Xinjiang is a typical arid region where agricultural water use accounts for more than 90% of total water consumption. The region currently faces severe challenges

including water-resource overloading and excessive groundwater extraction. Based on a review of the progress achieved in water-saving infrastructure development and water-pricing reform in Xinjiang

this study identifies several prominent problems

including inadequate infrastructure

misaligned water-saving objectives

fragmented management

inconsistencies among policies

and underdeveloped institutional mechanisms. To address these problems

it is proposed that integrated water-conservation systems be systematically established

covering administrative management

institutional mechanisms

engineering infrastructure

technical services

and performance assessment.Three differentiated approaches—water-use control and conservation

in-depth water conservation

and mechanism-based water conservation—should also be implemented according to local water-resource conditions and regional characteristics.Furthermore

five representative pilot programs are proposed to explore water-conservation models that can be replicated and widely applied. These measures are intended to achieve the systematic objectives of restoring water to rivers and replenishing groundwater

thereby promoting coordinated development between regional water resources and economic and social systems.