中國生態文明建設（中英對照）連載之三十三
水利部
本書由北京語言大學出版社出版， 2014（教學課件光碟版） 作者 蔣高明
4.1.4水利部
4.1.4 The Ministry of Water Resources
水利部， 顧名思義是利用水的利益的部委， 如水力發電， 水資源調配等。 但今天水利部管理的領域由傳統的自然水資源， 擴大到城市， 如對城市用水規劃及重大建設專案的水資源調配等。 水利部管理的業務， 是中國生態文明建設的重要組成部分[1]， 其中包括：負責保障水資源的合理開發利用；生活、生產經營和生態環境用水的統籌兼顧和保障；水資源保護；防止水土流失及開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.
北京是嚴重缺水的城市。 但現在的北京市民或遠道而來的參觀者， 並沒有感覺到缺水的壓力。 誰來緩解北京的用水緊張問題？是水利部。 正在為北京發揮作用的“南水北調”工程， 通過東、中、西三條線路， 將長江水和雅魯藏布江的水調到北京。 這種全國性、跨省市的水資源配置工作， 是需要由專業部門來完成的。 水資源專業規劃、水功能區的劃分、水資源論證制度、合理用水、計畫用水、區域與行業用水定額並監督實施， 都與水利部有關。
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.
水利部曾經在中國糧食生產中發揮過重大的作用。 毛澤東曾指出：“水利是農業的命脈。 ”二十世紀六七十年代， 中國掀起了全面建造水利工程的熱潮。 僅大小水庫全國就建造了十幾萬座，
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， 水利部還管水害， 包括組織協調全國水土保持工作， 承擔水土流失綜合防治和監督管理。 水往低處流， 最終的去向是大海。 但沿途經過的陸地生態系統， 尤其是山地， 一旦發生水土流失， 則造成生態退化， 江湖堵塞， 引發災害。 因此在國家水土流失重點防治區， 水利部擔負著國家重點水土保持建設專案的實施、監督和管理工作。
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， 節水型社會建設的相關制度和工作規劃， 也是水利部負責的。 水利部在推進節水型社會的宣傳工作上功不可沒。 早在“世界水日”誕生前的1989年， 水利部就將每年7月1日至7日， 定為“水法宣傳周”， 通過普法教育增強居民合理用水意識。 1993年， “世界水日”誕生， 水利部於第二年將“水法宣傳周”改為“世界水日”所在的一周（即3月22日至28日）。 除此之外， 為了提高城市居民節約用水的意識， 從1992年開始， 將每年5月15日所在的一周定為“全國城市節水宣傳周”。
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]水利部的具體職能， 可以參看如下網址：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