In the heart of China’s energy and chemical industries lies the Mu Us Sandyland (MUS), a region where the thirst for resources is outpacing the availability of water. A recent study published in the journal *Agricultural Water Management* (translated as *Irrigation and Drainage Management*) sheds light on the complex interplay of factors driving water storage decline in this semi-arid region, with significant implications for the energy sector.
Lead author Wei Liang, from the School of Geography and Tourism at Shaanxi Normal University, and his team have quantified the anthropogenic drivers of water storage decline, providing a crucial foundation for sustainable water management. Their research integrates data from the Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellite, reanalysis data, and local statistics to paint a comprehensive picture of the region’s water dynamics from 2003 to 2020.
The findings are stark: terrestrial water storage (TWS) and groundwater storage (GWS) have been declining at annual rates of 5.5 mm and 3.9 mm, respectively. However, the story is more nuanced than initially meets the eye. “Not accounting for coal mass loss leads to overestimations of TWS and GWS declines by 37.2% and 44.3%, respectively,” Liang explains. This underscores the importance of incorporating coal mass loss into GRACE-based assessments, a factor often overlooked in similar studies.
The research attributes about 80% of water loss to ecological restoration and irrigation. Notably, farmland expansion driven by land occupation–compensation policies has amplified irrigation demand. In the energy-intensive zones, mine dewatering has emerged as a significant driver of GWS declines, with an impact greater than that of irrigation. “Mine dewatering was responsible for a 4.1 mm yr⁻¹ decline in GWS,” Liang notes, highlighting the substantial commercial impact on the energy sector.
Looking ahead, the study projects that groundwater recharge increases (12.8%–17.1%) are expected to outpace demand growth (2.2%–7.6%) at the regional scale. This could permit an additional 13.8%–18.6% expansion of ecological restoration. However, spatial heterogeneity means that some sub-areas within the MUS may need a reduction due to supply–demand conflict, while others can expand by up to 19.1%.
The implications for the energy sector are profound. As the region continues to serve as a major base for China’s energy and chemical industries, sustainable water management practices are crucial. The study’s findings provide sector-specific, management-ready insights that could shape future developments in the field. By integrating land- and water-use planning, stakeholders can support sustainable agricultural water use and ongoing ecological restoration, ensuring the long-term viability of the region’s energy sector.
This research not only highlights the critical need for integrated water management but also offers a roadmap for balancing the demands of industry, agriculture, and ecology. As Wei Liang and his team have shown, understanding the complex interplay of these factors is key to securing a sustainable future for the Mu Us Sandyland and similar regions around the world.