Interbasin water diversion projects and virtual water transfers embedded in exchanged goods and services are two effective solutions to water deficits. However, the associated real responses in water quantity and quality scarcities and the economic efficiencies remain unclear. Here, we tracked the blue water scarcities, water pollution levels, and economic value added through interbasin physical and virtual water diversions across nine river basins by sector in China from 2007 to 2015. The total national blue and grey water footprints were 365 Gm3yr-1 and 592 Gm3 yr-1, in which the Yangtze River basin accounts the most for 32 % and 37 %, respectively, by 2015. The physical water diversions increased by 52 % to 16.9 Gm3yr-1. The blue virtual water transfers increased by 24 % to 176 Gm3yr-1, whereas the grey virtual water transfers decreased by 10 % to 266 Gm3yr-1. Agriculture related interbasin virtual water flows showed opposite directions to those driven by the industry sector. Although with uneven value added while growing, limited effects mitigated water quantity and quality stresses, especially in the drier Yellow, Northwest, and Hai River basins where the capital is located. Half of the basins had low and declining synergy scores, suggesting an urgent need to achieve synergies between resources, the environment, and the economy across basins.

Limited water scarcity mitigation by expanded interbasin physical and virtual water diversions with uneven economic value added in China

Rulli, Maria C;
2022-01-01

Abstract

Interbasin water diversion projects and virtual water transfers embedded in exchanged goods and services are two effective solutions to water deficits. However, the associated real responses in water quantity and quality scarcities and the economic efficiencies remain unclear. Here, we tracked the blue water scarcities, water pollution levels, and economic value added through interbasin physical and virtual water diversions across nine river basins by sector in China from 2007 to 2015. The total national blue and grey water footprints were 365 Gm3yr-1 and 592 Gm3 yr-1, in which the Yangtze River basin accounts the most for 32 % and 37 %, respectively, by 2015. The physical water diversions increased by 52 % to 16.9 Gm3yr-1. The blue virtual water transfers increased by 24 % to 176 Gm3yr-1, whereas the grey virtual water transfers decreased by 10 % to 266 Gm3yr-1. Agriculture related interbasin virtual water flows showed opposite directions to those driven by the industry sector. Although with uneven value added while growing, limited effects mitigated water quantity and quality stresses, especially in the drier Yellow, Northwest, and Hai River basins where the capital is located. Half of the basins had low and declining synergy scores, suggesting an urgent need to achieve synergies between resources, the environment, and the economy across basins.
2022
Blue water
Grey water
Large river basin
Synergy score
Water footprint
Water pollution level
Agriculture
China
Rivers
Water Supply
Water
Water Insecurity
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11311/1231787
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