A Hierarchical Index System for Analysis of Water Supply-Demand Situation

An accurate analysis of water supply-demand situation is essential to solve the increasing contradiction between water resources distribution and socioeconomic development. In this study, a hierarchical index system is proposed for analysis of water supply-demand situation, taking account of the shortcomings of complicated analysis and ambiguous decision in the existing analysis method of water supply-demand situation. On the level of regulation direction, the main factors affecting water supply-demand balance are identified and expressed by two indices from both sides of water supply and demand. On the level of regulation strategy, four possible regulation strategies are proposed and expressed by five indices, two for water supply capacity and three for water demand. The proposed hierarchical index system has been successfully applied to the analysis of water supply-demand situation in Qingdao City, China. The results reveal that there is an imbalance between water supply and water demand in Qingdao, and it is necessary to divert water from other regions and improve agricultural water-use efficiency. The proposed hierarchical index system directly provides important insights into coordinated development of water resources and social economy, as well as the construction of trans-basin and trans-regional water transfer projects.