Evaluation of the water resources carrying capacity in Shaanxi Province based on DPSIRM–TOPSIS analysis

• The WRCC was evaluated in Shaanxi Province using DPSIRM-TOPSIS from 2011-2021. • The spatial and temporal variability of WRCC in three areas were discussed. • The degree of obstacle to subsystems, and obstacle factors to urban WRCC are discussed. • The biggest obstacle to the WRCC is the daily urban wastewater treatment capacity. The evaluation of Water Resources Carrying Capacity (WRCC) is an important guide for regional economic and social development planning. Based on the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Impact–Response–Management (DPSIRM) conceptual model, this study constructed a 22-indicator system covering the WRCC of Shaanxi Province, and used the Technique of Ordering Preferences for Similarity to Ideal Solutions (TOPSIS) model to comprehensively assess the WRCC of Shaanxi Province from 2012 to 2021. An in-depth analysis of the main obstacle factors of WRCC in Shaanxi Province was carried out using the obstacle degree model. Based on the analytical results of the WRCC and the degree of obstacles, countermeasures were proposed. The results show that: (1) the level of WRCC in Shaanxi Province from 2012 to 2021 generally showed an upward trend, with a lower level of WRCC during 2012–2018, and gradually improving level from 2019 to 2021; (2) regional differences are apparent, with the WRCC level in Qinba Mountain significantly better than that in the Guanzhong Basin and Loess Plateau. Among them, the capital city of Xi’an showed an overall increasing WRCC trend, from Class II level in 2012 to Class IV level in 2021; (3) daily urban wastewater treatment capacity, total water resources, and water production modulus are obstacle factors that most significantly affect the improvement of WRCC in Shaanxi Province. The results of the study can provide guidance for regional water resources management.