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Assessing Water Sustainability in Northwest China: Analysis of Water Quantity, Water Quality, Socio-Economic Development and Policy Impacts

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Listed:
  • Dan Dai

    (Soil, Water, and Ecosystem Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA)

  • Angelos Alamanos

    (Department of Civil Engineering, University of Thessaly, 38334 Volos, Greece)

  • Wenqian Cai

    (Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Beijing 100012, China)

  • Qingqing Sun

    (Institute of Surface-Earth System Science, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China)

  • Liangsuo Ren

    (School of Geographic Science and Planning, Nanning Normal University, Nanning 530100, China)

Abstract

Northwest China (NWC) is one of the driest areas of the world. Over the past decades, NWC has experienced rapid socio-economic development, further stressing its freshwater quantity and quality. However, there is little knowledge on the long-term status of NWC’s water resources and the anthropogenic impacts—positive (environmental policies) or negative (uncontrolled development). We present a holistic spatiotemporal assessment of NWC’s water quantity, water scarcity, and water quality based on water use intensity (WUI), water scarcity index (WSI), and statistical analyses and tests, combining multiple datasets spanning the past two decades. Moreover, we analyze the impacts of socio-economic development on water resources and mention the relevant governmental efforts and policies to preserve NWC’s water resources. NWC’s water use was found to be unsustainable, having significantly increased by 10% over the past two decades, but without being able to adequately cover the needs of most sectors. Our results also reveal water scarcity inequalities among NWC’s provinces; perennial water scarcity exists in Xinjiang and Ningxia Provinces, and there is no water stress in Qinghai. A remarkable wastewater treatment rate (from 27.3% in 2003 to 97.1% in 2020) and river water quality improvement have been achieved under continuous efforts, huge restoration and water pollution control investments. However, water shortages are a persistent issue. Balancing the water availability and demand will be crucial to achieve a truly sustainable development.

Suggested Citation

  • Dan Dai & Angelos Alamanos & Wenqian Cai & Qingqing Sun & Liangsuo Ren, 2023. "Assessing Water Sustainability in Northwest China: Analysis of Water Quantity, Water Quality, Socio-Economic Development and Policy Impacts," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:14:p:11017-:d:1193683
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shilong Piao & Philippe Ciais & Yao Huang & Zehao Shen & Shushi Peng & Junsheng Li & Liping Zhou & Hongyan Liu & Yuecun Ma & Yihui Ding & Pierre Friedlingstein & Chunzhen Liu & Kun Tan & Yongqiang Yu , 2010. "The impacts of climate change on water resources and agriculture in China," Nature, Nature, vol. 467(7311), pages 43-51, September.
    2. Angelos Alamanos & Phoebe Koundouri, 2022. "Emerging Challenges and the Future of Water Resources Management," DEOS Working Papers 2221, Athens University of Economics and Business.
    3. Jorge A. Garcia & Angelos Alamanos, 2022. "Integrated modelling approaches for sustainable agri-economic growth and environmental improvement: Examples from Canada, Greece, and Ireland," Papers 2208.09087, arXiv.org.
    4. Daniel P. Loucks, 2017. "Managing Water as a Critical Component of a Changing World," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 2905-2916, August.
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    1. Koundouri, Phoebe & Alamanos, Angelos & Sachs, Jeffrey, 2024. "Innovating for Sustainability: The Global Climate Hub," MPRA Paper 121978, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Yuanyuan Sun & Shaofeng Jia & Ru Jia & Jesper Svensson & Aifeng Lv & Wenbin Zhu & Jianxu Liu, 2023. "Types of Water Rights Systems in China: A Zoning Scheme Applied," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-13, December.

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