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China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP). The routes are shown with red (solid and dotted) lines. The eastern route project along Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal aims to alleviate water shortages in Jiangsu, Anhui, Shandong, Hebei and Tinjin. The Phase I of the Eastern Route Project supplies 8.8 × 10⁹ m³ water in total, out of which, 1.1 × 10⁹ m³ water is supplied to Shandong (Jinan, Qindao, Zhaozhing and Weihai). Phase I of the middle route project supplies 9.5 × 10⁹ m³ water from Han River (tributary of the Yangtze River) to Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei. The western route project, yet to be commenced, will divert water from the upper Yangtze River, dammed reservoirs in the Tongtian River, Yalong River and Dadu River (all are tributaries of the Yangtze River) to Qinghai, Gansu, Ninxia, Shaanxi, Shanxi provinces, and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.
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![Comparison among the three routes of SNWDP adopted from [11,40].](publication/334368472/figure/tbl1/AS:779107914756102@1562765210868/Comparison-among-the-three-routes-of-SNWDP-adopted-from-11-40_Q320.jpg)
Global freshwaters are severely depleted. Provision of improved water infrastructure technologies and innovation can address challenges posed by water shortages to environmental sustainability. China’s South-to-North Water Diversion Project has generated extensive debates over sustainability of water resources system in the northern drier region, w...
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... However, the SNWD Project itself has introduced new complexities to water security in the region. The large-scale diversion of water has increased local demand pressures, particularly during drought seasons, and reduced water levels in the lower reaches of the Han River, threatening water supply stability (Kattel et al., 2019;Yu et al., 2018). Furthermore, outdated infrastructure and uneven development have weakened the reliability of water supply systems in some areas, particularly in remote and ecologically sensitive regions (Nescerecka et al., 2018). ...
... Water diversion projects have been conducted in many countries to address the problems in water resources development, utilisation and management that are caused by water scarcity and uneven spatiotemporal distribution of water resources, and economic and social development may be promoted through the supply of water from water-abundant areas to waterscarce areas (Sun et al. 2021;Yang et al. 2021;Junrui et al. 2022;Shaofeng and Yuan 2023;Lu et al. 2023;Wang et al. 2023;Zhang et al. 2024). However, water resources reallocation could also alter the hydrological conditions of the rivers and lakes along the route, thereby affecting the ecological environment (Changming and Dajun 1997;Zhuang 2016;Tang et al. 2016;Kattel et al. 2019;Guo et al. 2023). ...
Newly constructed water diversion projects and projects with inadequate monitoring facilities often lack water quality data, making it difficult to achieve accurate water quality predictions. Mechanism model and machine learning each have their own advantages and shortcomings in terms of water quality predictions, and coupling these two models may improve results; this is also a hot research topic. This study focuses on the water quality prediction task for water diversion projects that lack monitoring data. Using the Xihe and Zhaohe River section of the Yangtze–to–Huaihe Water Diversion Project, which is a typical water diversion project in China, as the study area, we have constructed a mechanism water quality prediction model (MIKE11) and a machine learning support vector regression model (SVR), then proposed a coupled mechanism model–machine learning water quality prediction model to explore the impacts of different input features on the model’s performance. The coupled model is also adopted to predict the water quality variation process under typical water diversion scenarios of the Yangtze–to–Huaihe Water Diversion Project. The study shows that the coupled model with both the flow rate and water quality as input features have an average relative error of 0.03% and 0.21% in predicting COD and NH3-N concentrations, respectively, and the prediction performance of it is good. It successfully overcomes the problem of poor prediction performance faced by the SVR model when there are insufficient sample data, and it can be used to predict water quality for water diversion projects that lack monitoring data. This paper proposes a new method to predict water quality for water diversion projects that lack monitoring data, expanding the applicability of machine learning in this field, providing a theoretical basis for water diversion project-related water quality prediction.
... With increased population, industrial growth, intensified irrigation and tourism activities, water demand in Hebei region has become unprecedently high. As a result, several water supply schemes have been formed to discharge water directly into BLC (Table S2) as well as to build the inter basin water transfer projects (Kattel et al., 2019). Despite the implementation of these schemes in the region, water demand is still not fully met. ...
... Transboundary water plays a critical role in water resource management, concerning both quantity and quality 47,48 . Although some studies have examined the impact of transboundary water flows on regional water scarcity, some research gaps remain [49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56] . On one hand, most studies focus primarily on inter-basin water diversion projects, often overlooking natural water systems, which limits the understanding of the issue. ...
