中国生态文明建设（中英对照）连载之三十三
水利部
本书由北京语言大学出版社出版，2014（教学课件光盘版） 作者 蒋高明
4.1.4水利部
4.1.4 The Ministry of Water Resources
水利部，顾名思义是利用水的利益的部委，如水力发电，水资源调配等。但今天水利部管理的领域由传统的自然水资源，扩大到城市，如对城市用水规划及重大建设项目的水资源调配等。水利部管理的业务，是中国生态文明建设的重要组成部分[1]，其中包括：负责保障水资源的合理开发利用；生活、生产经营和生态环境用水的统筹兼顾和保障；水资源保护；防止水土流失及开展水利科技和外事工作等。
As the name suggests, this is the ministry for water use, like hydropower and water resources allocation, etc. But today, the areas it governs have been expanded from natural water resources to cities, such as urban water planning and water resources allocation for major construction projects. Responsibilities of the Ministry of Water Resources are a part of China’s ecological civilization construction, including safeguarding rational development and utilization of water resources, overall planning and protection of domestic, production, ecological use of water resources, water protection, prevention of soil erosion, carrying out water science and technology and foreign affairs work.
北京是严重缺水的城市。但现在的北京市民或远道而来的参观者，并没有感觉到缺水的压力。谁来缓解北京的用水紧张问题？是水利部。正在为北京发挥作用的“南水北调”工程，通过东、中、西三条线路，将长江水和雅鲁藏布江的水调到北京。这种全国性、跨省市的水资源配置工作，是需要由专业部门来完成的。水资源专业规划、水功能区的划分、水资源论证制度、合理用水、计划用水、区域与行业用水定额并监督实施，都与水利部有关。
Beijing is a city that has suffered from a serious water shortage. But now Beijing residents or visitors from afar do not feel the lack of water. Who has alleviated the pressure of water shortage in Beijing? It’s the Ministry of Water Resources. The South-to-North water diversion project transfers water from the Yangtze River and the Yarlung Zangbo River to Beijing through three routes, the eastern, central and western lines. This national and inter-provincial water allocation project needs to be done by a particular sector. Professional planning of water resources, division of water functional areas, water appraisal system, rational and planned use of water, water quota of regional and industrial water resources and supervision of its implementation, all come under the Ministry of Water Resources.
水利部曾经在中国粮食生产中发挥过重大的作用。毛泽东曾指出：“水利是农业的命脉。”二十世纪六七十年代，中国掀起了全面建造水利工程的热潮。仅大小水库全国就建造了十几万座，在提升粮食产量方面功不可没。小时候，我也曾随大人们去参加水利工程的劳动。那时候干活没有工资，还自带干粮，热情高涨。现在才知道，设计水利工程，指导全国水库建设与灌区建设，都是水利部的功劳。可惜的是，今天有大量水利设施老旧，不能发挥作用，影响了农业生产，这是水利部需要关注的工作。
It has played a significant role in China’s grain production. Mao Zedong once pointed out: “Water is the lifeblood of agriculture.” In the 1960s and 1970s, China was engaged in comprehensive water conservancy construction. Hundreds of thousands of reservoirs of different sizes were built, making a great contribution to enhancing food production. When I was young, I used to join the water conservancy work along with some adults. There was no pay and people brought their own food, but they were still enthusiastic. Now, I know that to design water conservancy projects and to guide the construction of reservoirs and irrigation areas should all be credited to the Ministry of Water Resources. Unfortunately, many water conservancy facilities are too old to function, thus affecting agricultural production. This undesirable state should draw the attention of the Ministry.
除了水利，水利部还管水害，包括组织协调全国水土保持工作，承担水土流失综合防治和监督管理。水往低处流，最终的去向是大海。但沿途经过的陆地生态系统，尤其是山地，一旦发生水土流失，则造成生态退化，江湖堵塞，引发灾害。因此在国家水土流失重点防治区，水利部担负着国家重点水土保持建设项目的实施、监督和管理工作。
In addition to water conservation, the Ministry is also in charge of handling water-related damage, including organization and coordination of national soil and water conservation and control, supervision and management of water and soil erosion. Water always flows downward and ultimately to sea. But when it flows through the terrestrial ecosystems, especially mountains, it may cause soil erosion and ecological degradation, clog rivers and lakes, and bring about disasters. Therefore, in major areas, the Ministry of Water Resources is responsible for implementation, monitoring and management of national key projects of soil and water conservation.
另外，节水型社会建设的相关制度和工作规划，也是水利部负责的。水利部在推进节水型社会的宣传工作上功不可没。早在“世界水日”诞生前的1989年，水利部就将每年7月1日至7日，定为“水法宣传周”，通过普法教育增强居民合理用水意识。1993年，“世界水日”诞生，水利部于第二年将“水法宣传周”改为“世界水日”所在的一周（即3月22日至28日）。除此之外，为了提高城市居民节约用水的意识，从1992年开始，将每年5月15日所在的一周定为“全国城市节水宣传周”。
It also takes charge of related systems and plans of the construction of a water-saving society. It has made outstanding contributions to promotion of water-saving society. As early as 1989, when the “World Water Day” had yet to be created, the Ministry designated the period of time of a year from July 1st to 7th as “Water Publicity Week”. Through law education and publicity, this week is meant to enhance people’s awareness of reasonable use of water by people. In 1993, the “World Water Day” was inaugurated, and in the following year, the Ministry of Water Resources changed the dates for “Water Publicity Week” to coincide with “World Water Day” (22 to 28 March). What’s more, in order to deepen water conservation awareness in cities, the week that includes May 15th was fixed as National Water-saving Publicity Week in Cities, beginning from 1992.
[1] 水利部的具体职能，可以参看如下网址：http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/jgjs/zyzn
[1] For specific functions of the Ministry of Water Resources, please visit: http://www.mwr.gov.cn/zwzc/jgjs/zyzn
