*5.1. Conclusions*

The efficient and rational utilization of water resources is an essential part of protection ecologically. Studying the virtual water usage and flow in water shortage areas is helpful to obtaining an ideal water-resource allocation [110]. By constructing a multi-regional input–output model of the Yellow River Basin, this paper calculates and analyzes the virtual water trade and flow pattern of interregional and intraregional industrial sectors in this region in 2015, and draws the following conclusions:

