6 - Regulation and Control of Water Pollution

Summary

Chapter 6 examines the regulatory control of water pollution under the Water Pollution Prevention and Control Law (WPPCL) (2017) and relevant state plans and regulations including the Action Plan on Water Pollution Prevention and Control (2015). It introduces the history of statutory control of water pollution from WPPCL (1984) and discusses the command-and-control approach including government’s responsibilities and agencies in charge, standard-setting and government planning, river basin management and key pollution control mechanisms. The chapter further addresses major sources of water pollution including point sources and non-point sources by different regulatory instruments, highlighting drinking water safety to protect public health and environmental emergency response to water pollution incidents to contain and mitigate harm. The chapter concludes with discussion of improved environmental enforcement and sanction, with brief reference to civil liabilities for water pollution under WPPCL (2017).