Abstract <p>Water is the source of life, the foundation of ecology and the key to production, and is a key resource indispensable to socio-economic development and human life. With the global environmental changes and the impact of human activities, water shortages, fragile water environment, water ecological imbalance and other problems are constantly emerging. This paper analyses the current situation of existing water resources monitoring network construction in China, and summarizes the characteristics and main functions of integrated natural resources observation; according to the observation requirements of water resources and environmental problems under the new situation, based on the water cycle process and the theory of “mountains, water, forests, fields, lakes and grasses are a life community,” an integrated observation indicator system of water resources is explored and constructed, which is composed of 5 first-level indicators, 14 second-level indicators and 25 third-level indicators of climate, biology, surface water, soil and groundwater resources. The application of “sky-space-earth” three-dimensional observation technology in integrated observation of water resources is proposed, and the interaction between resources is revealed, the evolution trend, dynamic balance process and carrying capacity of water resources are mastered, in order to provide theoretical guidance and help for quantitative, scientific and accurate management of water resources.</p>