There is a significant spatial imbalance in the water resources distribution in China and the study on it is very important for the sustainable use of natural resources and rational distribution of agricultural structure. A typical research area in central Henan Province is selected for a correlative analysis about surface water distribution characteristic between the traditional indices (water perimeter, water area and drainage density) and the new water spatial distribution diversity methodology. Results show that there is a significant positive relationship among these four indices with the average coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.89 when the regional water is predominated by rivers or such linear surface water types, and in this situation each of these indices is suitable. However, when the regional water is predominated by rivers, lakes, reservoirs and such complex surface water types, the newest index ‘water spatial distribution diversity’ performs better and should be chosen in describing the water spatial distribution characteristic.