White Elephant or Golden Goose? An Assessment of Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project from the Perspective of Regional Water Use Efficiency.

The South-to-North Water Diversion Project (SNWDP) is a significant and costly cross-basin mega water project in China, and one aim is to improve water use efficiency. To assess the effect of the SNWDP, this study conducts a quantitative evaluation of the middle route of the SNWDP's impact on water use efficiency through the event analysis method based on panel data from 2010 to 2019 of 14 cities along the middle route. The results show the construction of the SNWDP has had a positive impact on water use efficiency in the areas along the project, and the water use efficiency is constantly improving. Further empirical analysis shows that regional groundwater supply, industrial water consumption, and technical level have a significant positive impact on regional water use efficiency. Regional per-capita GDP has a significant negative impact on water use efficiency. The results can provide a scientific basis and decision-making reference for optimizing the SNWDP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]