Abstract:

The evaluation of regional water resources security plays a crucial role in guiding the scientific management of water resources and promoting the green development of the social-economy and water resources. The traditional water resources ecological footprint method lacks the connection between water resource ecology and socio-economic development. To address this, we introduce the water resources ecological benefit ratio to improve the emergy analysis method for water resource ecological footprint and then analyze the water resource security and sustainable development status of Xi’an City. Results reveal that from 2011 to 2019, the water resources carrying capacity fluctuated in line with annual rainfall. The average annual water resources ecological carrying capacity was 0.160 hm²/cap, while the average annual water resources ecological footprint was 1.521 hm²/cap. An obvious decreasing ecological deficit of water resources was observed. The regional water ecological footprint per 10 000 yuan of GDP declined from 0.057 hm²/cap in 2011 to 0.019 hm²/cap in 2019, indicating an improvement in water resources utilization efficiency. During 2011-2019, the water resources ecological tension index remained relatively high but decreased from 5.79 to 4.39, approaching a relatively safe level. Moreover, the water resources ecological benefit increased as the water resources stress alleviated. However, the water resources security situation in Xi’an remains severe. In the future, it is necessary to optimize the economic development mode and water resource allocation to promote high-quality sustainable development in Xi’an.

Key words: water resources security, improved energy ecological footprint, ecological carrying capacity of water resources, ecological benefit ratio of water resources, Xi’an city