Measures for the supervision and administration of river discharge outlets
The Measures on the Supervision and Administration of Sewage Discharge Mouths into Rivers, which were reviewed and adopted at the third ministerial meeting of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment on July 10,2024, are hereby promulgated and shall come into force on January 1, 2025.
October 16,2024
Measures for the supervision and management of river discharge outlets
Catalogue
Chapter I General Provisions
Chapter II Setup and Management
Chapter III Supervision and Inspection
Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions
Chapter I General Provisions
Article 1 These Measures are formulated in accordance with the Law of the People's Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Water Pollution, the Water Law of the People's Republic of China and other relevant laws and regulations of The State Council for the purpose of strengthening the supervision and administration of river discharge outlets, controlling the discharge of pollutants into rivers and protecting and improving the aquatic ecological environment.
Article 2 These Measures shall apply to the examination and approval, registration and related supervision and management activities of river discharge outlets.
Article 3 The term "river discharge outlet" as used in these Measures refers to any opening through which sewage is directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies such as rivers, lakes, canals, and reservoirs via pipelines, ditches, or channels. The establishment of river discharge outlets under these Measures includes new construction, relocation, or expansion. New construction denotes the initial establishment or utilization of a discharge outlet; relocation refers to significant modifications to existing discharge locations or methods; expansion indicates the enhancement of a pre-existing outlet's sewage capacity.
Article 4 The competent department of ecological environment under the State Council is responsible for guiding the establishment and supervision of river discharge outlets nationwide. The basin ecological environment supervision institutions under the competent department (hereinafter referred to as "Basin Ecological Environment Supervision Institutions") are responsible for guiding the establishment of river discharge outlets within their respective basins and handling the approval and supervision of such outlets within the scope authorized by the competent department. Local ecological environment authorities shall be responsible for the approval, registration, and supervision of river discharge outlets within their administrative regions in accordance with prescribed authority.
Article 5: River discharge outlets shall have clearly defined responsible entities. These entities shall be responsible for source control, application or registration of outlet installations, remediation, standardized construction, and maintenance management. When multiple pollutant discharging entities share the same river discharge outlet, all entities shall serve as responsible parties, with their respective obligations to be determined through mutual consultation among all discharging entities.
Article 6: River discharge outlets are classified into four categories based on their responsible entities' industries and discharge characteristics: industrial outlets, urban sewage treatment plant outlets, agricultural outlets, and other outlets. Industrial outlets include those from mining enterprises and stormwater drainage systems, as well as sewage treatment plants and stormwater drainage systems in industrial parks and other industrial zones. Agricultural outlets encompass large-scale livestock breeding facilities and aquaculture operations. Other outlets include drainage systems for large and medium-sized irrigation districts, small-scale livestock farms, small-scale aquaculture facilities, rural sewage treatment facilities, and scattered domestic wastewater discharge points in rural areas.
Article 7: When formulating ecological and environmental protection plans, river-lake water function zoning, and related schemes, the layout and control requirements of river discharge outlets must be fully considered. Environmental impact assessments for specialized plans covering industries, agriculture, animal husbandry, forestry, energy, water conservancy, transportation, urban development, tourism, and natural resource exploitation shall include the implementation status of relevant regulations on river discharge outlet establishment as a key component.
Article 8 The State shall strengthen basic research on the management of river discharge outlets and train professionals in the field. The development, integration, promotion and application of practical technologies and equipment such as remote sensing monitoring, aerial survey of water surfaces, underwater exploration and pipeline investigation shall be encouraged.
Article 9 Local governments are encouraged to increase financial investment and attract social capital to participate in the remediation, standardized construction and maintenance management of river discharge outlets.
Article 10 Units and individuals that have made outstanding achievements in the supervision and administration of sewage outlets into rivers may be commended or rewarded in accordance with relevant state or local regulations.
