XUE Xiao-ni, GAN Hong, YOU Jin-jun (Department of Water Resources, IWHR, Beijing 100038, China)

Abstract: The significance of regional water resources carrying capacity (WRCC) is stated based on its concept and characteristics. According to the three-level methodology and relevant model, the WRCC of Haihe River basin in four schemes is analyzed. The results show that the WRCC of Haihe River basin is improved after operation of the South-to-North Water Transfer Project, but its water resources carrying capacity is still overload. The WRCC can be improved effectively through transformation of economic development models with suggestions of measures on water management and planning.

Key words: water resources carrying capacity; three-level methodology; South-to-North Water Transfer Project; overloading characteristics; elasticity coefficient of water use

Published in: Journal of China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (Vol. 10 No. 1 March. 2012)