Network Analysis for a Better Water Use Configuration in the Baiyangdian Basin, China

Xufeng Mao, Donghai Yuan, Xiaoyan Wei, Qiong Chen, Chenling Yan and Liansheng He
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Xufeng Mao: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Environment and Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Life and Geography Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Qinghai 810000, China
Donghai Yuan: Key Laboratory of Urban Stormwater System and Water Environment (Ministry of Education), Beijing Climate Change Response Research and Education Center, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, China
Xiaoyan Wei: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Environment and Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Life and Geography Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Qinghai 810000, China
Qiong Chen: Key Laboratory of Tibetan Plateau Environment and Resources (Ministry of Education), College of Life and Geography Sciences, Qinghai Normal University, Qinghai 810000, China
Chenling Yan: Environmental Sanitation Information Room, Beijing Environmental Sanitation Engineering Research Institute, Beijing 100028, China
Liansheng He: Water Environment System Project Laboratory, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China

Sustainability, 2015, vol. 7, issue 2, 1-12

Abstract: Nowadays, an increasing shortage of water resources intensifies the contradiction among different water-using sectors in the social-economic-ecological complex system. To adjust water used configuration in a holistic framework, a water use system (WUS) model was constructed with inclusive five water-using sectors including aquatic systems, primary industry, secondary industry, tertiary industry and resident consumption. The Baiyangdian Basin in Northern China was used as a case area. Six years data from 2008 to 2013 were used to quantify the model. By introducing the ecological network analysis (EAN), we holistically assessed the WUS under different water use configuration. System organization, activities and development degree, etc. were used to character the prosperities of the water use system. Results indicate that the WUS encountered a lasting degradation in system organization (AMI index decreased in an annual rate of 0.6%) and development degree though with an ascending system activities in the studies periods (with an annual growth rate of 11.3%). Scenario analysis results suggest several potential ways to achieve a better water use configuration in this basin, such as environmental and ecological restoration, water-saving technology and water recycling rate, etc. The current study may provide ways to optimize water use structure to balance the interests of different sectors both ecologically and economically.

Keywords: the Baiyangdian basin; ecological network analysis; water use system; water footprint (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2015
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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