Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Demand-driven water withdrawals by Chinese industry: a multi-regional input-output analysis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Earth Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

With ever increasing water demands and the continuous intensification of water scarcity arising from China’s industrialization, the country is struggling to harmonize its industrial development and water supply. This paper presents a systems analysis of water withdrawals by Chinese industry and investigates demand-driven industrial water uses embodied in final demand and interregional trade based on a multi-regional input-output model. In 2007, the Electric Power, Steam, and Hot Water Production and Supply sector ranks first in direct industrial water withdrawal (DWW), and Construction has the largest embodied industrial water use (EWU). Investment, consumption, and exports contribute to 34.6%, 33.3%, and 30.6% of the national total EWU, respectively. Specifically, 58.0%, 51.1%, 48.6%, 43.3%, and 37.5% of the regional EWUs respectively in Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Fujian are attributed to international exports. The total interregional import/export of embodied water is equivalent to about 40% of the national total DWW, of which 55.5% is associated with the DWWs of Electric Power, Steam, and Hot Water Production and Supply. Jiangsu is the biggest interregional exporter and deficit receiver of embodied water, in contrast to Guangdong as the biggest interregional importer and surplus receiver. Without implementing effective water-saving measures and adjusting industrial structures, the regional imbalance between water availability and water demand tends to intensify considering the water impact of domestic trade of industrial products. Steps taken to improve water use efficiency in production, and to enhance embodied water saving in consumption are both of great significance for supporting China’s water policies.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Cai Z F, Yang Q, Zhang B, Chen H, Chen B, Chen G Q (2009). Water resources in unified accounting for natural resources. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 14(9–10): 3693–3704

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cazcarro I, Duarte R, Sánchez-Chóliz J (2013). Multiregional input-output model for the evaluation of Spanish water flows. Environ Sci Technol, 47(21): 12275–12283

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2010). Carbon emissions and resources use by Chinese economy 2007: a 135-sector inventory and input-output embodiment. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(11): 3647–3732

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G Q, Chen Z M (2011). Greenhouse gas emissions and natural resources use by the world economy: ecological input-output modeling. Ecol Modell, 222(14): 2362–2376

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen G Q, Zhang B (2010). Greenhouse gas emissions in China 2007: inventories and input-output analysis. Energy Policy, 38(10): 6180–6193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2013a). Demand-driven energy requirement of world economy 2007: a multi-region input-output network simulation. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 18(7): 1757–1774

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z M, Chen G Q (2013b). Virtual water accounting for the globalized world economy: national water footprint and international virtual water trade. Ecol Indic, 28: 142–149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z M, Chen G Q, Xia X H, Xu S Y (2012). Global network of embodied water flow by systems input-output simulation. Front Earth Sci, 6(3): 331–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Z M, Chen G Q, Zhou J B, Jiang M M, Chen B (2010). Ecological input-output modeling for embodied resources and emissions in Chinese economy 2005. Commun Nonlinear Sci Numer Simul, 15(7): 1942–1965

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng H, Hu Y (2011). Economic transformation, technological innovation, and policy and institutional reforms hold keys to relieving China’s water shortages. Environ Sci Technol, 45(2): 360–361

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • CSY (2008). China Statistical Yearbook 2008. Also available at:http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2008/indexch.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • CSY (2009). China Statistical Yearbook 2009. Also available at: http://www.stats.gov.cn/tjsj/ndsj/2009/indexch.htm

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong H, Geng Y, Sarkis J, Fujita T, Okadera T, Xue B (2013). Regional water footprint evaluation in China: a case of Liaoning. Sci Total Environ, 442: 215–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng K, Davis S J, Sun L, Li X, Guan D, Liu W, Liu Z, Hubacek K (2013). Outsourcing CO2 within China. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 110(28): 11654–11659

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng K, Hubacek K, Minx J, Siu Y L, Chapagain A, Yu Y, Guan D, Barrett J (2011). Spatially explicit analysis of water footprints in the UK. Water, 3(1): 47–63

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng K, Siu Y L, Guan D, Hubacek K (2012). Assessing regional virtual water flows and water footprints in the Yellow River Basin, China: a consumption based approach. Appl Geogr, 32(2): 691–701

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gu A, Teng F, Wang Y (2014). China energy-water nexus: assessing the water-saving synergy effects of energy-saving policies during the eleventh Five-year Plan. Energy Convers Manage, 85: 630–637

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan D, Hubacek K (2007). Assessment of regional trade and virtual water flows in China. Ecol Econ, 61(1): 159–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guan D, Hubacek K (2008). A new and integrated hydro-economic accounting and analytical framework for water resources: a case study for North China. J Environ Manage, 88(4): 1300–1313

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoekstra A Y, Chapagain A K (2007). Water footprints of nations: water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resour Manage, 21(1): 35–48

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu Y, Cheng H (2013). Water pollution during China’s industrial transition. Environmental Development, 8: 57–73

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hubacek K, Guan D, Barrett J, Wiedmann T (2009). Environmental implications of urbanization and lifestyle change in China: ecological and water footprints. J Clean Prod, 17(14): 1241–1248

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lenzen M, Moran D, Bhaduri A, Kanemoto K, Bekchanov M, Geschke A, Foran B (2013). International trade of scarce water. Ecol Econ, 94: 78–85

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin C, Suh S, Pfister S (2012). Does South-to-North water transfer reduce the environmental impact of water consumption in China? J Ind Ecol, 16(4): 647–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lindner S, Liu Z, Guan D, Geng Y, Li X (2013). CO2 emissions from China’s power sector at the provincial level: consumption versus production perspectives. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 19: 164–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liu WD, Chen J, Tang Z P, Liu H G, Han D, Li F Y (2012). Compliment Theory and Practice of China’s Interregional Input-output Table for 30 Regions in 2007. Beijing: China Statistics Press (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Llop M (2013). Water reallocation in the input-output model. Ecol Econ, 86: 21–27