Quality-induced water pressure (P) is gaining increased attention. With the flows of transboundary water, P can be transferred among upstream and downstream regions. Here, we quantified the magnitude of pollutant transmission, and assessed its impact on individual provinces in China. On the annual basis, P was mitigated in 61% of provinces for Chemical Oxygen Demand, 87% for Ammonia Nitrogen, and 84% for Total Phosphorus, while it was intensified for 77% for Total Nitrogen in 2021. The aggregated P were mitigated in 68% of provinces, while intensified in 32% provinces. Furthermore, the monthly assessment has found that the impact of transboundary water on P varies seasonally, generally alleviating in winter and exacerbating in summer. This fluctuation was attributed to the comparatively higher quality of transboundary inflows during winter relative to local water quality. This study provides a scientific foundation for effective water management and quality control.
... The initiatives of the IWDPs seek to 65 alleviate the imbalance among different basins but also result in notable changes of the water resource systems in both the source and receiving areas (Long et al., 2020). Many studies have extensively examined the receiving effects of IWDPs on the three components (Tang et al., 2022;Tao et al., 2008;Wei et al., 2024), as well as on the comprehensive evaluation of water resource systems (Kattel et al., 2019;Zhao et al., 2017) and multi-factor risk assessment of water donating areas (Bai et al., 2023;Mu et al., 2024;Yang et al., 2023) at different time and space scales. It was found that the dynamic planning and operation 70 of IWDPs exert significant external impacts on the SHE system, inevitably leading to the system's "change-responsereconstitute" process. ...
To balance water resource distribution among different areas, inter-basin water diversion projects (IWDPs) have been constructed around world. The unclear feedback loops of water supply-hydropower generation-environmental conservation (SHE) nexus with IWDPs increase the uncertainty in the rational scheduling of water resources for the water receiving and water donation areas. To address the different impacts of IWDPs on the dynamic SHE nexus and explore collaborative states, a framework was proposed to identify these impacts across the multiple temporal and spatial scales in a reservoirs group. The proposed approach was applied to the Hanjiang River Basin (HRB) in China as a case study. Multiple temporal and spatial scales runoffs from HRB were provided through the Variable Infiltration Capacity hydrological (VIC) model. And multi-level ecological flows and their corresponding multi-level ecological flow standards were also determined by the Modified Tennant Method Based on Multilevel Habitat Conditions (MTMMHC) method. 30 scenarios were set and modeled in a multisource input-output reservoir generalization model. Differences between scenarios were quantified with a response ratio indicator. The results indicated that: there are negative feedbacks between water supply (S) and hydropower generation (H), between S and environmental conservation (E) while positive feedbacks between H and E without IWDPs. The negative feedbacks of S on H and the positive feedbacks of E on H are weakened or even broken in abundant water periods. Water donation has negative impacts on feedback loops, while water receiving has positive impacts on these feedbacks. Feedback loops exhibit intrinsic similarity and stability across different time scales. Feedbacks in reservoirs with regulation function remain stable under the varying inflow conditions and feedbacks for downstream reservoirs are influenced by their upstream reservoirs, especially in low flow periods. The proposed approach can help quantify the impacts of IWDPs on SHE nexus and contribute to the sustainable development of SHE nexus.
... For instance, reservoirs serve as Beijing's residents' primary water supply source and are rigorously monitored and controlled to maintain water quality. A large portion of these reservoirs' water is supplied through the North-to-South Water Transfer Project, whose water quality is consistently rated at standard levels of IeII [69], the highest quality of drinking water and regional sustainability in northern China [70]. This water transfer project has significantly reduced nitrogen, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a concentrations in water bodies [68]. ...
Urbanization is modifying aquatic ecosystems, with hydrodynamic and trophic variations altering biotic assemblages in rapidly expanding cities worldwide. Despite the fundamental bioenergetic role of food webs within these assemblages, their responding mechanism to the hydrodynamic and trophic variations remains largely unknown. Here we show that hydrodynamic and trophic loss, coupled with the weakening of cascade controls by key trophic guilds, leads to a significant decline in the structure, function and stability of macroinvertebrate food webs. Utilizing the allometric diet breadth model and biomass balance model, we established representative food webs for macroinvertebrate groups under varying hydrodynamic and trophic stresses. We found that such losses have reduced ∼75% trophic guild richness, ∼85% biomass flux, and ∼80% biomass storage. These reductions promote trophic guild specialization, further destabilizing food web, eroding interactive strength asymmetry, and diminishing the control of trophic guilds. Furthermore, macroinvertebrate food webs show divergent stability responses under similar stress levels, mainly driven by differences in the cascade controls exerted by key trophic guilds. Our results underscore the critical role of hydrodynamic and trophic variations in shaping urban aquatic ecosystems and highlight the significance of both external environmental revitalization and internal food web dynamics enhancement in restoring the ecological stability in urban settings.
... Wang et al. [24] evaluated economic HQD disparities across different regions in China using per capita GDP and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System nighttime light remote sensing data. Kattel et al. [25] emphasized the flexible adaptive water infrastructure framework established by the CLPSNWD and its role in enhancing personal and collective connectivity, improving resident's lives, and addressing water resource shortages. Peng et al. [26] quantitatively assessed the socio-economic impacts of the project on Beijing using a computable general equilibrium model, comparing different water supply scenarios to provide insights into the rational allocation and management of local water resources. ...
