Spatial Patterns of Urban Wastewater Discharge and Treatment Plants Efficiency in China

Min An, Weijun He, Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu, Zaiyi Liao, Zhaofang Zhang and Liang Yuan
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Min An: Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Weijun He: College of Economics & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu: Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Zaiyi Liao: Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON M5B 2K3, Canada
Zhaofang Zhang: Business School, Hohai University, Nanjing 211100, China
Liang Yuan: College of Economics & Management, Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-15

Abstract: With the rapid economic development, water pollution has become a major concern in China. Understanding the spatial variation of urban wastewater discharge and measuring the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants are prerequisites for rationally designing schemes and infrastructures to control water pollution. Based on the input and output urban wastewater treatment data of the 31 provinces of mainland China for the period 2011–2015, the spatial variation of urban water pollution and the efficiency of wastewater treatment plants were measured and mapped. The exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) model and super-efficiency data envelopment analysis (DEA) combined Malmquist index were used to achieve this goal. The following insight was obtained from the results. (1) The intensity of urban wastewater discharge increased, and the urban wastewater discharge showed a spatial agglomeration trend for the period 2011 to 2015. (2) The average inefficiency of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) for the study period was 39.2%. The plants’ efficiencies worsened from the eastern to western parts of the country. (3) The main reasons for the low efficiency were the lack of technological upgrade and scale-up. The technological upgrade rate was −4.8%, while the scale efficiency increases as a result of scaling up was −0.2%. Therefore, to improve the wastewater treatment efficiency of the country, the provinces should work together to increase capital investment and technological advancement.

Keywords: spatial pattern; urban wastewater treatment plants; treatment efficiency; data envelopment analysis; exploratory spatial data analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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