Evaluation of Water Resource Utilization in the Jiulong River Basin Based on Water Footprint Theory
基于水足迹理论的九龙江流域水资源评价

Water footprint theory is based on virtual water and is a new concept reflecting the real consumption and usage of water resources in a social-economic system. The theory provides a new method for evaluating water resources and understanding the water resource situation more scientifically. In this paper, we studied the subtropical Jiulong River located in southwest Fujian, China. Data were derived from local yearbooks and bulletins across the basin. During the calculation of water demands for agricultural production, virtual water contents per unit quality of agricultural products drew on and adapted Chapagain and Hoekstra’s research results from 2004. We applied an indicator system for water resource evaluation to assess calculation results. We then analyzed the calculation values in combination with conclusions from other research and relative water resource data. The results indicate that the water footprint of the Jiulong River Basin in 2009 was 50.165×10 8 m 3 and the water footprint per capita was 1440.695 m 3 /cap/y. The self-sufficiency rate was 96.26% and the basin mainly depends on internal water resources. Internal efficiency is not high, the population density per 10 thousand tons water footprint is 6.94 cap/10 4 t, the economy efficiency is 23.81 Yuan/m 3 and the land density is 3.64×10 5 m 3 /km 2 . The net trade output of water resources was 3.53 × 10 8 m 3 , the contribution rate is 3.80% and the basin represents obvious extraversion. The scarcity index of water resources was 54% and the pressure index was 57.80%, both of which are relatively low. Comparative analysis results indicate that the calculated value of the water footprint is significantly greater than local statistical water usage and water footprint per capita is relatively high. The scarcity index of water resources is extremely low while the self-sufficiency rate is very high. Overall, even under ideal conditions the Jiulong River Basin still faces great pressure and risk. Managers from local government need to understand the water resource situation from a new perspective and improve water resource management in this wet subtropical region. We need to strengthen the scientific management of water resources in order to realize proper sustainable utilization.