Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · 2015 · 526 citations · 26 references
Freshwater resources are unevenly distributed in China, driving significant physical and virtual water flows across the country. The study quantifies China’s provincial physical and virtual water flows and their associated water stress. Using provincial‑level data, the authors assess physical and virtual water flows and evaluate their impact on water stress. In 2007, virtual water flows comprised over one‑third of China’s total supply while physical flows were minor, yet both increased water stress in major exporting provinces, highlighting the need to prioritize demand management over supply‑focused strategies.
Significance Freshwater resources are unevenly distributed in China. This situation drives a significant amount of water flow both physically and virtually across China. Here, we report on our quantification of China’s physical and virtual water flows and associated water stress at the provincial level. In 2007, interprovincial physical water flows amounted to only a small part of China’s total water supply, but virtual water flows amounted to over one-third of supply. We found that both physical and virtual water flows exacerbated water stress for the main water-exporting provinces. The results highlight the need for more emphasis to be placed on water demand management rather than the current focus on supply-oriented management.
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Global Water Resources: Vulnerability from Climate Change and Population Growth
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Outsourcing CO <sub>2</sub> within China
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