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng B, Xue J, Feng K, Guan D, Fu X (2013). China’s inter-regional spillover of carbon emissions and domestic supply chains. Energy Policy, 61: 1305–1321

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meng L, Guo J, Chai J, Zhang Z (2011). China’s regional CO2 emissions: characteristics, inter-regional transfer and emission reduction policies. Energy Policy, 39(10): 6136–6144

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Water Resources (2008). China Water Resources Bulletin 2007. Beijing: China Water Resources & Hydropower Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Water Resources (2012). China Water Resources Bulletin 2011. Beijing: China Water Resources & Hydropower Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Mubako S, Lahiri S, Lant C (2013). Input-output analysis of virtual water transfers: case study of California and Illinois. Ecol Econ, 93: 230–238

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • National Bureau of Statistics (2010). China Economic Census Yearbook 2008. Beijing: China Statistics Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Okadera T, Watanabe M, Xu K (2006). Analysis of water demand and water pollutant discharge using a regional input-output table: an application to the City of Chongqing, upstream of the Three Gorges Dam in China. Ecol Econ, 58(2): 221–237

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pan L, Liu P, Ma L, Li Z (2012). A supply chain based assessment of water issues in the coal industry in China. Energy Policy, 48: 93–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Su B, Ang B W (2014). Input-output analysis of CO2 emissions embodied in trade: a multi-region model for China. Appl Energy, 114: 377–384

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tian X, Chang M, Lin C, Tanikawa H (2014). China’s carbon footprint: a regional perspective on the effect of transitions in consumption and production patterns. Appl Energy, 123: 19–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Varbanov P S (2014). Energy and water interactions: implications for industry. Current Opinion in Chemical Engineering, 5: 15–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang W, Gao L, Liu P, Hailu A (2014). Relationships between regional economic sectors and water use in a water-scarce area in China: a quantitative analysis. J Hydrol (Amst), 515: 180–190

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y, Xiao H L, Lu MF (2009). Analysis of water consumption using a regional input-output model: model development and application to Zhangye City, Northwestern China. J Arid Environ, 73(10): 894–900

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Y Y, Wang H X, Zhang X (2013a). China water footprint trend analysis based on input-output tables. Acta Ecol Sin, 33(11): 3488–3498

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang Z, Huang K, Yang S, Yu Y (2013b). An input-output approach to evaluate the water footprint and virtual water trade of Beijing, China. J Clean Prod, 42: 172–179

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedmann T (2009). A review of recent multi-region input-output models used for consumption-based emission and resource accounting. Ecol Econ, 69(2): 211–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wiedmann T, Wilting H C, Lenzen M, Lutter S, Palm V (2011). Quo Vadis MRIO? Methodological, data and institutional requirements for multi-region input-output analysis. Ecol Econ, 70(11): 1937–1945

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Pfister S, Bhaduri A (2013). Accounting for a scarce resource: virtual water and water footprint in the global water system. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 5(6): 599–606

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang B, Chen Z M, Xia X H, Xu X Y, Chen Y B (2013). The impact of domestic trade on China’s regional energy uses: a multi-regional input-output modeling. Energy Policy, 63: 1169–1181

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang B, Li J S, Peng B H (2014a). Multi-regional input-output analysis for China’s regional CH4 emissions. Front Earth Sci, 8(1): 163–180

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Anadon L D (2013). Life cycle water use of energy production and its environmental impacts in China. Environ Sci Technol, 47(24): 14459–14467

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang C, Anadon L D (2014). A multi-regional input-output analysis of domestic virtual water trade and provincial water footprint in China. Ecol Econ, 100: 159–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Y, Wang H, Liang S, Xu M, Liu W, Li S, Zhang R, Nielsen C P, Bi J (2014b). Temporal and spatial variations in consumption-based carbon dioxide emissions in China. Renew Sustain Energy Rev, 40: 60–68

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Yang H, Shi M J (2011a). Analyses of water footprint of Beijing in an interregional input-output framework. Ecol Econ, 70(12): 2494–2502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang Z, Yang H, Shi M J, Zehnder A J B, Abbaspour K C (2011b). Analyses of impacts of China’s international trade on its water resources and uses. Hydrol Earth Syst Sci, 15(9): 2871–2880

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Chen B, Yang Z F (2009). National water footprint in an inputoutput framework-A case study of China 2002. Ecol Modell, 220(2): 245–253

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhao X, Yang H, Yang Z F, Chen B, Qin Y (2010). Applying the inputoutput method to account for water footprint and virtual water trade in the Haihe River Basin in China. Environ Sci Technol, 44(23): 9150–9156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhong Z, Huang R, Tang Q, Cong X, Wang Z (2015). China’s provincial CO2 emissions embodied in trade with implications for regional climate policy. Front Earth Sci, 9(1): 77–90

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Management, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Bo Zhang

  2. State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining, China University of Mining & Technology (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, China

    Bo Zhang

  3. School of Economics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China

    Z. M. Chen

  4. State Key Laboratory of Simulation and Regulation of Water Cycle in River Basin, China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, Beijing, 100038, China

    L. Zeng

  5. School of Management, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    H. Qiao

  6. State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China

    B. Chen

Authors
  1. Bo Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Z. M. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. L. Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. H. Qiao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Bo Zhang or B. Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Zhang, B., Chen, Z.M., Zeng, L. et al. Demand-driven water withdrawals by Chinese industry: a multi-regional input-output analysis. Front. Earth Sci. 10, 13–28 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-015-0505-8

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11707-015-0505-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation