Abstract: Water resources has been a key issue in the national economic development and people’s living. The serious situation China’s water resources is facing now requires that our country has to implement strict water resources management regime. The North and South of China have different characteristics in water production and utilization, and the existing problems are different as well. Therefore, to fully understand the characteristics of different regions is a prerequisite for water resources management according to local conditions and differences. Jiangxi, Hubei and Zhejiang provinces in the South, and Shandong, Hebei and Gansu provinces in the North are selected for the comparison. Differences of water production and utilization in six provinces are analyzed and compared in terms of precipitation, runoff coefficient, water production modulus, and water use, water consumption rate, quantity of water use, consumption and drainage, as well as water use efficiency. It's suggested that the three northern provinces should focus on water consumption control, and the improvement of water use efficiency , whereas the three southern provinces should enhance water use control, reduce emissions into the rivers, and  improve the quality of wastewater.

Key words: the North and South of China, water production, water utilization, water resources management