The scientists looked at how trading goods between Chinese provinces affects clean water availability and quality. They studied data from 2007 to 2015 using a special model. They found that the amount of water used and its pollution increased at first, then went down slightly. Trade between provinces caused more water problems, contributing about a third to the issues. Both provinces that buy and sell goods were part of the water issue, and this made things worse for exporter regions. Making better use of water resources is essential to tackle these problems, particularly in regions affected by trade. Overall, this research suggests that improving water use efficiency is crucial for a sustainable water future in China, especially when considering the impact of trade on water scarcity across provinces.