Water Resources Carrying Capacity of Yulin City Districts and Counties under the Perspective of Emergy

To assess the critical water resources across the districts and counties of Yulin City, this study developed an ecological footprint model based on emergy analysis. The model was applied to evaluate water usage for the years 2004 and 2016, calculating the emergy-based water ecological footprint, water ecological carrying capacity, and ecological water pressure for each region. The analysis revealed a consistent increase in the emergy-based water ecological footprint across all districts and counties, primarily driven by freshwater consumption. The spatial distribution of water ecological carrying capacity highlighted significant geographical disparities, with regions abundant in water resources exhibiting substantially higher carrying capacities. Despite a reduction in ecological water pressure, Yulin City’s overall water resource sustainability remains under significant strain, indicating persistent overexploitation. The findings underscore the urgent need for Yulin to transition towards sustainable water management practices, emphasizing green and low-carbon development pathways to ensure long-term water resource sustainability.