In the arid and semi-arid loess hilly region

water is not only a survival factor

but can also be a hazardous element sometimes.Aiming at ensuring the security and stability of artificial dumps and the water demand of vegetation growth

this study took the reclaimed lands of opencast mines in Pingshuo County of Shanxi Province as the study sites

conducting field survey and data analysis.The preliminarily water-control technologies of the last 20years were divided into three reclamation stages

i.e.

landform reshaping

new land creation

and ecology system rehabilitation.The key technologies of water-controlling included conducting water in dump bases along with layer-by-layer compaction of the dumping materials

controlling runoff by water network construction and sub-basin fragmentation

and conserving water resources with considerations of both storage and drainage.Water regulating should be paid attention during the whole course of dump reclamation.Runoff utilization would be the major part of water conditioning in the middle or late stages of dump reclamation.Further studies are required for many other specific issues regarding water regulating in this area.