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Based on whether the 'One River, One Policy' is implemented or not, this paper used the questionnaire data of village (community) river chiefs in nine districts and counties under the jurisdiction of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province, and used the Difference-In-Differences Model to carry out an empirical analysis. The findings are threefold. Firstly, the 'One River, One Policy' implemented by primary river chiefs can improve the water quality of the river reaches in their charge. Secondly, annual river patrol times and public support can improve the water quality of the river reaches in charge of primary river chiefs. Thirdly, the River Chief System (RCS) can promote the treatment of river pollution under 'Responsibility Contracting', but for primary river chiefs, there is still a suspicion of whitewash pollution control behavior, so whether to establish a longterm mechanism of the RCS is still uncertain. The purpose of this paper is to provide empirical support and decision-making reference for constructing the positive incentive mechanism of the behavior of primary river chiefs in the reconstruction of the RCS, which has important practical significance for effectively improving the RCS and comprehensively promoting the Chinese experiences of river pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper constructs a green development efficiency index framework of water-energy-food in China, and uses the Super-EBM model to measure it more accurately and scientifically. The existing studies on water-energy-food efficiency lack the analysis of regional differential decomposition and spatial state transition. In this paper, two kinds of models are used for complementary analysis. One is kernel density map, Dagum spatial Gini coefficient decomposition and traditional Markov chain, which does not contain spatial factors. The other is the global Moran index, spatial Markov chain and spatial spillover effect, including spatial factors. The spatio-temporal dynamic evolution of the green development efficiency of water-energy-food (GWEF) in China is compared from the perspective of national, regional and provincial dimensions. The conclusion is more scientific and comprehensive, which is conducive to the green collaborative development among water-energy-food, economy and environment in China. The study found that GWEF had a lot of room for improvement. The overall spatial difference was mainly derived from the regional difference. GWEF had a significant positive spatial autocorrelation. The development of GWEF maintained the convergence characteristics of clubs. The spatial spillover effect of the main influencing factors was studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study on the risk of Cretaceous water inrush in the Ordos Basin in China is of great significance to the safe production and environmental protection of the western coal seam. This paper selects the following five key influencing factors for Cretaceous water inrush: the coal seam mining thickness, rock quality designation, distance between the top boundary of the waterconducting fracture zone and the bottom boundary of the Cretaceous system, the thickness of the Cretaceous aquifer, and the height of the water head. Furthermore, based on an analysis of geological and hydrogeological conditions of the Yingpanhao coal mine, the comprehensive weights of these factors were found using a fuzzy analytic hierarchy process and the entropy method (FAHP-EM) to be 0.27, 0.25, 0.22, 0.08, and 0.18, respectively. This paper describes the use of ArcGIS's spatial overlay analysis to create a risk assessment zoning map using these weightings. By comparing the evaluation results of the FAHP-EM and the water inrush coefficient method, it is shown that the FAHP-EM provides additional insight in assessing the risk of coal seam roof water inrush. The research results of this paper provide a theoretical basis for coal mining safety in western China to assess water inrush. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional flood simulations fail to properly consider the impact of soil infiltration in floodplain areas with high soil infiltration rates. Notably, ignoring soil infiltration will lead to considerable uncertainty in flood simulations. In this paper, a fully hydrodynamic model coupled with the Green-Ampt infiltration model was used. Taking a natural reach in northern China (HTH in this paper) as a case study, observed flood discharge data were used to analyze the influence of soil infiltration on flood propagation based on the flood propagation simulation results for various inflow conditions. The maximum difference of inundation area is about 25%. The results show that soil infiltration has little effect on the inundation area during the rising stage of a flood. In the late period of a flood, the inundation area considering the effect of infiltration is smaller than that without infiltration, and the smaller the peak coefficient is, the longer the flood duration is, the larger the impact of infiltration on the inundation area. When the peak shape coefficient is 0.42 and the flood duration is 44.4 h, the maximum difference of the inundation area is about 28%. The research results provide a reference for flood management and post-disaster rescue efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Achieving high-quality economic development under the new development pattern has become an inevitable requirement for China’s economic development. Correctly calculating the value of water resources and optimizing the price mechanism of water resources is one of the important guarantees for promoting the high-quality development of the regional economy. Based on this fact, this paper takes Hubei Province as an example to construct a coupling relationship model between water resources and economic high-quality development and to evaluate the coupling coordination between the two. And then, the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation model is used to evaluate the value of water resources in Hubei Province, and recalculate its water price. The results show that Hubei province now is a lagging development of water resources, and the current water price is far lower than assessed. The government should improve the mechanism of water price which should be driven by innovation to adjust the water use structure, finally achieve high-quality economic development of Hubei Province. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the acceleration of urbanization, the demand for water, energy and food (WEF) keeps increasing. However, the infrastructure construction leads to a sharp decline of cultivated land, water area and forest land, so the importance of ecological space management should be recognized. Based on ecological footprint theory, this paper proposes the WEF footprint and first attempts to explicitly examine the relationship between economic growth and WEF footprint by investigating the existence of an Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). GLS regression and the LOWESS model are used to explore the economic growth and WEF footprint nexus in the eight economic zones and the three regions of China. The results indicate that besides the traditional EKC shapes, an M-shape exists, and the proportion of the M-shape curve (12.5%) is lower than the traditional EKC (87.5%). The results showed that the LOWESS model may be more conducive to reflect the real relationship between economic growth and WEF footprint. According to the analysis, the policy suggestions are put forward to promote the sustainable development of the water-energy-food system. In addition, the study can provide some ideas for solving the contradiction of land use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integrated agricultural water pricing reform (IAWPR) is by far the most systematic, complex and longest reform in the agricultural sector of China. It has lasted for decades from the stage of reform exploration to the current reform development. IAWPR can effectively address resourced price distortion and promote rational allocation of agricultural water resources. By improving China’s agricultural water pricing mechanism, government agricultural subsidy mechanism, water-saving incentive mechanism, operation and management (O&M) mechanism of irrigation systems and water quota mechanism, the reform will promote water conservation in agriculture and ensure the effective operation of irrigation systems. It is a major strategic decision made by the Chinese government to address the water security challenges facing sustainable development. This paper reviews the course of the reform, introduces the policy design, key tasks and implementation of the reform, and takes Jiangsu Province as an example to demonstrate the effect of the reform, but also discusses the problems existing in the reform. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on the adoption behavior of water efficiency labeling is of great significance for improving citizens’ water-saving consciousness and promoting water-saving techniques and standards. This study sorted out 559 papers about adoption behavior and then systematically analyzed the origin and research progress of water efficiency labeling in different fields. Finally, related theories and empirical analysis are integrated, and a research framework of ‘gold ingot’ that focuses on adoption behavior is constructed. The study found that the research mainly involves three contents in the current: adoption behavior of corporate users, adoption behavior of rural households and adoption behavior of individual users. Based on the above literature analysis, this study proposes a theoretical framework for research on the adoption behavior of water efficiency labeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deficiency of China’s current pollution discharge permit system lies in the failure to improve the water quality effectively. This paper discusses the premise that the water quality of a water environmental functional zone (WEFZ) is mostly affected by industrial pollution sources. By reviewing the related policy, we noted the link between total emission control, effluent limitations and pollutant discharge permits us to configure a practical framework for pollutant discharge permits based on water quality. China’s pollutant discharge permit system provides an administrative foundation for reducing polluters’ total emissions at the scale of the WEFZ, and it is best implemented through the imposition of limitations on polluters to identify the related treatment technology levels. Owing to the importance of limitations, the methodology of limitation classification and the related treatment technology classification are presented for the pesticide industry. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis of the pollutant reduction potential for the pesticide industry is conducted to determine the current level of sewage treatment. More importantly, this study offers an innovative way to investigate pollutant reduction potential and provides an example that may be useful to other key industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring food security in China is the primary task in solving the problems of 'agriculture, countryside, and farmers'. Based on Chinese provincial panel data from 2009 to 2018, this paper evaluates the impact of a water rights trading pilot policy (WRTPP) on food security and examines its underlying mechanism. To overcome the estimation bias existing in previous studies, we use the difference-in-differences method, which can separate time effects from policy treatment effects and is an effective tool to compare the effect before and after policy implementation. We, therefore, use this method to evaluate the net effect of the WRTPP on food security. It is found that the WRTPP can help ensure food security. This effect reaches its maximum in the fourth year after the policy's implementation. It is further found that the WRTPP can improve the adoption of agricultural water-saving irrigation technology to increase the grain yield. Our conclusions complement existing evidence on the factors influencing food security. From the perspective of improving farmers' water-saving irrigation technology, we confirm that the mechanism of the water rights trading pilot policy helps ensure food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The water commonweal propaganda is an important measure to promote citizens' water resource conservation and water-saving behavior. Based on Amos 21.0, this paper adopts structural equation models, through variable extraction and path construction, to explore the mechanisms of how water commonweal propaganda influences citizens' water-saving behavior. The research investigates the case of China's water commonweal propaganda. The results show that: (1) when the same propaganda forms and channels are adopted, the impact of different water commonweal propaganda content on citizens' watersaving behavior is significantly different; (2) with the same water commonweal propaganda content, different propaganda forms and channels have different impacts on citizens' water-saving behavior. Therefore, selecting appropriate propaganda forms and channels for the water commonweal propaganda can significantly improve their impact on citizens' water-saving behaviors. The research aims to provide theoretical support and practical basis for China's follow-up water commonweal propaganda. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clarifying the impact of psychological ownership on public participation in transboundary eco-compensation will contribute to compensation transforming from the current government-led economic incentive mode to the normative guidance of effective public participation, which is of great significance to transboundary management of water resources. From the perspective of social psychology, this paper uses a double hurdle model, empirically analyzes the impact of psychological ownership on public participation, and explores the internal laws and driving mechanisms of behavior. Results show the willingness to participate mainly depends on the public's judgment of self-ability and their own responsibility and values, while the degree of participation depends on the judgment and grasp of self-governance ability. The more they agree that protecting the environment is the responsibility and obligation of citizens, the lower their willingness to pay. China's long-term 'government-led environmental governance' mode has led to the formation of a serious government dependence psychology among the public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is distinct from existing studies on water resources carrying capacity which usually use dimensionless data to represent trend and status of water resources carrying capacity. Here, on the grounds of the most stringent water resource management system and following the principles of water determining population, water determining city scale, water determining production and so on, water resources carrying capacity prediction model was established. The water resources carrying capacity was represented by population, which can directly reflect the status of water resources. Under the rigid constraints of water use quantity and water use efficiency, six scenarios were set to predict China's maximum population in 2030. The results demonstrated that the maximum population in each scenario is close to 1.45 billion of National Population Development Plan. It means water resources rigid constraints can support population and economic growth at the socio-economic development current pace and path. Total water use quantity will not break through the limit of 800-900 billion m3 when achieving the expected goals of social and economic development, not even more than 700 billion m3. Meanwhile, in order to relieve water resources stress, to improve water resources carrying capacity, and to accelerate construction of a water-saving society, some suggestions were put forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]