An application for the temporary use of water or land areas within the administration area of watercourses shall be submitted by enterprises or individuals to the Shanghai Municipal Watercourse Administration Department or district/county level watercourse administration departments. The use of such water or land areas is allowed only with the License for the Temporary Use of a Watercourse.

The temporary use of a watercourse shall be no longer than two years. The period can be extended for one year, and can only be extended once. After the expiration of the usage time, enterprises and individuals shall return the watercourse to its original state. If not, the Shanghai Municipal Watercourse Administration Department or district/county level watercourse administration departments have the obligation to ask the relevant enterprises or individuals to return it to the original state or to dismantle the constructions. All the costs shall be borne by the enterprise or individual.

Enterprises or individuals that use watercourses temporarily have the obligation to ensure flood-prevention safety through flood-prevention banks and walls.