Multi-dimensional diagnosis model for the sustainable development of regions facing water scarcity problem: A case study for Guangdong, China

Chengyu He; Guohe Huang; Lirong Liu; Yongping Li; Xiaoyue Zhang; Xinli Xu

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139394

Multi-dimensional diagnosis model for the sustainable development of regions facing water scarcity problem: A case study for Guangdong, China

Sci Total Environ. 2020 Sep 10:734:139394. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139394. Epub 2020 May 12.

Authors

Chengyu He¹, Guohe Huang², Lirong Liu³, Yongping Li⁴, Xiaoyue Zhang⁵, Xinli Xu¹

Affiliations

¹ State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
² Center for Energy, Environment and Ecology Research, UR-BNU, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China. Electronic address: huang@iseis.org.
³ Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada; Centre for Environment & Sustainability, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
⁴ Center for Energy, Environment and Ecology Research, UR-BNU, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
⁵ Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainable Communities, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan S4S 0A2, Canada.

PMID: 32485462
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139394

Abstract

Freshwater consumption and wastewater discharge of economic activities have caused water scarcity problem in many regions. This study aims to develop a multi-dimensional diagnosis model (MDDM) to provide new insights for the sustainable development of regions which face water scarcity problem. In detail, the sectorial blue water, grey water and total water consumptions are assessed to reveal the direct effects of economic activities on water quantity and water quality. Then, hypothetical extraction method is integrated into input-output model and ecological network analysis to quantify the system-based effects of sectors in three dimensions: economy, water and metabolism. A case study of Guangdong province, China is conducted to illustrate the availability of the developed model. We found that the multi-dimensional performances of Guangdong's socioeconomic system are dominated by a few sectors. Wastewater, especially that discharged from the primary industry, is the main reason for the local water scarcity. Specifically, the unique role that every sector plays in the socioeconomic system is quantitatively revealed by MDDM, which could guide the relevant policy development at sectorial level.

Keywords: Ecological network analysis; Hypothetical extraction model; Input-output analysis; Water scarcity.