Analysis of regional water resources spatial pattern and allocation equity

Abstract

Water scarcity is a worldwide concern, and with the impact of climate change and human activities, the imbalance in the distribution of water resources has further intensified. The equitable allocation of water resources has become a thorny issue for water resources management authorities. It is challenging to find a relatively equitable method of water resources allocation. This study aims to propose a method for evaluating the fairness of water resources allocation, which can be used both to evaluate the fairness of water resources allocation and as a basis for water resources allocation decisions. The specific approach is to first analyze the spatial pattern of regional water resources by using water resources abundance and water resources intensity, and then to conduct a comprehensive analysis of regional water resources allocation fairness by combining Lorenz curve, Gini coefficient and Theil index to form an index system that can systematically analyze the spatial pattern of water resources, allocation fairness and its changes. A real-world example study was conducted in the Yangtze River Delta region of China, and the results showed that the index system can well reflect the allocation of water resources among regions and cities within the region. The results obtained using this method can provide some reference for promoting coordinated regional development.