Evaluating water resource sustainability in Beijing, China: Combining PSR model and matter-element extension method

Sustainable development has become a worldwide development theme. As a primary gathering place for human beings, a city's existence and development relates to water resource sustainability. This study used the Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model to select 24 indicators addressing water resources, the economy, society, and the environment. The coefficient of variation method was used to determine the weights of the indexes. A matter-element extension model was developed to evaluate water resource sustainability. Based on data availability, water resource sustainability was quantified for the city of Beijing, China, in 2012 and 2016. The results indicated that, in 2012, water resource sustainability was at relatively low efficiency level (water resources can meet the basic needs of social development, but in the long run can't achieve sustainable utilization), the maximum value of the multi-indicator correlation was −0.31044; in 2016, water resource sustainability was also at relatively low efficiency level, the maximum value of multi-indicator correlation is −0.40867. From 2012 to 2016, there was no significant change in water resources sustainability in Beijing, and all at a relatively low efficiency. The study's evaluation results present a reference for policymakers in developing water resource policies.