Research On Value Amount Of System Of Environmental-Economic Accounts For Water In Shanghai, Based On Value Flows Theory

Urban water cycle is a process composed of water intaking, water purifying, water allocation, water usage and water drainage, in the purpose of meeting the human life and production water need. Different from natural water cycle, urban water cycle is driven and influenced by the law of value in the social and economic system, rather than by the law of natural system. So it is a rising area of urban water resources research to investigate the theories, methods and case studies of urban water cycle and accounting from the perspective of value.The term of "quantity of water value" is proposed, defined as the aggregation of water related fees, including water resources fees, drinking water fees, water drainage fees, water pollution fees and etc, occurring in the process of exchanging for water products and services. Quantity of water value drives and adjusts the urban water cycle; and determines the interests and behavior of related stakeholders. It is helpful, for unifying the different understanding of water value attributes, for identifying the law of water value in the urban water cycle, and for related research, such as water markets, water rights and water prices, etc.Value flow theory of the enterprise is cited to introduce the term of "water value flow". Water value flow describes the process of water flowing in the urban water cycle, from water sources fees, to drinking water fees, recycling water, water drainage fees and water polluted fees, corresponding to the water physical flow, also named material flow. The water value flow decides where the water flows, how it allocates and the outcome. The law of water value flow is (1) the value of water production equals to the value of water consumption; (2) the total water value in the market can increases gradually, with which process the water value flow extends and becomes complex.Focusing the quantity of water value, water accounting methods and water flow analysis are putting forward. The former evaluates the water quantity and value by using the market value, and shows the value distribution in the economic system in the form of account. The latter traces the water flows in the urban water cycle and only covers where the water value yields, to give a dynamic bird-eye view of the water value in the economic system.Shanghai, the biggest city in China, is a typical water scarce city caused by local water pollution and increasing water pressure under increasing economy. The case study of Shanghai will provide water value research theories and experiences for other cites. Supported by the Shanghai Water Resources Statistic and Accounting Project (Source:Shanghai Water Authority), a case study was carried out in Shanghai in 2007, with conclusion as following:(1) Water value flow generally forms in Shanghai, including water resources fees, water plant fees, drinking water fees, water drainage fees; (2) Total water value quantity is 4.972 billions, in which water intaking value, water supply value, water usage value and water drainage value were 0.119 billion, 3.134 billion,3.134 billion and 1.719 billion, respectively. (3) Water value allocation differs in different industry, with major source from the second and third industries, and the household water usage, rather than the agriculture industry consuming a great amount but paying few.