Chapter II Setup and Management
Article 11: The establishment of discharge outlets for industrial and mining enterprises, sewage treatment plants in industrial parks and other types of industrial zones, as well as urban sewage treatment plants shall be subject to approval by the competent basin ecological environment supervision authority or local ecological environment authorities (hereinafter referred to as the "approving authorities") in accordance with these regulations. No discharge of sewage through the aforementioned river discharge outlets shall be permitted without prior approval.
Article 12: For the establishment of discharge outlets into rivers as stipulated in Article 11 of these Measures, approval shall be granted by the river basin ecological environment supervision and administration authority if any of the following conditions are met: (1) The environmental impact assessment documents of the construction project have been approved by the State Council's competent ecological environment department; (2) Located within provincial boundary buffer zones; (3) Situated at international rivers/lakes or border rivers/lakes; (4) Involving inter-provincial disputes. For discharge outlets outside the aforementioned categories, the approval authority shall be determined by the provincial-level ecological environment authorities where such outlets are located, with the approval decisions publicly disclosed to the public.
Article 13 The approval procedures for the establishment of river discharge outlets include application, acceptance, review, and decision. (1) Application. The responsible entity shall submit an application to the approval department before establishing a river discharge outlet. If multiple pollutant discharging entities share the same outlet, they may authorize one responsible entity to submit the application. (2) Acceptance. The approval department shall accept applications with complete materials and legal compliance. (3) Review. The approval department shall examine submitted materials and may organize expert reviews, hearings, or on-site inspections as needed. No fees shall be charged to applicants for these activities. (4) Decision. The approval department shall issue a decision granting or denying the permit within twenty working days from application acceptance. For approved applications, a decision document approving the outlet shall be issued; for rejected applications, a written explanation of reasons shall be provided. The decision document shall be publicly available for public inquiry. Time required for expert reviews, hearings, or on-site inspections shall not be counted toward the permit processing period specified in this article.
Article 14. Applicants seeking to establish river discharge outlets shall submit an application for outlet establishment, a feasibility study report or concise analysis materials, and supporting documentation for the construction project. In the following circumstances, a feasibility study report must be submitted: (1) The responsible entity operates in industries such as papermaking, coking, nitrogen fertilizer production, chemical manufacturing, textile dyeing and finishing, agricultural product processing, leather tanning, electroplating, metallurgy, non-ferrous metals, pharmaceutical raw material production, or pesticide manufacturing; (2) Discharge of radioactive substances, heavy metals, or other toxic and hazardous water pollutants; (3) The volume of wastewater or pollutant discharge reaches the scale standards established by the State Council's competent ecological environment authority. For applications for river discharge outlets not covered in the preceding provisions, a concise analysis materials shall be submitted.
Article 15 The demonstration report for the establishment of river discharge outlets shall include the following contents: (1) Basic information of the responsible entity; (2) Current status of aquatic ecological environment in the waters where the discharge outlet is located; (3) Location of the discharge outlet, sewage discharge method, and discharge direction; (4) Discharge volume of sewage from the outlet, types of key pollutants discharged, discharge concentration, and total discharge volume; (5) Impact assessment of the discharge outlet on the surrounding environment and related environmental risk analysis; (6) Analysis of water ecological protection measures and their effectiveness; for outlets discharging radioactive substances, the report shall also include justification and effectiveness analysis of radioactive material control measures; (7) Conclusions of the demonstration; (8) Other matters requiring analysis or explanation. The brief analysis materials for the establishment of river discharge outlets shall include the first, second, third, and fourth items specified in the preceding paragraph.
Article 16 Where a number of pollutant-discharging units share the same river discharge outlet, the demonstration report and brief analysis materials for the establishment of the river discharge outlet shall also specify the amount of sewage discharged by each responsible entity into the river discharge outlet, the types, concentrations and amounts of key pollutants discharged by the river discharge outlet, and distinguish their respective responsibilities.
