The Irrigation System serves Zhaocheng and Hongtong Counties through its northern and southern main canals respectively. Since the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the two counties have been in constant dispute over water distribution. With government intervention, water distribution stones, wood partitions, water gates, and weirs were once adopted to split the spring water in a 7:3 ratio between the northern and southern main canals. However, water users could easily and unlawfully get more water by moving the water distribution stone or deepening the canal, and hence the occurrence of conflicts. This situation lasted nearly 1000 years till 1725 when the government casted an iron palisade with ten interstices and fixed it to the bottom of the canals. With the help of mini stone weir, this structure could finally guarantee fair distribution of water. The iron palisade is still in use today, and the stele inscribed with the rules of water distribution stands nearby.

Formed during the Himalaya orogeny 2.5 million years ago, Huoquan Spring has good water quality and a large and stable outflow at 3.67m3/s, ready for development and utilization. The earliest known written records of Huoquan Spring Irrigation System were made during the Zhenguan Period (627-649) of the Tang Dynasty, which are about its southern and northern main canals. According to the Memorial Stele of Reconstructing the Water God Temple erected in 1283, the Irrigation System had four canals, nurturing a large number of villages in the  Zhaocheng and Hongtong Counties with bumper harvests and good environment.

Apart from the benefits of irrigation, the Spring could also be utilized for its great potential energy derived from the drop in elevation. In the 11^th century, water mills were built along the canals to tap into such energy. Around 1950, there were 246 water mills left. The remains of water mills and hydropower stations have been preserved.

During its long history, the Irrigation System set up an autonomous management system based on the list of water user units and regulations with fair water distribution at their core. In addition, it practiced an early form of water rights system for over 1000 years. Its uniqueness and the ingenuity it demonstrates have made it a valuable subject of study for researchers of water management and local governance in ancient China. With broad impact on its surrounding areas, the Irrigation System is still of great relevance today.

To settle the water use conflicts between Hongtong and Zhaocheng Counties, the Irrigation System has accumulated a wealth of experience in water distribution and water use management, which offers valuable reference for water management today. Initially, stones were laid at the headwork of the System to distribute water. However, water users could easily and unlawfully move the water distribution stone or deepen the canal to get more water, and hence the occurrence of conflicts. In 1725, the government then casted an iron palisade with ten interstices and fixed it to the bottom of the canals. With the help of mini stone weir, this structure could finally guarantee fair water distribution. This practice, applauded widely at that time, is an example of efficient water distribution in the ancient times.

During its long history, the Irrigation System gradually formed an autonomous management system based on canal dossiers and lists of water user units. The dossiers and lists were created by all water users and stayed stable once completed. The list is a register of water user households and the sizes of their farmland, based on which respective water rights are granted. The dossiers contain regulations of irrigation and water distribution. This early form of water rights system had lasted over 1000 years.

The steady outflow of Huoquan Spring has ensured water supply for irrigation and generated considerable benefits. As far back as the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the irrigated area of the System had reached 891 ha, making it one of the four largest irrigation schemes in Shanxi Province, and the major pillar for local agricultural and economic development. Its water rights system, based on the participation of and negotiation among government, local landlords, and peasants, had guaranteed relative fairness. Later adopted in other regions of Shanxi Province, this practice had generated far-reaching impacts on the local society.

Aware of the importance of water resources to local development, local communities had reached the consensus on the protection and preservation of the Spring. In addition, logging had been banned in the nearby mountains for the purpose of water conservation.

Every year on March 18 (of traditional Chinese calendar), there is the Guangsheng Temple and Water God Temple Fair, a tradition that has lasted centuries. On the temple fair, people trade groceries and livestock, watch shows of fireworks and acrobatics, and participate in religious activities. Since the Tang Dynasty, local people have treated the Huoquan Spring as the source of life. Folk takes of water use conflicts and water distribution have been widely circulated.

The earliest known written records of Huoquan Spring Irrigation System were made during the Zhenguan Period (627-649) of the Tang Dynasty, which are about its southern and northern main canals. When the System was first built, both the southern and northern main canals were located within the Zhaocheng County, which means only the farmland of Zhaocheng County was irrigated. In 800, the southern main canal began to water farmland in Hongtong County. It was during this period that sluice gates were installed to ensure fairness of water distribution.

During the Kaibao Period (968-975)of the Northern Song Dynasty, conflicts over water distribution erupted between the two counties. As a result, water distribution stones were installed at the heads of two main canals to limit the volume of water each county could receive.

In 1045, disputes arose again. The government installed sluice gates to divide water between Zhaocheng and Hongtong Counties in a ratio of 7:3. A stele was set up to record this event. In 1137, wood partitions were installed at the headwork for the first time. In 1139, facing ceaseless disputes, the government reaffirmed the 7:3 ratio of water distribution, and made the distributing stones permanent.

In 1303, a 8 magnitude earthquake struck Zhaocheng County, severely damaging the Irrigation System. Later, local governments reconstructed the canal system. In 1726, the government replaced the water distribution stones with iron palisade which is still functioning today.

Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, the canal system has undergone multiple rounds of rehabilitation. Currently, there are 2 main canals (20.71 km long), 10 branch canals (56.54 km long), 1507 lateral canals (364.36 km long), and over 3000 field ditches (563.7 km long). The irrigated area is 6,743 ha, covering 119 villages of 5 towns.

Currently, the Irrigation System faces the following challenges.

The impact of coal mining: Within the Huoquan Spring basin, there are 142 coal mines. Every year, they drain off large amount of water, disrupting the original supply-drainage cycle of the karst water, and reducing the water supplied by the coal measures aquiferin its natural state to the karst water. In 2020, according toa notice of criticism circulated by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment,22 coal mines within the Huoquan Spring basinillegally exploited karst water.

The impact of motor-pumped wells and deep wells: The increase of motor-pumped wells and deep wells, together with decreasing vegetation, has led tofalling groundwater tables and the drying up of some springs.

The impact of floods: In the last 20 years, with increasing extreme weather events such as severe floods, the canal system has been under great pressure. In 2022, a section of the historic northern maincanal was found to have collapsed.

The impact of urbanization: With fast economic development and urbanization, some sections of the canals have been filled in or transformed into closed conduits. In addition, refuse heaping and incineration near the canals are impairing the water quality.