PROGRESS IN GEOGRAPHY ›› 2017, Vol. 36 ›› Issue (1): 58-67.doi: 10.18306/dlkxjz.2017.01.006

• Special Issue:Coordinated Development of Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Spatiotemporal characteristics of water resources exploitation and policy implications in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration

Chao BAO1,2,3(), Dongmei HE1,2,3   

  1. 1. Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    2. Key Laboratory of Regional Sustainable Development Modeling, CAS, Beijing 100101, China
    3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
  • Received:2016-12-01 Online:2017-01-20 Published:2017-01-20
  • Supported by:
    Major Projects of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41590844, National Natural Science Foundation of China, No.41571156;Service Project on the Cultivation and Construction for the Characteristic Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, NoTSYJS02

Abstract:

The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration is one of the most competitive support platforms of China in the international economic system. It is also one of the most challenging areas with regard to water security in China and worldwide. Mainly based on data from 2000-2014, we analyzed the spatiotemporal characteristics of water resources exploitation in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration using quantitative and qualitative methods, including Theil index, coefficient of variation, curve analysis, and spatial classification analysis. The results show that: (1) The average annual water resources of nearly all cities decreased evidently. The decrease in the north and west were greater than that in the south and east. (2) Water resources are scarce and unevenly distributed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration. The spatial imbalances of water resources first decreased and then increased during the study period. Water scarcities in the central and southern parts of the region were more serious than that in the north. (3) Total water utilizations of nearly all cities showed zero or slow negative growth. The proportion of industrial and agricultural water uses in total water utilization decreased in most cities. However, the spatial imbalances of all types of water use remain relatively stable. (4) Water use efficiencies in all cities increased rapidly. Their spatial differences first increased and then decreased. Based on the above spatiotemporal characteristics, it is recommended that the size of cities and the scale of industrial operations in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration should be planned according to water resources carrying capacity, and corresponding urbanization and industrial development policies should be implemented. Water and ecological compensation policies should be improved. Water resource management red line policies should be carried out.

Key words: water resource, water use efficiency, spatiotemporal change, development policy, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Urban Agglomeration