Physical and virtual water transfers for regional water stress alleviation in China

Water can be redistributed through, in physical terms, water transfer projects and virtually, embodied water for the production of traded products. Here, we explore whether such water redistributions can help mitigate water stress in China. This study, for the first time to our knowledge, both compiles a full inventory for physical water transfers at a provincial level and maps virtual water flows between Chinese provinces in 2007 and 2030. Our results show that, at the national level, physical water flows because of the major water transfer projects amounted to 4.5% of national water supply, whereas virtual water flows accounted for 35% (varies between 11% and 65% at the provincial level) in 2007.…

• LT
  Leverhulme Trust
• UO
  University of Leeds
• NN
  National Natural Science Foundation of China

  Awards: 51009005, 41161140353, 91325302, 2012DFA91530
• WU
  Worldwide Universities Network
• EA
  Economic and Social Research Council

  Award: ES/L016028/1
• FR
  Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities

  Awards: JC-2013-2, TD-JC-2013-2, 91325302