Optimal water resource allocation considering virtual water trade in the Yellow River Basin

Abstract

Water can be redistributed physically and virtually. We explored water allocation optimization to mitigate water stresses by constructing a physical–virtual dual water system and optimizing the 1987 Yellow River water allocation scheme. We calculated the virtual water volume, identified the virtual in-basin, out-of-basin, and export water volumes, and compared the total regional water demand (i.e., combined physical and virtual water volumes) with regional water planetary boundaries to optimize basin water allocation schemes. Virtual water accounted for > 90% of the total regional demands, whereas physical flows did not significantly impact them. Moreover, allocation quotas for Qinghai and Inner Mongolia should be reduced by 0.113 and 1.005 billion m3, respectively, for sustainability. Furthermore, improving the efficiency of water-intensive sectors and limiting virtual water outflows from heavy industry to out-of-basin sectors are vital to water intensification. Increased attention should be directed toward physical–virtual water demands than the current focus on supply-oriented water allocation.

Optimal Allocation of Water Resources in Ordos City Based on the General Water Allocation and Simulation Model

“…The total available water resources in the city were 2017.32 × 10 6 m 3 , including 1317.32 × 10 6 m 3 of available surface water and groundwater, with an additional 700 × 10 6 m 3 permitted for withdrawal from the Yellow River. The per capita water resource of 1406 m 3 was lower than the provincial average of 2155 m 3 and the national average of 2038 m 3 , indicating water scarcity in the region. This area has faced shortages in engineering, resources, and structural water.…”

“…The Yellow River, the mother river of the Chinese nation, serves as a critical ecological barrier in China [1]. The promotion of ecological protection and high-quality development strategies in the Yellow River Basin presents a unique historical opportunity for this region [2,3]. However, the ecological environment of the Yellow River Basin is fragile and characterized by frequent natural disasters and severe water scarcity.…”

Analysis on Operation and Water Quality Characteristics of Centralized Wastewater Treatment Plants of Industrial Parks in Yellow River Basin, China

“…The accelerated pace of economic expansion has exacerbated the risks of water resource depletion and water pollution in this region. The per capita water resource of the Yellow River basin is 905 m 3 , approximately one-third of the national per capita water, and below the standard for water-scarce areas (1000 m 3 ) [11,12]. Over the past two decades, the total water consumption in the basin has increased from 112.74 billion m 3 in 2000 to 125.87 billion m 3 in 2020, accompanied by a rise in wastewater discharge from 9.06 to 21.3 billion tons [13].…”