Is the Water System Healthy in Urban Agglomerations? A Perspective from the Water Metabolism Network

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01202
• Publication Date: 2021-04-23T14:13:41Z
• Authors: Xiujuan Cao; Meirong Su; Yufei Liu; Yuanchao Hu; Chao Xu; Zhihui Gu
• Keywords: Urban agglomeration

Urban agglomerations are a primary spatial focus of socioeconomic activity and inherently include large volumes embodied water. We have applied the concept water metabolism health to comprehensively evaluate overall operation systems in urban propose an innovative assessment framework. In particular, we constructed network (WMN) model simulate system which different cities sectors integrated, combining newly compiled multiregional input-output (MRIO) table flow with ecological analysis (ENA). A case study considering Pearl River Delta (PRD) agglomeration 2015 demonstrates that its is well synergic but highly dependent, considerable negative effects. Highly developed southeastern PRD exhibit higher productivity robustness impose effects on system. found agricultural sector be dominant controller network; construction service represent beneficiaries strong competition. suggest measures at various scales improve utilization efficiency promote positive interactions between components, thus improving for agglomerations.