Optimal Allocation and Evaluation of Regional Water Resources Integrated with Rural Revitalization Strategy

Currently, China finds itself at a stage of high-quality economic and social advancement, with the rural revitalization strategy being implemented comprehensively. Yet, the challenge concerning water resources has evolved from addressing the contradiction between supply and demand to ensuring their effective allocation in support of rural development. Presently, the distribution of water for ecological, productive, and domestic uses appears irrational, undermining the support that the rural revitalization strategy critically needs from water resources. This deficiency hampers the capacity to devise a rational scale for the development of rural industries. Moreover, the integration between the planning of land resources, the tourism sector, agricultural cultivation, and water management is increasingly becoming fragmented, consequently impeding regional sustainable growth. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more scientific investigations into water resource allocation schemes within river basins. This article focuses on a representative region in Xinjiang, China, aiming to examine the distribution and assessment of water usage across ecological, productive, and domestic spheres in the context of rural revitalization. We introduce a water resource allocation optimization model that takes into account both economic benefits and ecological conservation. Additionally, we propose an optimization approach, assess the efficacy of the optimal water supply strategy, and calculate its economic advantages. The research findings demonstrate that: (1) By considering the water demand for rural revitalization, the water resources optimization allocation model can determine the maximum achievable water allocation scheme that also meets the water supply assurance rate; (2) After optimizing water resources according to the principle of ‘prioritizing four key aspects based on water resources,’ the water utilization rates for the years 2025 and 2030 are projected to increase to 93.27% and 90.98%, respectively; (3) The combined strategy outcomes from the comprehensive benefit evaluation model balance economic growth with ecological conservation, thereby maximizing the utilization rate of available water. These findings offer innovative perspectives and technical support for the development of regional rural revitalization.