# Study on the synergies and trade-offs of sectoral water use and their relationship with economic development

## TL;DR

This study explores how water use in different sectors in China changes over time and how it relates to economic growth, revealing regional differences and challenges in water management.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into sectoral water use synergies and trade-offs in relation to economic development at regional and provincial levels in China.

## Key findings

- China’s water footprint increased overall, with the fastest growth in the Northwest and Northeast regions.
- Agricultural water use dominates, while industrial water use has decreased due to improved efficiency.
- Strong synergies exist between agricultural and ecological water use, but trade-offs occur between industrial and agricultural use in the Northeast.

## Abstract

Water scarcity is dynamic and complex, beyond geophysical stressors and responses, it is critical to also consider how multi-sector, multiscale economic teleconnections mitigate or exacerbate water shortages. This study analyzes the spatial and temporal characteristics of Water Footprint (WF) in China from 2005 to 2022 and their relationship with economic development. The findings reveal an overall increase in China’s WF, with the fastest growth observed in the Northwest and Northeast regions. Notably, Heilongjiang, Inner Mongolia, and Xinjiang experienced significant increases, while Zhejiang, Beijing, and Chongqing saw declines. Agricultural water footprint (WFargi) account for the largest share, while industrial water footprint (WFindu) show a decreasing trend, indicating improved water-use efficiency in industry. However, the rise in contamination water footprint (WFcont) and significant spatial disparities in import water footprint (WFimport) and export water footprint (WFexport) highlight the challenges in water resources management. Across different regions, there is a strong synergy between agricultural and ecological water use, while a notable trade-offs exists between industrial and agricultural water use, particularly in the Northeast. The relationship between WF consumption and economic development in China exhibits a phased pattern. From 2011 to 2016, most regions achieved strong decoupling, but from 2017 to 2022, all regions reverted to weak decoupling. This study provides new insights into the relationship between sectoral water use and economic development at regional and provincial levels, contributing to efforts to alleviate water scarcity, enhance water resources management, and promote sustainable economic development.