Construction and application of urban water resources spatial equilibrium model: A case study of Ulanqab City

Abstract

ABSTRACT Evaluating the water resources spatial equilibrium (WRSE) is the foundation for scientifically planning the construction of an optimized water resource allocation system and achieving the high-standard development of the China Water Network Project. To elucidate the characteristics of WRSE variation in Ulanqab City, this study explored a novel WRSE assessment model based on connection number and the subtraction set pair potential method. The results indicate that: (1) there exists a mismatch between the distribution of water resources in Ulanqab City and its socio-economic development. In 2020, the Gini coefficients of water resources total quantity concerning resident population, gross domestic product (GDP), industrial output value, and irrigated land area were 0.48, 0.48, 0.51, and 0.28, respectively. (2) From 2011 to 2020, the overall WRSE level in Ulanqab City showed an increasing trend year by year. Among them, the WRSE levels in six counties improved, while Jining District consistently remained at a low equilibrium state due to the prominent contradiction between water supply and demand. (3) In the future, Ulanqab City can further enhance the WRSE level by promoting the reuse of recycled water, intensifying groundwater pollution control, and implementing a quota management system for agricultural water use.