Article 17: The responsible entity for river discharge outlets may independently or through commissioned technical units conduct feasibility studies for outlet establishment, and prepare corresponding reports or summary analyses. The responsible entity shall bear full responsibility for the content and conclusions of such reports or materials. No organization or individual shall designate technical units to prepare such reports or materials on behalf of the responsible entity.
Article 18: The establishment of river discharge outlets shall be prohibited under any of the following circumstances: (1) within drinking water source protection zones; (2) in newly constructed areas of water bodies within scenic spots, important fishery waters, or other protected zones with special economic and cultural value; (3) other circumstances not permitted by laws and administrative regulations. For water functional zones where the ecological environment quality of river basins fails to meet standards, the establishment of discharge outlets shall be strictly controlled, except for those serving as discharge outlets for urban sewage treatment plants and other critical livelihood projects.
Article 19 Where the responsible subject of a sewage outlet into a river has obtained a sewage discharge permit according to law, the approval of the establishment of the sewage outlet into a river shall be coordinated with the items recorded in the sewage discharge permit.
Article 20 The decision document shall contain the following information: (1) Basic information of responsible entities; (2) Names, codes, and locations of river discharge outlets, along with sewage discharge methods and destinations; (3) Discharge volumes from river outlets, types of key pollutants, emission concentrations, total discharge quantities, and emission restrictions during special periods; (4) Information disclosure requirements; (5) Emergency response plans for water pollution incidents and environmental risk prevention measures; (6) Water ecological protection measures; for radioactive substance discharges, specific control measures must also be specified; (7) Other matters prescribed by laws and administrative regulations. When multiple discharge units share the same river outlet, the decision document shall additionally record each entity's discharge volumes, types of key pollutants, emission concentrations, special period emission restrictions, and clearly delineate respective responsibilities.
Article 21: Where there are changes to the name of the responsible entity for river discharge outlets, the address of production and business premises, legal representative or principal person in charge, or contact information, the entity shall apply to the approval authority for a decision document amendment within thirty days from the date of change. The approval authority shall complete the amendment within ten working days if the application meets the requirements.
Article 22: For the establishment of discharge outlets into rivers not specified in Article 11 of these Measures, a registration form shall be submitted to the municipal-level ecological environment authority where the outlet is located prior to its construction. The competent authority shall confirm and register such outlets within ten working days if they meet the requirements. If registered outlets undergo changes in the responsible entity's industry or emission characteristics that fall under circumstances stipulated in Article 11 of these Measures, the establishment approval for such outlets shall be processed in accordance with these Measures.
Article 23 Where a sewage outlet into a river is no longer used, the responsible subject shall dismantle or close the sewage outlet into the river by itself, and apply for cancellation of the decision or registration form within 30 days from the date of dismantling or closing.
Chapter III Supervision and Inspection
Article 24 The department in charge of ecology and environment under The State Council shall be responsible for the information management of river discharge outlets nationwide, organize the establishment and dynamic update of the management ledger of river discharge outlets, and strengthen the information management of the approval, registration, investigation and remediation, and daily supervision and inspection of the establishment of river discharge outlets.
Article 25 Departments in charge of ecological environment and river basin ecological environment supervision and management shall, in accordance with relevant state regulations and monitoring norms, strengthen the supervision and monitoring of sewage outlets into rivers. Areas with poor water ecological environment quality shall appropriately increase the frequency of monitoring of sewage outlets into rivers.
Article 26 The river basin ecological environment supervision and administration agency shall intensify the supervision and inspection of river discharge outlets within the river basin, and promptly notify relevant units of any problems found. The local ecological environment administrative department shall strengthen on-site inspection of river discharge outlets, and may carry out joint supervision and inspection with relevant departments when necessary.
Article 27: The Ministry of Ecology and Environment shall, in accordance with national regulations, organize investigations and rectification of river discharge outlets while providing guidance to local authorities in this regard. Basin ecological supervision agencies and regional environmental departments shall incorporate the progress of such investigations into their management ledgers according to their respective responsibilities. The government encourages the establishment of benchmark projects for standardized river discharge outlet rectification and construction, aiming to set exemplary models that lead by example.
