Water Utilization Modes Linked with Urban and Rural Arid Areas Restricted by Eco-environments——A Case Study of Zhangye City in the Hexi Corridor

Restricted by the frail eco-environments and scarce water resources,the arid areas in Northwest China are crying for water transfer from rural to urban areas to accelerate the process of urbanization and industrialization.However,food security in the arid areas in Northwest China should also be guaranteed,and the rural and urban areas should both develop sustainablely with rational water reallocation.Consequently,it is urgent to find a way to resolve this problem.Zhangye City,which is located in the Heihe River Basin,is typical in the arid areas of Northwest China,was chosen as a case study.According to the problems Zhangye City are facing,such as low urbanization and industrialization level,low proportion of water utilization of the secondary and tertiary industries in the whole economy,low economic efficiency of water utilization and limitation of water supply for socio-economic system,the overall design of water utilization modes linked with urban and rural arid areas was made.Subsequently,five kinds of water utilization modes linked with urban and rural arid areas restricted by eco-environments were constructed,ie.,increasing urban water use by returning farmlands to forests and grasslands with stable grain production,increasing urban water use by agricultural science and technology progress,transferring water from rural to urban use by agricultural industrialization,reusing urban reclaimed water in agriculture,and paying compensation when transferring water from rural to urban use.If these five kinds of water utilization modes are exercised together,it can help Zhangye City and the arid areas in Northwest China to innovate in water resources management and promote the rural and urban areas to develop harmoniously and rapidly.