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Spatial Characteristics and Driving Factors of Provincial Wastewater Discharge in China

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  • Kunlun Chen

    (Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
    Regional Development and Environmental Response Key Laboratory of Hubei Province, Wuhan 430062, China)

  • Xiaoqiong Liu

    (Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China)

  • Lei Ding

    (Ningbo Polytechnic, Ningbo 315800, China)

  • Gengzhi Huang

    (Guangzhou Institute of Geography, Guangzhou 510070, China)

  • Zhigang Li

    (Faculty of Resources and Environmental Science, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China
    School of Urban Design, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China)

Abstract

Based on the increasing pressure on the water environment, this study aims to clarify the overall status of wastewater discharge in China, including the spatio-temporal distribution characteristics of wastewater discharge and its driving factors, so as to provide reference for developing “emission reduction” strategies in China and discuss regional sustainable development and resources environment policies. We utilized the Exploratory Spatial Data Analysis (ESDA) method to analyze the characteristics of the spatio-temporal distribution of the total wastewater discharge among 31 provinces in China from 2002 to 2013. Then, we discussed about the driving factors, affected the wastewater discharge through the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method and classified those driving factors. Results indicate that: (1) the total wastewater discharge steadily increased, based on the social economic development, with an average growth rate of 5.3% per year; the domestic wastewater discharge is the main source of total wastewater discharge, and the amount of domestic wastewater discharge is larger than the industrial wastewater discharge. There are many spatial differences of wastewater discharge among provinces via the ESDA method. For example, provinces with high wastewater discharge are mainly the developed coastal provinces such as Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province. Provinces and their surrounding areas with low wastewater discharge are mainly the undeveloped ones in Northwest China; (2) The dominant factors affecting wastewater discharge are the economy and technological advance; The secondary one is the efficiency of resource utilization, which brings about the unstable effect; population plays a less important role in wastewater discharge. The dominant driving factors affecting wastewater discharge among 31 provinces are divided into three types, including two-factor dominant type, three-factor leading type and four-factor antagonistic type. In addition, the proposals aimed at reducing the wastewater discharge are provided on the basis of these three types.

Suggested Citation

  • Kunlun Chen & Xiaoqiong Liu & Lei Ding & Gengzhi Huang & Zhigang Li, 2016. "Spatial Characteristics and Driving Factors of Provincial Wastewater Discharge in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:12:p:1221-:d:84853
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    Cited by:

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    2. Fatima Khalique & Shoab Ahmed Khan & Wasi Haider Butt & Irum Matloob, 2020. "An Integrated Approach for Spatio-Temporal Cholera Disease Hotspot Relation Mining for Public Health Management in Punjab, Pakistan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-18, May.
    3. Chao Hu & Jin Fan & Jian Chen, 2022. "Spatial and Temporal Characteristics and Drivers of Agricultural Carbon Emissions in Jiangsu Province, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Zhaofang Zhang & Weijun He & Juqin Shen & Min An & Xin Gao & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Liang Yuan & Yang Kong & Chengcai Zhang & Jin Huang, 2019. "The Driving Forces of Point Source Wastewater Emission: Case Study of COD and NH 4 -N Discharges in Mainland China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Min An & Weijun He & Dagmawi Mulugeta Degefu & Zaiyi Liao & Zhaofang Zhang & Liang Yuan, 2018. "Spatial Patterns of Urban Wastewater Discharge and Treatment Plants Efficiency in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-15, August.

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