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The strictest water resources management (SWRM) policy is an important policy to promote the rational use of water resources and sustainable water development in China. An evaluation of the SWRM policy is conducive to the SWRM's optimization and water governance. The S-CAD (Subjectivity – Consistency, Adequacy, Dependency) method is used to assess the implementation effect and formulation of the SWRM policy. The results show that the SWRM policy has a clear logic, goals, and strategy; the goals reflect the government's policy stands and the policy goals can be fully realized through the implementation process. In addition, the SWRM policy's effect is high, which helps solve the challenges of maintaining water resources, the water environment, and water security in China, and has a positive impact on water use efficiency. This study enriches the knowledge body of water policy evaluation and water governance both in China and across the world

The strictest water resources management policy plays a critical role in response to the challenge of water shortage, water security, and sustainable water development in China. Despite the varied analyses of the strictest water resources management policy, the relations between the strictest water resources management policy and water use efficiency remain under-researched. This study uses an interval event-analysis method to assess the strictest water resources management policy’s impact on water use efficiency in China based on data from 2007 to 2020. In addition, the study breaks down water use efficiency into eight indicators and divides the strictest water management policy into “pre-, middle, and post-” phases. The research results show the strictest water resources management policy has a significant positive effect on water use efficiency. Further research shows the total water consumption control system and water efficiency control system have the most significant effect. The strictest water resources management policy has a lasting impact on water use efficiency. This study contributes to the global knowledge body of water governance and provides a reference value for water policy decision-making and optimization in other countries.

The strictest water resources management (SWRM) policy is a critical policy to address China’s severe water shortage and pollution problems, and aims to promote sustainable water development and water governance. Based on data mining from multiple sources, including policy text from the strictest water resource management policy from 2011 to 2021, the reports of major media websites, and the Baidu Index, this study used the ROST-CM6 text-analysis tool to analyze the policy content, public opinion, and public perception of the strictest water resources management policy quantitatively and visually. The results found that the policy text and public-opinion are given high attention to the water resources assessment, water control management, and water resources protection, but the policy text focuses on the macro level, and pays more attention to national development and long-term planning. The public opinion belongs to the micro level and is more economic, and there is a certain degree of media bias. With notable regional disparities, the general public’s opinion of the harshest water resource management policy has been rising every year. This research adds to the global body of knowledge on water governance, and serves as a guide for Chinese and other governments looking to improve their water resource management strategies.