Abstract: Water footprint based on virtual water is a comprehensive index and gives a true reflection of the share of human consumption. It effectively measures human consumption of water resources. This paper investigated virtual water consumption structure by using water footprint, and estimated water efficiency through calculations of water footprint structure，benefit and ecological security index in Xinjiang from 1999 to 2009. The results indicate :(1) The gross water footprint has increased from 1999 to 2004, but then has a slight decrease from 2004 to 2009. There was an increase in water intensive use degree, which indicates marked improvements in the development of water efficiency; (2) Higher content of virtual water products like meat and grain are in great demand in Xinjiang, which should be reduced, increasing lower content of virtual water products such as vegetable, fruit and potato; (3) Xinjiang is a virtual water importing area .The largest exports are cotton and ketchup, those have a higher content of virtual water. With the increasing export of virtual water, it will bring huge pressure on the local water resources utilization in Xinjiang; (4) The growing shortage of available water resources in Xinjiang increases in water stress and making full use of local water resources, in order to solve this problem it is the key to purchase high water required for local development of consumer goods from the water-rich region. From what have been discussed above, changing consumption patterns and adjusting the strategic structure of the virtual water can be a possible way to alleviate the shortage of water resources in Xinjiang. Constrained by the data, the study of water footprint needs to be further refined, but it will be a new path to explore the sustainable use of water resources in the arid zone.

Key words: Water footprint, Virtual water, Virtual water trade, Xinjiang