Article 28 The responsible subject of a sewage outlet into a river shall regularly inspect and maintain the discharge channel, entrance and ancillary facilities; if it finds that others discharge pollutants through the way, it shall immediately report to the local department in charge of ecology and environment and keep evidence.
Article 29 The responsible entities of river discharge outlets shall be encouraged to install video monitoring systems and strengthen the daily management and maintenance of river discharge outlets.
Article 30 The establishment of monitoring and sampling points, inspection wells, and signboards at river discharge outlets shall comply with the standardized construction standards set by the competent department of ecological environment under The State Council. The responsible entities shall, in accordance with the provisions of the competent department of ecological environment under The State Council, install signboards at prominent locations such as the points where sewage enters rivers or monitoring and sampling points.
Article 31 The responsible entities of river discharge outlets shall actively disclose the relevant information of river discharge outlets to the public through signs, display screens, QR code marks or online media.
Article 32: When pollutants discharged from river discharge outlets cause or may cause water pollution incidents, the responsible entity shall immediately activate emergency response plans and report to the local people's government at or above the county level or the competent ecological environment department where the incident occurred in accordance with the law. The entity shall accept investigation and handling while taking emergency measures to cut off or control pollution sources, intercept, divert, or channel contaminated wastewater for proper disposal.
Article 33 Departments in charge of ecological environment shall establish and improve a public supervision and reporting mechanism, and encourage the public and news media to supervise the discharge of pollutants into river outlets.
Article 34. Citizens, legal persons and other organizations shall have the right to report to the competent department of ecology and environment if they find any act violating the provisions of these Measures. The competent department of ecology and environment receiving the report shall handle the matter according to law, give feedback on the handling result to the informant in accordance with relevant provisions, and keep the confidentiality of the informant.
Article 35: Any entity that violates the provisions of these Measures by establishing river discharge outlets within drinking water source protection zones shall be subject to penalties in accordance with the first paragraph of Article 84 of the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law of the People's Republic of China. In cases where any of the following circumstances occur in violation of these Measures, the competent ecological environment authorities shall impose penalties in accordance with the second and third paragraphs of Article 84 of the said Law: (1) Establishing river discharge outlets in protected areas of water bodies within scenic spots, important fishery waters, or other water bodies of special economic and cultural value; (2) Unauthorized establishment of river discharge outlets without prior approval; (3) Failure to install river discharge outlets as required by decision documents; (4) Other violations of laws, administrative regulations, or provisions set forth by the State Council's ecological environment authorities regarding the establishment of river discharge outlets.
Chapter IV Supplementary Provisions
Article 36 The State Council's department in charge of ecology and environment shall formulate the format of documents such as application for setting up river discharge outlets, written decisions and registration forms for river discharge outlets.
Article 37 The decision to agree to set up a sewage outlet into a river which has been obtained according to law before the implementation of these Measures shall remain valid after the implementation of these Measures.
Article 38 The provisions of state laws and regulations on confidentiality shall be observed in the examination and approval, registration, supervision and administration of river discharge outlets involving state secrets.
Article 39 Where the provisions of these Measures are not made for the examination and approval, registration, supervision and administration of river discharge outlets, the provisions of other relevant laws, administrative regulations and documents of The State Council shall apply.
Article 40 These Measures shall come into force as of January 1, 2025.
Unscramble：
1. An official from the Department of Water Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment answered questions from reporters on the Measures for the Supervision and Management of Sewage Discharge into Rivers
(http://www.mee.gov.cn/ywdt/zbft/202411/t20241104_1093425.shtml)
2. Read a picture at a time | Measures for the Supervision and Management of River Discharge Mouths
(http://www.mee.gov.cn/zcwj/zcjd/202411/t20241104_1093428.shtml)
