Impact of adaptive water-saving and phaseout strategies on water withdrawal in China's coal-fired power industry under carbon constraints

•An improved water withdrawal calculation method for coal-fired power was proposed.•Spatial differences in water withdrawal under adaptive water-saving scenarios.•The deployment of CCS technology will increase the water stress in the northwest.•The phaseout strategies of coal-fired power plants were developed.•Impact of phaseout strategies on water withdrawals depends on carbon constraints.