In today’s world, the contradiction between water supply and demand is becoming increasingly pronounced, with a particular emphasis on the severe shortage of water for agricultural purposes. As a result, it has become imperative to promote the comprehensive reform of agricultural water pricing and increase water conservation awareness among water users. However, during the actual promotion process, the conflicting interests among stakeholders often create a behavioral game that seriously hinders the effective implementation of the agricultural water price reform. Therefore, it is crucial to address this conflict of interest and find ways to overcome it in order to ensure the successful implementation of the agricultural water pricing reform. In order to explore the dynamic evolution process of the behavior and decision making of the stakeholders in the comprehensive agricultural water price reform and the influencing factors and to propose relevant strategies to effectively promote the reform. This article constructs a three-party game model based on MA-PT theory with the government, farmers, and water supply units as the main subjects, solves the equation with the perceived benefit matrix instead of the traditional benefit matrix, and calculates the objective conditions for reaching the steady state. The simulation results show that the behavioral decision of the game subject to participate in the reform will be influenced by their perception of gains and losses, and there is a mutual influence between the three strategic choices. Therefore, the reform of agricultural water prices should consider the affordability of farmers and water supply units. The government appropriately adopts a reward system to encourage farmers and water supply units to actively participate in the reform to play a positive role and appropriate penalties for promoting the reform, the early realization of the reform goals, and the development of water-saving agriculture.

Water network construction is one of the important ways to solve complex water problems at present. It is crucial for the optimal allocation of water resources, flood control, disaster reduction, protection of water ecology, water security, and sustainable urban development. Accordingly, this study formulates an index system for assessing the efficacy of water network construction based on the Driving Force–Pressure–State–Influence–Response (DPSIR) model, taking into account the four dimensions of optimal allocation of water resources, flood control and disaster reduction in river basins, protection of water ecosystems, and intelligent water network management. The proposed index system comprises four key aspects, which are utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of water network construction efforts. Then, the game-weighting method and the matter-element extension method improved by the cloud theory established an evaluation model to evaluate and compare the water network construction effects of the two cities in Henan Province. Finally, the GM (1,1) model was used to evaluate the water network construction effects, and future trends were predicted. The results show the following: (1) On the whole, the effect of water network construction in the two cities is constantly improving; (2) There has been a significant improvement in the intelligent management of water networks. The main reason for this result is that the “Internet +” has promoted the intelligent construction of water networks; (3) The water ecological environment, flood control, and drainage capabilities continued to improve, which has largely guaranteed the basic security bottom line of urban development space; (4) The advancement and utilization of water resources has undergone gradual improvements over time, with key impact metrics centered on water supply safety factors and the development and utilization of water resources. As water supply sources continue to diversify, it is expected that the aforementioned situation will be ameliorated in the future; (5) The predicted value shows that the water network construction of the two cities can basically meet the planned value of each index when the water network construction reaches the planning level. This paper provides help to promote the sustainable use of water resources and ensure the sustainable development of cities.

In China, the water network project plays a pivotal role in optimizing water resources allocation, enhancing regional water resources carrying capacity, and bolstering high-quality economic development. This study is grounded in the spatial interconnection of water resources, serving as the foundation for constructing a spatial measurement model. Leveraging data from 558 panel samples encompassing 31 provinces (including municipalities and districts) in China between 2003 and 2020, this research unveils the inherent correlation between the establishment of the water network and economic as well as social development. The findings indicate the following: (1) Considering inputs, outputs, and nonconsensual outputs, regional disparities in the SBM (slacks-based measure) value of the water network exist, demonstrating an overall increasing trend annually. In 2020, the nationwide average benefit level of input–output in water network construction reached 0.603. (2) Moran’s I test, predicated on the weight matrix of spatial water transfer information, reveals a spatial positive autocorrelation. All tests pass the significance threshold of 5%, affirming the presence of spatial agglomeration due to project construction, operation, and the interconnectedness of water resources. (3) SDM (spatial Durbin model) regression analysis elucidates that per capita GDP, resource endowment, technological innovation level, consumption index, and average wage significantly influence the growth of water network efficiency. Specifically, per capita GDP and the consumption index exert negative influences. Moreover, aspects such as regional resource endowment, technological innovation level, industrial and agricultural water demand, average wage, and other spatial dependencies exhibit a notable positive spatial spillover effect. (4) The SDM model suggests that per capita GDP growth fails to yield a significant spatial spillover effect on neighboring regions. Instead, it highlights a substantial indirect effect and spatial dependence of government attention among regions. These analyses are instrumental in optimizing the water resources allocation network system and enhancing investment efficacy.

The development of water network projects in China has facilitated the optimization of water resource allocation and improved utilization efficiency, aiding water-scarce regions in alleviating the supply–demand imbalance and promoting socio-economic development. However, the introduction of external water sources has also led to higher water supply costs and rising water prices, posing challenges for coordinating water resource security and economic growth in water receiving areas. Under the water network supply mode, the primary goal of water demand management in these areas is to balance the dual impacts of increasing water prices and the enhanced availability of water resources, while assessing the sustainability of economic growth. This study takes the Henan water receiving area of the Middle Route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project as a typical case, developing a simultaneous equations model based on the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis to empirically analyze the nonlinear relationship between water prices and economic growth. The coefficients of the weighted average water price, along with its square and cube terms, are statistically significant and show an ‘N’-shaped curve in relation to overall economic growth. The relationship between industrial water price and industrial per capita GDP growth is currently located at the second upward phase of the ‘N’-shaped curve. Overall, economic growth in the water receiving area improves water price affordability, and the early implementation of industrial water price increases can drive structural transformation, promoting water-saving and efficient industrial water use. This study provides robust empirical evidence for water transfer decision-making and the optimization of the water pricing mechanism in water receiving areas.