 mandatory national standards that define industrial water use quotas for various sectors operating in the Yellow River Basin. The public consultation period for the draft standards will remain open until July 11, 2025.

The move follows Article 52 of the Yellow River Protection Law, enacted in 2022, which mandates the implementation of a compulsory water use quota system in the basin. Under the law, enterprises that exceed the designated water use quotas must implement water-saving technological upgrades within a specified timeframe. Failure to comply may result in fines of up to 500,000 yuan (approximately USD 70,000), as stipulated in Article 114 of the law.