自20世纪50年代起新疆水问题就一直存在, 不同的历史阶段, 水问题表现方式不同。新疆水问题一直没有得到根本解决, 目前还呈现出越来越严重的局面。这种状况迫使我们反思很多根本性的问题, 一些与水问题有关的概念也需要重新认识。新疆不是缺水地区, 其水资源可满足本地人们的基本生存, 地方的经济发展过于依托扩大农业规模, 使用水量超出干旱区水资源可承受的能力, 解决问题的方式是适度减少农业灌溉面积。

Since 1950s, water related issues have been occurring in Xinjiang with different types and results in different times. Water conservancy affairs have been developing for more than 60 years in Xinjiang. Great achieve-ments on both construction and management of the water conservancy facilities have been gained, most of the water related issues, however, have not been solved fundamentally. And even now, the issues are becoming more seri-ous. The situation compels us to rethink lots of basic issues behind the development and utilization of water re-sources in Xinjiang, and some concepts related to the water issues need to be understood. Xinjiang is not a region where is shortage of water, water resources in the region can fulfill the basic livelihood of local people. Over-relying on enlargement of agricultural industries during the local economic development, however, water consumption a-mount has exceeded the limit of water capacity. A moderate reduction of agricultural irrigation area will be one of the best solutions.