Analysis of the Decoupling Level and Water-Saving Targets: Economic Growth and Water Consumption in the Production-Living-Ecological Systems

Abstract

Understanding the relationship between economic growth and water consumption aids in evaluating economic health and managing water resources. This study analyzes the decoupling level between economic growth and water consumption within the Production-Living-Ecological (PLE) systems, focusing on Guangdong Province, China. Using the Tapio decoupling model, this study identified various decoupling states and calculated target water-saving values for achieving decoupling. Results show Guangdong Province generally has an ideal level of decoupling, with production water consumption effectively controlled alongside economic growth. However, living and ecological water consumption remain closely linked to economic growth. The difficulty of achieving strong and weak decoupling is not significant, with required water savings less than 1%. Despite this, some cities have yet to achieve decoupling, indicating a need for targeted water-saving strategies. This study provides valuable insights for sustainable water resource management in Guangdong and similar regions.