Evaluation of Water Ecological Carrying Capacity Based on Ecological Footprint Theory: A Case Study of Huzhou
基于生态足迹法的区域水生态承载力研究——以浙江省湖州市为例

Ecological footprint is widely used in many countries and regions and has become an important method to evaluate ecological carrying capacity. Based on the ecological footprint model, an evaluation model on water ecological carrying capacity was built and was used to assess water ecological carrying capacity in Huzhou City, Zhejiang Province. The concept of water ecological carrying capacity was defined. Water ecological carrying capacity consists of water product footprint, water resource footprint, and water pollution footprint. The original model raised by Wackemagel was used to calculate water product footprint. Water resource footprint was divided into four third level accounts, i.e., agriculture water footprint, industrial water footprint, domestic water footprint, and other water footprint. Besides, based on the ecological footprint model, the zero-dimensional model was used to calculate water demand of pollution dilution and purification and then water pollution footprint was calculated. At last, a water carrying capacity model was built on the basis of 60% of all the water resource being necessary to keep ecology safety. The water ecological carrying capacity and water ecological footprint of Huzhou from 2000 to 2007 were calculated. Results show that the water ecological carrying capacity was more than water ecological footprint, and the water resources in Huzhou indicate ecological surplus, but the water ecological carrying capacity fluctuated and water ecological footprint increased. Considered pollution footprint and product footprint might collapse, water product footprint and resource footprint were combined to calculate total water ecological footprint. Water resource footprint contributed the most to water ecological footprint, but it was decreasing. On the contrary, because of increasing demand of water products, the percentage of water product footprint accounting for total water ecological footprint increased from 13% in 2000 to 21% in 2007. The water ecological carrying capacity fluctuated with the amount of available water resources. Huzhou was in the ecological surplus, and the surplus changed with the water ecological carrying capacity. As to keep a sustainable development in Huzhou, reducing water demand, controlling water pollution, and enhancing water ecology protection were necessary.