LocationsBalancing Ecological Protection and Development with Integrated and Innovative Development Solutions to Strengthen Water Governance
March 22, 2026
Qiaodian Reservoir, Shandong Province
Effective water governance is critical for ensuring that water resources are managed sustainably and equitably, enabling economic development, protecting ecosystems, and enhancing community resilience in the face of growing climate pressures. As such, as part of its efforts to advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in China, UNDP has been working with a wide range of partners to enhance water governance through innovation and integrated water management approaches.
Adapting Integrated Water Governance in Shandong's Qiaodian Reservoir
One such initiative is the Qiaodian Reservoir Water Resources Protection Project jointly launched in 2023 by UNDP, the China Center for International Economic and Technological Exchanges (CICETE), The Coca-Cola Foundation, and the Jinan Water Conservancy Engineering Service Center. Implemented under the UNDP Global Water Programme, the project explores new ways to manage water sources by combining environmental protection with sustainable development.
Located in Jinan, Shandong Province, Qiaodian Reservoir is a nationally designated surface drinking water source that serves more than 200,000 urban residents. At the same time, the reservoir supports flood control, agriculture, rural revitalization and ecotourism. Managing the reservoir therefore requires balancing water protection with economic and community development.
The "Five Water Co-Governance" Approach
Instead of addressing water protection through isolated actions, the project introduced a “Five-Water Co-Governance" framework. This approach integrates water purification, water conservation, water saving, water control, and water protection into one coordinated system.
Under this approach, the project combines nature-based solutions, infrastructure upgrades and more efficient water management to reduce pollution risks and improve how water is used. Measures such as constructed wetlands and ecological ponds help filter pollutants before they reach the reservoir, while improved water intake systems have reduced water losses at treatment plants by around 40 percent. At the same time, irrigation modernization has increased agricultural water-use efficiency by about 35 percent, helping reduce pressure on reservoir resources.
Upgraded sewage collection networks and improved treatment technologies allow the treatment and reuse of about 362 cubic meters of domestic wastewater per day, reducing pollutants entering the reservoir while supporting safe water management for surrounding communities.
Alongside technical improvements, the project strengthened coordination between institutions through a “Six-Link” working mechanism that brings together water authorities, environmental agencies, agriculture departments, public security and local governments.
The "Six-Link" Governance Mechanism
Monitoring systems combining patrol boats, vehicles, and drones now cover 69 key sites around the reservoir. Public outreach activities linked to events such as World Water Day have also helped raise awareness, with more than 40 activities reaching over 10,000 people.
Stronger coordination and enforcement have significantly reduced environmental risks. Since the project began, illegal wastewater discharge and illegal fishing have declined by 92 percent, while 23 water-related disputes have been resolved through joint mediation mechanisms.
The project has helped ensure that clean water continues to flow safely into the reservoir and that the water supplied to nearby communities consistently meets drinking water standards. The initiative is estimated to generate around 15 million cubic meters of ecological water benefits each year, contributing to healthier ecosystems and improved living conditions for surrounding communities. Improved environmental conditions have also supported local development. In Qiaodian Village, sales of local speciality products, such as low-sugar mooncakes and handmade baked goods, have exceeded 700,000 yuan, while new opportunities in agriculture and ecotourism have helped boost rural economic activity.
Leveraging Digital Innovation to Inform Future Water Governance
The Qiaodian Reservoir project demonstrates how integrated water governance can support economic development and community wellbeing. However, it represents only one aspect of UNDP’s broader efforts to strengthen water governance.
For instance, working with partners like the International Research Center of Big Data for Sustainable Development Goals (CBAS) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, UNDP is leveraging technological innovation and geospatial data to inform water governance.
In 2025, CBAS also worked closely with UNDP’s Water Governance Programme in China to optimize a Sustainable Water Management indicator system applicable across multiple spatial scales, drawing on earlier field investigations and surveys. This work was complemented by the development of remote sensing–based indicator datasets for key demonstration areas of the water programme, including the Miyun Reservoir, Lake Ulansu, and the Qimu River Basin. The datasets provided a robust analytical foundation for assessing water availability, ecosystem conditions, and the degree of integrated water resources management at basin and sub‑basin levels.
Satellite Remote Sensing Images of Miyun Demonstration Area, Beijing
Through this partnership, a preliminary SDG 6 indicator framework and related algorithms that integrate satellite imagery, ground observations, and statistical data, enabling consistent assessment across different geographic scales have been developed.
Looking ahead, UNDP will continue to work alongside CBAS on further optimizing and operationalizing this system to support local governments in translating complex geospatial data into actionable insights for water governance—strengthening planning, monitoring, and adaptive management in reservoirs such as the Qiaodian Reservoir, while contributing to scalable and replicable models for SDG 6 localization in China and beyond.
Moving forward, UNDP remains committed to working with partners to leverage advanced technologies and approaches that can help advance SDG progress, including on Goal 6, to ensure clean water and sanitation for everyone, everywhere, while supporting development that benefits both people and the planet.
