Evaluating water resource utilization in central China using the energy-based water ecological footprint model

JIAO Shixing; WANG Anzhou; LIU Jiale; LIU Chang; ZHAO Rongqin; LI Zhongxuan; WEI Linghan

doi:10.13522/j.cnki.ggps.2024175

Abstract：[Objective]Understanding water utilization across sectors and regions is essential for regional water resource management and sustainable development.The objective of this paper is to evaluate water usage in six provinces in central China,providing insights into sustainable water resource management.[Method]Using an energy-based ecological theory,we calculated the spatiotemporal variation in the ecological carrying capacity of water in the six provinces and analyzed its composition.[Result]① The energy-based water ecological footprint across the six provinces shows a fluctuating upward trend.Surface water contributes the highest ecological carrying capacity(84%),followed by groundwater(9%)and rainwater(7%).② The water ecological surplus index indicates a fluctuating upward trend but reveals an overall water ecological deficit.The ecological pressure index exhibits a fluctuating downward trend,peaking in 2011 and reaching its lowest point in 2016.③ Both the energy-based ecological carrying capacity and ecological footprint demonstrate significant spatial variation,high in the southern provinces compared to the Northern ones.④ Ranking of the water ecological surplus index(largest to smallest)in the six province is as follows:Hubei(2.94×108 hm2),Anhui(2.37×108 hm2),Henan(2.27×108 hm2),Hunan(1.22×108 hm2),Jiangxi(1.06×108 hm2),and Shanxi(0.62×108 hm2).The southern provinces exhibit lower ecological pressure indices compared to the northern provinces.⑤ The composition of water ecological footprints varies significantly between provinces.Agricultural water use is the largest in all six provinces,while ecological and environmental water use is the smallest.In the southern region,water use is dominated by aquatic production,followed by industry water use,domestic use,and water pollution.In contrast,water use in the northern region is dominated by domestic use,industrial use,water pollution,and aquatic production.[Conclusion]The unsustainable use of water resources in central China poses significant challenges to ecological balance.To achieve sustainable water utilization,the region should focus on constructing water conservancy projects,implementing water-saving technologies,and optimizing water use.