Some Progresses and Perspectives in Study on the Carrying Capability of Water Resources

Water resources is the basic natural resources, one of the important factors affecting the ecological environment, the strategic economic resources, and a organic component part of the national power of a country. Along with the rapid economic development in China, the shortage of water resources becomes more serious. The annual volume of the over-exploited groundwater in North China is 1.5×10 10m3 due to the shortage of water resources, thus, the ground subsidence occurs. In the great development of west China, water resources is the foundation for restoring and regenerating the regional ecology, the ecological measures including the withdrawing from farming to afforesting and grass-planting relies on the water resources. Therefore, it is of significance to research the carrying capacity of the regional water resources, optimize the distribution of water resources, regulate the relations between the regional ecological regeneration, people's life, industrial and agricultural development and water resources, and achieve the regional sustainable development. Based on summing up the research history and present situation of the carrying capacity of water resources, this paper discusses the connotation, characteristics, study methods and existing problem of the carrying capacity of water resources. The perspectives of study on the carrying capacity of water resources are also discussed.