The current technical specifications is developed for the purpose of implementing Article 11 "The competent environmental protection development of the State Council shall set up monitoring system and develop monitoring technical specifications to protect waters such as rivers, lakes, seas and reservoirs to maintain good water quality" of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Environmental Protection (on Trial), unifying the guiding principle, technical regulations, basic procedures and methods for the development of local water pollutant emission standard across China. The current standard is a national basic environmental standard and applicable to the development of the standard for pollutants discharged into surface waters like rivers, lakes and reservoirs. When local authorities develop local water pollutant emission standard, they shall comply with national policies, laws and regulations on environmental protection apart from meeting the current standard.

Technological principle and methods for enactment of local water pollutant emission standard (GB 3839-83)