The water paradox in China: The driest regions manage the resource most efficiently
China's regions with the least water availability have achieved higher levels of water management efficiency compared to areas where water is relatively abundant. This is documented in a study published in Scientific Reports, which, for the first time, incorporates energy poverty as an external variable in the analysis of provincial water sustainability from 2016 to 2020.
Using a two-stage dynamic model, the study assessed how efficiently water resources are used in terms of economic production and environmental sustainability. The results are clear: provinces such as Ningxia, Qinghai, and Beijing—located in semi-arid or desert areas—show maximum efficiency values, while regions like Guangxi, Anhui, and Hubei, with greater water availability, display significantly lower levels.
This paradox, identified by the authors as a form of the “resource curse,” stems from the lack of structural pressure to conserve a resource perceived as abundant. In contrast, where water is scarce, restrictive policies, the development of water-saving technologies, and greater institutional awareness foster more effective and rational management.
The study also reveals a persistent imbalance between productive efficiency—i.e., the economic value generated per unit of water used—and sustainability efficiency, which relates to investments in water treatment and environmental improvement. In most provinces, the former far exceeds the latter, pointing to a structural policy orientation favoring short-term economic development at the expense of ecosystem protection and water quality.
This paradox, identified by the authors as a form of the “resource curse,” stems from the lack of structural pressure to conserve a resource perceived as abundant
Provinces like Jiangsu, Shandong, and Shanxi show high efficiency in production but very low figures in terms of sustainability. In contrast, places like Qinghai or Ningxia achieve a noteworthy balance between both dimensions, which the authors attribute to a combination of structural changes in economic models, stringent environmental policies, and long-term oriented management.
The research also highlights notable regional differences. In the industrialized east of the country, pressure on water resources is intense, and the energy costs associated with its use hinder technical efficiency improvements. In contrast, in the less densely populated western regions, where environmental regulations are stricter, significant progress has been made in both productive and sustainability efficiency, driven by the adoption of clean technologies and less intensive development models.
Far from a one-size-fits-all approach, the authors advocate for differentiated water management based on each region's ecological, social, and economic conditions. Successful policies in arid regions—like those enabling full utilization of water in Ningxia or Qinghai—could serve as models to reorient water governance in areas where apparent abundance has led to inefficiency.
