Correlation Characteristics Between Water Resources Quantity and Urbanization Process in Bengbu Section of Huaihe River Basin

Understanding the correlation between water resources quantity and the urbanization process is crucial for achieving coordinated development of a socio-economy and ecological security in river basin cities. Taking the water resources quantity (including total water resources quantity, water supply quantity, and water consumption) and urbanization process indicators (including GDP, permanent resident population, agricultural irrigation quantity, and waterway transportation quantity) of the study area from 2011 to 2024 as the objects, this paper adopts a Pearson correlation analysis and linear regression methods to analyze the correlation characteristics between them. The results revealed that total water resources quantity was significantly positively correlated with GDP (r = 0.578 *; p < 0.05), permanent resident population (r = 0.708 **; p < 0.01) and waterway transportation quantity (r = 0.535 *; p < 0.05) but had no significant correlation with agricultural irrigation quantity (r = −0.396). Water supply quantity and water consumption presented significant negative correlations with GDP (r = −0.711 *; r = −0.601 *) and waterway transportation quantity (r = −0.797 **; r = −0.736 **), highly significant positive correlations with agricultural irrigation quantity (r = 0.854 **; r = 0.879 **), and no significant correlation with permanent resident population (r = −333; r = −383). This study uncovers the differentiated responses of water resource indicators to socio-economic activities amid urbanization, which not only reflects the evolution of the regional water consumption structure but also verifies the effectiveness of water conservation efforts. It provides a scientific basis for the sustainable utilization and optimized management of water resources in the development process of Bengbu city.