Ecological Well-Being Model for Water-Saving Planning in Irrigation Areas of Arid Northwest China

Agriculture consumes a large amount of water. Water-saving initiatives can alter the water cycles in irrigation areas, thereby influencing the ecological and environmental processes associated with water circulation. The greater the intensity, scale, and extent of these efforts, the more significant their impact on ecological and environmental systems. Therefore, it is essential for water-saving initiatives to ensure regional ecological well-being. This paper examines the balance between water saving and ecological well-being in northwest China, which is characterized by severe water scarcity, fragile ecological environments, significant water waste in agriculture and ecological usage, and substantial potential for water savings. By integrating deep water-saving controls with ecological protection, this paper proposes an ecological development model for implementing deep water-saving strategies in irrigation areas. This approach is crucial for mitigating water scarcity in the arid regions of northwest China. The Hetao Irrigation District is used as a case study to calculate the maximum water-saving potential while considering ecological conservation.