[Objective] The interaction between water resources systems and urbanization systems was studied in order to provide a theoretical basis for the coordinated development of resource exploitation and urbanization.[Methods] Analytic hierarchy processes, factor analysis, and a response model were used to quantitatively study the influencing factors, spatio-temporal characteristics, and response relationship of water resources utilization and urbanization development respectively, in Harbin City from 2006 to 2017.[Results] ① The development and utilization of water resources and urbanization in Harbin City increased in stages. Both stages had 2011 as the node time, showing the stage characteristics of early fluctuation and later stabilization. ② The three subsystems of economy, space, and society, in the urbanization system rose and developed synchronously. The subsystem of population urbanization fluctuated greatly and risked systematic recession. In the water resources system, the utilization degree was deepened, and the management level was improved, however the resources were unstable and the urban water consumption load increased. ③ In the calculation of the response relationship, urbanization development was more sensitive to the change of water resources, economic agglomeration, and spatial expansion that produced an obvious resource consumption effect. The development and utilization of water resources had a restrictive effect on the development of urbanization.[Conclusion] Systematic thinking should be used to maintain the moderate development of urbanization based on the spatial and temporal distribution of water resources, rationally restraining the demand for water use and enhancing the management ability will help reduce the water constraints.