The study looked at how water is used in the Shiyang River Basin in dry areas. They used data from 1991 to 2004 to see how water use has changed over time. They found that most water is used for farming, but industrial and household water use is increasing. The balance of water use is better in Jinchang compared to Wuwei and the whole basin. To improve water use, they suggest reducing farming water, using water-saving technology, and developing efficient agriculture.