Dynamic wastewater-induced research based on input-output analysis for Guangdong Province, China

Large amounts of wastewater discharge have emerged as a burden in the process of industrialization and urbanization. In this study, a dynamic wastewater-induced input-output model is developed to systematically analyze the related situation. The developed model is applied to Guangdong Province, China to analyze its prominent characteristics from 2002 to 2015. Combining input-output analysis, ecological network analysis and structural decomposition analysis, the developed model reveals issues of direct and indirect discharges, relationships among various discharges, and driving forces of wastewater discharges. It is uncovered that Primary Manufacturing and Advanced Manufacturing dominate the system because of significant temporal and spatial variations in wastewater discharge. In addition, Manufacturing of paper, computer and machinery and Services are the key industries responsible for large amounts of wastewater discharge and unhealthy source-discharge relationships. The largest wastewater discharge occurred in 2005 and indirect wastewater discharge is the main form. Furthermore, final demand is found to be the biggest driving force of wastewater discharge. Finally, a three-phase policy implementation system implemented in stages proposes solutions to wastewater problems.