Study On Water Resources Carrying Capacity Based On Water Footprint Theory

Water is an important basic resource for human’s survival and has great significance for the progress and development of human society. However it has the characteristics of scarcity and uneven distribution in time and space. In recent year, with the rapid development of social economy and the increasing population, in addition to water pollution, the global available water resources increasingly become scarce. The scarcity of water resources limit the variety of production process seriously restricts the development of social economy. In face of the severe situation, how to accurately grasp the situation of water resources utilization, evaluate water resources carrying capacity scientifically, plan and distribute water resources reasonably, ensure the sustainable utilization of water resources, has become a hot issue of the research field of water resources.The article combined with the water footprint theory in the theoretical foundation of water resources carrying capacity, using the comprehensive evaluation method to establish water resources carrying capacity index system research based on the theory of water footprint from the perspective of sustainable development. The method fully consider the water resources condensed in the commodity and trade circulation, combine with the amount of regional water resources according to the water resources society economy environment composite system to reflect the real situation of regional water resources utilization. Compared with the traditional water resources carrying capacity evaluation index system, the water resources carrying capacity evaluation index system based on the theory of water footprint have better pertinence and authenticity, can effectively reflect the regional water resources carrying capacity.The article takes Wuhan city as the study area, analyze the water resources system index, society index and economic index, environmental index and water footprint, and estimate the Water Footprint of Wuhan city in annual planning year according to the water footprint by the grey predicting GM (1,1) model. On the basis of the prediction of water demand and water footprint calculation results in annual planning year, calculate the water resources carrying capacity of Wuhan Water based on the footprint theory from 2004 tO 2013, evaluate the water resources carrying capacity of Wuhan city. The results show that the water resources carrying capacity of Wuhan city overall at a good level, can better support the annual social economic development, but if the available water resources to maintain a low growth, after the planning year, there will be the possibility of overloading. To avoid this possibility, we should improve the water resources utilization starting from virtual water and solid water, so as to improve the water resources carrying capacity in Wuhan city. In the aspect of virtual water, adjusting the industrial structure, strengthening the trade circulation and changing consumption habits can protect the local water resources. In the aspect of visible water, strengthening the management of water resources, exploiting and utilizing rainwater resource, increasing water pollution prevention and controlling intensity and ecological restoration intensity can improve the water resources carrying capacity.