174
W. Cai et al.
5.2.2 Major Industrial Drivers of Water Demand in China
As is illustrated in the trend of water consumption by industry in Fig. 5.9, from 2010
to 2018, no major changes are detected in total water consumption in the agricultural
sector, which stayed close to 350 billion m
3 with a mere annual increase of 0.01%;
the industrial water consumption showed a slight drop with an annual increase of −
1.7%; domestic water consumption saw a visible increase with an annual growth of
1.5%. This means that despite agriculture being the largest water consumer, domestic
use was the inherent driver for rising water demand in the last decade.
By province (Figs. 5.10 and 5.11), water demand is higher in Jiangsu, Xinjiang,
Heilongjiang, etc. and lower in Beijing, Tibet, Qinghai, Tianjin, etc. In 2018, agriculture remained the largest source of water demand in most provinces. Yet for economically developed eastern regions such as Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu, domestic use
has far outstripped agriculture as the biggest water consumer. Take Beijing as an
example, the agricultural sector accounted for less than 20% of total water consumption in 2018, while domestic use took up over 70%. In general, the mix of water
demand of provinces in China is closely linked to their economic development and
industrial structure. In economically developed regions, industry and services tend
to outshine agriculture, hence a smaller share of the latter in water consumption and
domestic use the main source of water demand. For less developed provinces where
agriculture remains a major economic driver, the percentage of agriculture is higher
in total water consumption as.
In fact, many researchers in China and abroad have estimated and predicted the
sectoral mix of water demand in China. Shen (2005) has estimated the amount of
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
water consumption (100 million cu.m)
AWC IWC DWC
0.013%
-1.702%
1.459%
Fig. 5.9 The composition of China’s water consumption
W. Cai et al.
5.2.2 Major Industrial Drivers of Water Demand in China
As is illustrated in the trend of water consumption by industry in Fig. 5.9, from 2010
to 2018, no major changes are detected in total water consumption in the agricultural
sector, which stayed close to 350 billion m
3 with a mere annual increase of 0.01%;
the industrial water consumption showed a slight drop with an annual increase of −
1.7%; domestic water consumption saw a visible increase with an annual growth of
1.5%. This means that despite agriculture being the largest water consumer, domestic
use was the inherent driver for rising water demand in the last decade.
By province (Figs. 5.10 and 5.11), water demand is higher in Jiangsu, Xinjiang,
Heilongjiang, etc. and lower in Beijing, Tibet, Qinghai, Tianjin, etc. In 2018, agriculture remained the largest source of water demand in most provinces. Yet for economically developed eastern regions such as Beijing, Shanghai and Jiangsu, domestic use
has far outstripped agriculture as the biggest water consumer. Take Beijing as an
example, the agricultural sector accounted for less than 20% of total water consumption in 2018, while domestic use took up over 70%. In general, the mix of water
demand of provinces in China is closely linked to their economic development and
industrial structure. In economically developed regions, industry and services tend
to outshine agriculture, hence a smaller share of the latter in water consumption and
domestic use the main source of water demand. For less developed provinces where
agriculture remains a major economic driver, the percentage of agriculture is higher
in total water consumption as.
In fact, many researchers in China and abroad have estimated and predicted the
sectoral mix of water demand in China. Shen (2005) has estimated the amount of
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
5000
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
2010
water consumption (100 million cu.m)
AWC IWC DWC
0.013%
-1.702%
1.459%
Fig. 5.9 The composition of China’s water consumption