Zhang, X, Zhao, X, Li, R et al. (5 more authors) (2020) Evaluating the vulnerability of physical and virtual water resource networks in China's megacities. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 161. 104972. ISSN 0921-3449
Abstract
The water resource networks that provide water for urban consumption consists not only of physical water supply, but also water embodied in imported goods and services i.e. virtual water supply or external water footprint. However, it remains unknown that if relying on external water footprint will increase or decrease the vulnerability of cities’ water resource networks. Here, we evaluate the vulnerability of urban water resource networks for China's six megacities i.e. Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. The vulnerability index was developed through combining a refined multi-region input-output table with both water footprint and water scarcity footprint analysis. The results showed that megacities need to import large volumes of virtual water embodied in food related sectors to balance their physical water shortages. The external blue water footprint (BWF) of the six megacities accounted for 80.7% of their total BWF, and was almost twice their physical water supply. The large share of external BWF helped Beijing, Tianjin, and Shanghai, which suffer extreme water stress in their urban areas, to decrease their total vulnerability by 39%, 33%, and 28% respectively, but conversely increase their vulnerability to external water shortages i.e. indirect vulnerability. Establishing megacity physical and virtual water resource networks based on input-output analysis provides an opportunity for urban water planners to internalize the risk of their external water footprint. Avoiding import water-intensive products from regions suffering extreme water stress, or managing indirect vulnerability through cooperation with those regions are suggested as viable water management approaches.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article published in Resources, Conservation and Recycling. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | input-output analysis; virtual water; water footprint; water stress index |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Engineering & Physical Sciences (Leeds) > School of Civil Engineering (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 09 Jun 2020 15:33 |
Last Modified: | 10 Jun 2021 00:38 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104972 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:161165 |
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Licence: CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0