Study On Water Footprint Of Chongqing After Establishing Municipality Status

Water is an important guarantee for socio-economic development in a nation. Chongqing is characterized by the uneven space-time distribution of the precipitation, showing that the precipitation of east is more than that of the west; the precipitation of the north is more than that of the south; the precipitation of the valley area of low mountains is more than that of the hills. The precipitation-concentration season is from May to September, and precipitation accounts for 75-80% of annual precipitation. Because of high mountains and steep slopes, water project construction is with large investment and high cost in Chongqing. Because of the restraints of precipitation and topography, Chongqing is a city with project water scarcity. With the increasing population, the rising level of urbanization, and developing industry, demand of water resources is growing and water resources will face serious challenges. Presently, water has become the focus of the world, and a further study on the sustainable use of water resources has become an important component of sustainable development of economy, society and environment.As an effective evaluation measure for water resources utilization in a country or region, Water footprint came into being, and it was defined as the volume of water needed for the production of the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the country. Based on the theory of virtual water, water footprint theory included virtual water consumption in the socio-economic system, which broke through the traditional evaluation method of water resources utilization. Therefore, Water footprint can reflect water occupancy more truly and provide a brand-new research angle for water resource management and water safety.This paper introduced the theory of water footprint and virtual water, made an empirical analysis on water footprint consumption of Chongqing from 1997 to 2008, made a quantitative assessment on water footprint of Chongqing from 1997 to 2008 through evaluation indexes, constructed index system for analysis on water footprint consumption and socio-economic development coordination extent, put forwad some advices on sustainable utilization of water resources.The research can be concluded as the following:Firstly, the water footprint consumption of Chongqing from 1997 to 2008 increased. In three major industries, the maximum water consumption and the lowest water use efficiency industry was agriculture. Industry was following. The highest water use efficiency and minimum water consumption was service industry. Chongqing was a virtual water exporting city. The increasing water footprint consumption could cause fierce competition between water use sectors undoubtedly.Secondly, the prediction results showed that water footprint consumption in Chongqing would continue to rise in the following years. If some active and effective measures did not be taken, Water Resources would face serious challenges.Thirdly, the virtual water consumption structure analysis showed that virtual water consumption structure diversification index of the city citizens was higher than that of the coutry citizens significantly. The reason was that the virtual water consumption structure of the coutry citizens was single, and the distribution of virtual water consumption of the city citizens was more balanced.Fourthly, the extent of water footprint consumption and socio-economic development coordination of Chongqing was from good coordination in 2000 to the brink of coordination in 2008.Finally, this paper put forward some strategies for sustainable use of water resources in Chongqing, Which included optimizing industrial structure; constructing water resources management system; promoting water-saving agriculture development and industry cleaning production; enhancing the initiative of public participation.