Urbanization, water use level and their coupled coordination in the Yellow River Basin

Rapid urbanization affects a number of water-related issues. A better understanding of coupling between urbanization and water resource utilization is necessary for sustainable urbanization. In this paper we constructed a comprehensive index of urbanization (population, economy, land, society) and water resource utilization (water use efficiency of daily life, industry, agriculture, and ecology). Obstacle degree analysis showed that urbanization in provinces within the basin kept growing, with significant growth in the middle and lower reaches. Regional differences in water resource utilization narrowed with significant east-west differences, higher downstream but lower upstream. Spatial diversity of coupling was found to be obvious, the high-value areas were mainly distributed in the upstream region. No surge in water consumption or imbalance in water use was found to have occurred during urbanization. Population and land are main obstacles hindering urbanization, but the main obstacles for water use may vary in each region. The development speed in the Yellow River Basin might be accelerated, but pay particular attention to changes in water use structure, and balanced water use. Each region should focus to improve indicators corresponding to obstacle factors to make urbanization development and water use level in a good state of coupling and coordination.