DIRECTIONS OF REGIONAL WATER USE MECHANISM IMPROVEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF REDUCING THE WATER RETAINING CAPACITY OF THE GROSS REGIONAL PRODUCT (A CASE STUDY OF ROSTOV REGION)

• Main Authors: I. P. Abramenko, R. V. Revunov, S. V. Kupriyanova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: Russian Scientific Research Institute of Land Improvement Problems 2020-08-01
• Series: Научный журнал Российского НИИ проблем мелиорации
• Subjects: gross regional product; region; rostov region; water resources; economy; water use
• Online Access: http://www.rosniipm-sm.ru/article?n=1153

Purpose: to study the practice of using water resources of Rostov region at the present stage, to identify the main trends and water use regularities, the dynamics of water-retaining capacity of the gross regional product, to substantiate organizational, economic and administrative-legal measures aimed at improving the efficiency of using water potential at the mesoeconomic level. Materials and methods. The application of statistical methods, dynamic analysis tools, methods of scientific abstraction, modeling the socio-economic consequences of the region’s water management practices in the research process has made it possible to establish the main parameters of water use by types of economic activity in Rostov region at the present stage. Results. In analyzing statistical data, the following facts were revealed. Water withdrawal for the production and delivery of electric and thermal energy and gas decreased from 1395.31 million m³ in 2016 to 1085.46 million m³ in 2019 (minus 309.85 million m³ (minus 22.21 %)). Water consumption in the housing and communal services system of the Rostov region also decreased in the analyzed period by 40.78 million m³ (9.99 %) from 408.35 to 367.57 million m³. The fact that the largest amount of water resources in Rostov region is withdrawn in the interests of sectors related to agricultural production found its empirical confirmation. A negative trend in the growth of water-retaining capacity of the regional economy increasing from 2.605 to 2.608 m³/thousand rub was found. Conclusions. At the present stage, the format of economic development of the water resource potential developed in Rostov region does not meet the criteria for sustainable development. The increase in water-retaining capacity of the regional economy negatively affects competitiveness. The organizational, economic and administrative-legal instruments to increase the economic efficiency of water use at the regional level are proposed.