This paper describes the current severe problems in water resources of China.Besides pointing out the important role of water allocation in water resources management,it also introduces the difference and connection with the water right allocation.The domestic achievement about water allocation is summarized as the following four stages:trial and exploration,legal basis,strict management and rigid constraint.It compares the methods of making water allocation scheme under different situations from the aspects of work content,main principles,technical routes and water resources allocation results.Meanwhile,it analyzes the comprehensive demand of water quantity and water quality for water allocation under the strictest water resources management system and water resources rigid constraint system and prospets the future directions for the development of water allocation.Finally,it points out that the future scheme work can be carried out based on the principles of deeply exploiting the watersaving potential,water benefits sharing and the bankruptcy theory,so as to realize the coordination between the regional economic development and the carrying capacity of water resources in the basin,and achieve the goal of“high quality green development”of society.