Evolutionary analysis on structural characteristics of water resource system in basins of Northern China

Abstract The overdevelopment of water resources has caused the deterioration of the river ecology and environment, resulting in increasing water shortages. This has become one of the key factors that restricts the sustainable development of the social economy and ecological environment of the region. The water network system of the Songhua, Liaohe, Yellow, and Haihe river basins is analyzed by using ecological network analysis for the period 2004–2017. According to our findings, the network structures of various river basins present a relevant gap from its equilibrium value; thus, the water resources have not reached the state of sustainable use. By comparing the value of the water system in Songliao, Yellow, and Haihe river basins with a opt , we found that only the water network structure of the Songliao River Basin is close to the point of equilibrium. Therefore, we recommend to improve water‐use efficiency and reduce production and domestic water consumption by adjusting water prices, carrying out agricultural water‐saving irrigation, and increasing the use of industrial circulating water. This set of measures would ensure sufficient ecological water consumption in the basin, in order to meet the needs of a healthy and sustainable development of the ecological environment.