This　paper　develops　a　lexicographic　optimization　model　to　allocate　agricultural　and　non-agricultural　water　footprints　by　using　the　land　area　as　the　influencing　factor.　An　index　known　as　the　water-footprint-land　density　(WFLD)　index　is　then　put　forward　to　assess　the　impact　and　equity　of　the　resulting　allocation　scheme.　Subsequently,　the　proposed　model　is　applied　to　a　case　study　allocating　water　resources　for　the　11　provinces　and　municipalities　in　the　Yangtze　River　Economic　Belt　(YREB).　The　objective　is　to　achieve　equitable　spatial　allocation　of　water　resources　from　a　water　footprint　perspective.　Based　on　the　statistical　data　in　2013,　this　approach　starts　with　a　proper　accounting　for　water　footprints　in　the　11　YREB　provinces.　We　then　determined　an　optimal　allocation　of　water　footprints　by　using　the　proposed　lexicographic　optimization　approach　from　a　land　area　angle.　Lastly,　we　analyzed　how　different　types　of　land　uses　contribute　to　allocation　equity　and　we　discuss　policy　changes　to　implement　the　optimal　allocation　schemes　in　the　YREB.　Analytical　results　show　that:　(1)　the　optimized　agricultural　and　non-agricultural　water　footprints　decrease　from　the　current　levels　for　each　province　across　the　YREB,　but　this　decrease　shows　a　heterogeneous　pattern;　(2)　the　WFLD　of　11　YREB　provinces　all　decline　after　optimization　with　the　largest　decline　in　Shanghai　and　the　smallest　decline　in　Sichuan;　and　(3)　the　impact　of　agricultural　land　on　the　allocation　of　agricultural　water　footprints　is　mainly　reflected　in　the　land　use　structure　of　three　land　types　including　arable　land,　forest　land,　and　grassland.　The　different　land　use　structures　in　the　upstream,　midstream,　and　downstream　regions　lead　to　the　spatial　heterogeneity　of　the　optimized　agricultural　water　footprints　in　the　three　YREB　segments;　(4)　In　addition　to　the　non-agricultural　land　area,　different　regional　industrial　structures　are　the　main　reason　for　the　spatial　heterogeneity　of　the　optimized　non-agricultural　water　footprints.　Our　water-footprint-based　optimal　water　resources　allocation　scheme　helps　alleviate　the　water　resources　shortage　pressure　and　achieve　coordinated　and　balanced　development　in　the　YREB.