A multi-sectoral framework for assessing water use efficiency and its drivers: insights from China

作者：Guihuan Zhou, Jingshan Yu, Qimeng Yue, Shugao Xu, Xiaohong Chen · 发表于：Hydrological Sciences Journal · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.1080/02626667.2025.2588419 · 被引用次数：1 · 研究领域：Water resources management and optimization、Efficiency Analysis Using DEA、Water Resources and Sustainability

Efficient water use is critical for addressing global water scarcity, especially in regions where multiple sectors compete for limited resources. This study proposes a generalizable multi-sectoral framework that integrates agricultural, industrial, domestic, and ecological sectors. We integrated a global super-efficient slacks-based measure (Super-SBM) model with spatial autocorrelation analysis, Dagum Gini coefficient, and geographical detector model to evaluate water use efficiency (WUE) and analyse its spatiotemporal variation and key drivers. Applied to 31 provinces in China, the results revealed a “U”-shaped WUE trend from 2003 to 2021, with significant spatial heterogeneity primarily driven by interregional disparities. Key influencing factors shifted over time, from the secondary industry’s dominance before 2011 to urbanization thereafter. The key factors in the eastern, central, and western regions were the proportion of secondary industry, population density, and annual precipitation, respectively. The study provides a scalable template for optimizing sectoral water allocation and utilization in diverse geographical contexts.