The analysis of the variation laws and determinants of industrial water use of the socioeconomic system in Beijing is of great significance for promoting the sustainable development of the regional water-ecology-society-economy complex system. The water consumption of the socioeconomic system sectors of Beijing in 2002, 2007, 2012 and 2013—2016 is measured. The driving factors for the variation of the water consumption in two periods of 2002—2007 and 2007—2012 are investigated by using the structural decomposition analysis model. The results show that the increasing water-use efficiency of 28 sectors from 2002 to 2012 leads to a decreasing trend in the direct water-use coefficient and the complete water-use coefficient. However, the total water consumption is on the rise due to the expansion of the industrial sectors. The scale expansion effect driven by the growth of the final demand consumption is the main factor for the growth of industrial water consumption, and the economic system efficiency effect contributes less to the growth of industrial water use. The industrial technology progress is the most important factor in reducing the industrial water use. The industrial transformation and development has exerted its effect on reducing the water consumption through structural effects. In view of the Beijing's industrial transformation and development goal for high-tech and modern service industries, it is proposed to formulate targeted water resource management measures from both the economic and the administrative aspects according to the characteristics of industrial development and the goal ofindustrial transformation and development.