Analysis of the Break-even and Load Index of Water Resources in Beijing

Abstract

The change of water resources quantity and water resources supply are elaborated in this paper to analyze water resources in Beijing. On this basis, the profit-loss amount and the profit-loss rate of water resources in Beijing are calculated by using break-even analysis. The water resource load index method is also employed to calculate the population and economic scale that can be supported by water resources in Beijing, and then reveal the relationship between water resources, population and economic development in Beijing. The results show that during the period from the 10th five-year plan to the 13th five-year plan, the total amount of water resources and the water resources per capita in Beijing have increased on the whole, but they are far below the internationally recognized warning line of extreme water shortage. The water resources in Beijing are in a state of "break-even", among which the surface water resources are in an alternating state of "break-even surplus break-even", while the groundwater resources are in a state of "break-even" to "surplus". The load index of water resources in Beijing continues to improve, and the population-economic scale of load per unit of water resources has reached