Adaptability analysis of water pollution and advanced industrial structure in Jiangsu Province, China

Abstract

The advanced development of industrial structure is the inevitable way to alleviate a regional water quality crisis. However, the adaptability between water pollution and advanced industrial structure (AIS) remains unrevealed. Analyzing the adaptability between the two can provide important enlightenment for regional differentiated policy making. Taking Jiangsu Province as a case study, this study firstly assessed the status of water pollution during the years 2013–2019 through quantitatively analyzing the grey water footprint (GWF) and grey water footprint intensity (GWFI). Secondly, the level of AIS was measured to identify the characteristics and evolution of the industrial structure. Finally, the Tapio decoupling elasticity coefficient was introduced to reflect the adaptability between GWF and AIS, and between GWFI and AIS. The main results showed that: (1) From 2013 to 2019, the GWF in Jiangsu Province showed a fluctuating decline, with an overall decrease of 27%, while the GWFI continuously declined. Agriculture was the largest sector of GWF in Jiangsu Province from 2003 to 2016, and domesticity replaced it as the largest water pollution source from 2017 to 2019. (2) The overall industrial structure of Jiangsu Province achieved a certain degree of advanced development. However, the level of AIS in Jiangsu Province was not significantly improved, and the secondary industry was still in a leading position. (3) In terms of the total amount and intensity, water pollution in Jiangsu Province was well adapted to the AIS. Among them, the strong decoupling adaptation (SDA), ideal adaptation state, was achieved between the GWF and the AIS in 75% of the year, while there has always been SDA between the GWFI and the AIS in Jiangsu Province. Therefore, targeted policies based on industrial optimization should be rationally formulated aimed at achieving effective water pollution control. The findings of adaptability analysis can be applied to regional zoning management and is conducive to promoting sustainable support of the water environment for industrial development.