China has officially established the world's largest and most comprehensive water infrastructure system, covering 80.3% of its land area, according to a Ministry of Water Resources announcement on March 22, 2026. The milestone, revealed during a State Council Information Office press conference marking World Water Day, addresses long-standing regional disparities in water distribution.
Wang Hao, a Chinese Academy of Engineering academician, highlighted the challenge: Northern regions containing 64% of China's territory, 46% of its population, and 60% of farmland historically accessed only 19% of national water resources. The new network integrates reservoirs, canals, and smart management systems to optimize allocation between water-rich southern basins and arid northern plains.
The infrastructure supports agricultural stability in major grain-producing areas while meeting urban-industrial demands. Officials emphasized its role in climate resilience and ecological protection as part of China's 2021-2025 water security plan. With 172 major water projects completed since 2014, the system now serves 850 million residents directly.
