Water Consumption Among Productive Sectors and Virtual Water Trade Based on an Input-Output Approach:Beijing City as a Case Study

Problems related to water resources have become an important bottleneck to the sustainable development of Beijing city in China. Based on input-output analysis, this paper establishes three kinds of mathematical models for evaluating water consumption in regional economics, namely, an analysis model of industry water consumption efficiency, a comprehensive evaluation model of industrial water characteristics, and an evaluation model of the regional virtual water trade. Taking Beijing city as an example, an empirical study is conducted using the models above. The results show a higher level of water consumption in agriculture, accommodation and catering tourism, the paper industry and other services than in other productive sectors. The amount of net virtual water reached 18.41×10⁸ m³ in Beijing city in 2010, the largest amount of which was in agriculture at 17.79×10⁸ m³, and the largest amount of net virtual water output in the service industry reached 11.62×10⁸ m³. The results of this study will provide reference for the adjustment of regional industrial structure and the management policy of water resources.