Evaluation and Prediction of Water Resources Carrying Capacity in Beijing City of China

Abstract

China has been experienced rapid economic growth and population rate, leading to increasing water demands. Water resource is one of the most important factors limiting economic growth, which has been a hot topic among governments and international organizations. This study took Beijing city of China for an example to assess water carrying capacity (WRCC) based on the historical data from 2001 to 2010. Population size, economic scale and ecological environment were selected as main indices; the water carrying index, current WRCC in Beijing city and its dynamic tendency were evaluated. The results showed that the utilization of domestic water and ecological water accounted for the larger proportion. In addition water resources previously used for agriculture and industry systems tended to transfer to urban system due to rapid urbanization. This paper indicated that rational policies and measures should be established and implemented to make sure efficient water utilization in Beijing city.