Abstract: The Ministry of Water Resources in 2022 issued the List of Major Drinking Water Sources in the Yangtze Basin,laying a crucial foundation for water resource protection and management in the region.Guiding the protection of these vital drinking water sources is a legal responsibility assigned to water administration departments by the Water Law of the People’s Republic of China and the Yangtze River Protection Law.This duty is essential for ensuring the safety of water supply in the basin.By examining the current state of protecting and managing major drinking water sources in the Yangtze River Basin,we aim to address existing issues such as the inadequate access and withdrawal mechanisms for the water source list,the deficiencies in the safety assessment system,and the insufficient funding mechanisms.Proposed long-term strategies include enhancing the water source security planning system,standardizing the management of the water source list,improving water source security assessments and protections,and implementing rigorous evaluations of water source protection measures.The findings of this research hold significant importance for fulfilling the protection mandates outlined in the Water Law and the Yangtze River Protection Law,adhering to the principles of green development in the Yangtze River Economic Belt,ensuring the Great Protection of the Yangtze River,as well as advancing the establishment of a robust,long-term supervision and management mechanism for major drinking water sources in the Yangtze River Basin.

Key words: important drinking water sources, water resource protection, management of water source list, safety and security assessment, water supply security, Yangtze River Basin