Based on the water resource inventory and the socio-economic environmental data collected in Shaanxi Province

we developed a water ecological risk index system according to the concept of Pressure-State-Response(PSR) and the regional ecological risk assessment theory.Combined with GIS technology and the AHP and the composite index methods

we analyzed the economic and demographic carrying capacity

and assessed the temporal and spatial changes of the ecological risks of the water resources.The results show that the water resource pressure and integrated risks increased rapidly as the economy and the population grew.Overall

the state risk was the highest

pressure risk moderate

and the response risk the smallest.Central

northern and southern parts of Shaanxi Province exhibited ecological risks in a descending order from high to low

respectively;specifically

Xi′an areaXianyang areaYulin areaWeinan areaBaoji areaYan′an areaHanzhong areaTongchuan areaAnkang area Shangluo area.The vulnerabilities of local natural environments

such as uneven spatiotemporal distribution of water resources

fast societal development

rapid economic growth

unbalance water ecology

water environmental degradation

and unstable economic system were the main driving forces causing water resource risks in Shaanxi Province.