An assessment index system including 11 indexes for natural vulnerability

artificial vulnerability

and burdening vulnerability is established to appraise water resource vulnerability in Hengyang City of Hu'nan Province.The 5 grade and 100 score method is used to get the quantitative scores of evaluated index and the integrated index method is used to calculate the vulnerability scores.Critical value of each evaluated index is ascertained by consulting index extremum of 8 provinces in South China.The results of assessment demonstrate that the vulnerability of water resources in Hengyang City is in strong vulnerability grade.Drought index during Junly to September

perennial average rainfall

population density

and GDP per capita have the significant contributions to water resource vulnerability in Hengyang City.Therefore

taking some management measures of water resources to debase water resource vulnerability is a good settlement

such as enhancing industrial structure adjustment

raising the utilization rate of water resources

controlling population growth

strengthening hydraulic engineering construction

and improving water resource management policies.