The Henan section of the Central Line Project of South-to-North Water Diversion (CLPSNWD) plays a crucial role within the overall project, serving as both the water source area and the largest recipient of water. This study aims to construct a comprehensive evaluation index system for the high-quality development (HQD) of water-receiving cities (WRCs), considering both the “quantity” and “quality” aspects. Based on the dimensions of economic vitality, people’s livelihoods, environment, and green development, twelve indicators were assessed to examine the influence of the Henan section of the CLPSNWD on the HQD of WRCs. The analysis reveals the following findings: (1) The CLPSNWD has a more significant influence on the economic vitality and improvement of livelihoods in the cities along its route compared to its impact on environment and green development. (2) Among the cities along the route, Anyang, Hebi, and Zhengzhou experience a higher level of impact from the project compared to other cities along the route. (3) Analyzing the impact in different dimensions reveals that in the dimension of economic vitality, the impact of each city on HQD is similar to the overall trend. In the dimension of people’s livelihood and environment, Hebi has experienced the greatest amount of change, while in the dimension of green development, the cities are more unstable, with increases and decreases.
... The South-to-North Water Transfer Project is expected to mark a turning point in the future water supply structure in the basin (Figure 1). [17][18][19] The Eastern and Central Routes have provided Shandong and Henan provinces with 5.3 and 15.4 billion m 3 of water by 2021, directly benefiting over 100 million people. The Western Route, scheduled to take effect by 2030, aims to deliver 8.0 billion m 3 of water to the middle and upper reaches, fundamentally promoting water availability in those areas. ...
... Considering the reality of declining groundwater levels, groundwater pollution, and the insecurity of ecological water use in the basin, water transfer emerges as the most direct way to address these challenges. 18,80 Building upon our previous research, 6,79 this study provides a more comprehensive dataset on water benefits and supply costs, encompassing various aspects such as water use sectors and water sources. On this basis, the proposed allocation scheme outlines a detailed allocation structure for water sources, iScience Article administrative units, and sectors, which has not been addressed in previous studies. ...
Optimizing water allocation is a crucial strategy for water planning in large basins, such as the Yellow River basin. The transforming water supply pattern, triggered by inter-basin water transfer, urges the optimization and refinement of water allocation. Here, we predict the future water demand for different sectors at the provincial level and carry out future water allocation based on a multi-objective allocation model. The results imply that “demand increases in midstream and water deficits in downstream” would persist by 2050, and the demand structure highlights potential sectoral rivalry for water resources in each province. Water transfer will be the “antidote” to water disputes and will account for 19.8% and 34.5% of the water demand in 2030 and 2050, respectively. This study provides a basis for the policymaking of water management and establishes the future allocation pattern from water resources to sectors in each province in the Yellow River basin.
... Qin and Gao [38] described the research progress of multifunctional composite bridge construction technology in China and the innovations of new bridges and composite bridge structures and then concluded that China has made progress in the research of multifunctional composite bridge construction technology and the innovation of new bridges and composite bridge structures and practices, which led to the conclusion that China has gradually developed key technologies for large-span highway bridges with Chinese characteristics. Kattel et al. [39], using the South-North Water Diversion Project in China as an example, argued that the provision of improved water infrastructure technologies and innovations can address the challenges posed by water scarcity to environmental sustainability. ...
Major projects are the important platform for enhancing a country’s comprehensive national power and strengthening its capacity for independent innovation. Although major projects in China have made remarkable achievements, willingness to cooperate and innovate has not achieved the desired target. In this paper, the evolutionary game model of cooperative innovation behavior of general contractors and subcontractors is constructed by considering reputational factors. Through theoretical derivation, the influence of the distribution ratio of collaborative innovation benefit, spillover technology absorption capacity, and reputation discounting coefficient on innovation behavior is analyzed. Finally, MATLAB software is used to simulate the dynamic evolution process of strategy selection. The results show that (1) a reasonable benefit distribution coefficient can promote the evolution of innovation behavior in a positive direction; (2) both the reduction of innovation cost and the increase of spillover technology absorption capacity can make the innovation subject more inclined to choose the active collaborative innovation strategy; and (3) it is the higher-than-threshold reputation loss that can effectively inhibit the “free-rider” behavior. The research conclusions and managerial implications can provide reference for improving the willingness to cooperate in major projects’ technology innovation.
... The proposed recommendation [4,20] , aiming for the realization of water supply goals while minimizing comprehensive impacts, serves as a guiding basis for the smooth construction and implementation of the subsequent phases of the Eastern Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project. Furthermore, it provides valuable insights and experiences for the planning and design of watershed water diversion projects [21][22][23][24][25] . ...
