Economic benefits of improved water quality in the Delaware River (USA)

Water quality in the Delaware River, USA, has improved significantly since the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (1948), Clean Water Act of 1972, and authorization of the Delaware River Basin Commission Compact in 1961. Initial economic analysis by the Federal Water Pollution Administration in 1966 concluded the multimillion dollar pollution abatement programme would generate $350 million in annual benefits by improving dissolved oxygen levels to fishable standards in the Delaware River. Although water quality in the Delaware has improved substantially, scientists have called for raising the 1960s dissolved oxygen criteria from 3.5 mg/L to 5.0 mg/L to ensure year‐round propagation of anadromous American shad and Atlantic sturgeon. This higher level would also mitigate atmospheric warming resulting in increased water temperatures and sea water incursion, both of which would lead to reductions in dissolved oxygen saturation in the river. Additional economic valuation of this water quality improvement shows direct use benefits in the Delaware River to range from $371 million to $1.1 billion per year. Other economic sectors benefiting from improved water quality include recreational boating ($46–$334 million), recreational fishing ($129–$202 million), agriculture ($8–$188 million), nonuse value ($76–$115 million), viewing/boating/fishing ($55–$68 million), bird watching ($15–$33 million), property value ($13–27 million), water supply ($12–$24 million), commercial fishing (up to $17 million), and navigation ($7–$16 million). Future economic research is needed in the Delaware River watershed to more precisely measure nonuse benefits by public willingness to pay for improved water quality.     

Lake Powell Management Alternatives and Values: CVM Estimates of Recreation Benefits

Abstract

This paper presents data analyses based on information gathered from a recreation survey distributed during the spring of 1997 at Lake Powell. Recreation-linked management issues are the foci of the survey and this discussion. Survey responses to contingent valuation method (CVM) queries included in the questionnaire quantify visitor recreation values. The CVM estimates of the benefits provided by potential resource improvements are compared with the costs of the improvements in a benefit-cost analysis. The CVM questions covered three resources management issues including water quality improvement, sport fish harvest enhancement, and archeological site protection and restoration. The estimated benefits are remarkably high relative to the costs and range from $6 to $60 million per year. The dichotomous choice format was used in each of three resource CVM question scenarios. There were two levels of enhancement for each resource. There are, therefore, several consistency requirements—some of them unique to the dichotomous choice format—that the data and benefit estimates must satisfy. These consistency tests are presented in detail in the ensuing analysis.     

一般性生产生活用水对水域生态系统价值的损益分析

水域生态系统是人类社会赖以生存和发展的生态系统之一,一般性生产生活用水在带来经济效益的同时,对水域生态系统造成了很大的生态价值损失。本文分析了一般性生产生活用水对水域生态系统中水文循环以及水域生态环境的影响,并研究了其对水域生态系统价值的损益情况,探讨了水循环价值损失、污染净化价值损失、防止地面沉降的价值损失等三方面的价值损失计算公式,以及工业供水效益、农业供水效益以及生活用水供水效益等三方面的计算公式。最后本文以杨凌示范区为案例,分析了一般性生产生活用水对杨凌示范区水域生态系统的影响,并计算了一般性生活生活用水对杨凌地区水域生态系统的损益价值。     

The Gujarat State-Wide Water Supply Grid: a step towards water security

Gujarat is one of India's economic powerhouses, but its geographical conditions mean that most of the state's districts face water deficits. In 2002, emergency arrangements to meet water shortages were replaced with a longer-term strategy: the construction and management of the State-Wide Water Supply Grid. This scheme moves towards connecting 47 million people to safe, potable water supplies. It has also positioned Gujarat as a pioneer in India in terms of moving towards water security and conservation, a policy choice that has boosted economic growth and made important strides towards human development.     

The Economic Value of Allocating Water to Post-Mining Lakes in East Germany

This paper reports a contingent valuation study to value the economic benefits of a post-mining lake-district in East Germany. Lusatia Region faces serious water scarcity problems as the closure of mining pits in 1990 led to the termination of groundwater discharge into rivers. The water conflict centres around traditional water users whose water demand is no longer met and the rehabilitation of mining pits in form of a new lake-district. Current water allocation policy for the Elbe catchment places lowest priority on filling mining pits with river water, even though freshwater is essential for good lake water quality. Commissioned by the government, this study aims to determine the non-market benefits that would be generated by good water quality in the lake-district in order to re-assess the distribution of water among all water users in the Elbe catchment. Our findings show that the annual non-market benefits of the lake-district is significant and lies between 10.4 and 16.2 million euros. Apart from recreational benefits, people also obtain non-use values for the lake-district. Furthermore, two challenges for CV became apparent: fuzzy future benefits (potential improvement to the regional economy) significantly influenced WTP estimates, and WTP stated by users interviewed on site and at home varied significantly.     

Optimal Operation of Artificial Groundwater Recharge Systems Considering Water Quality Transformations

In water limited areas as water demand increases alternative sustainable water sources must be identified. One supply augmentation practice, that is already being applied in the arid southwest U.S., is artificial groundwater recharge usingwastewater effluent. The objective of a recharge facility is to supplement the available groundwater resources by storing water for the future. The resulting reclaimed water is used primarily for non-potable purposes but under increasing stressesshifting to potable use is likely to happen. Water quality thenbecomes a more pressing concern. Water quality improvements during infiltration and groundwater transport are significant and are collectively described as soil-aquifer treatment (SAT). To meet user needs, the recharge operation must be efficiently managed considering monetary, water quality and environmental concerns. In this paper, a SAT management model is developed that considers all of these concerns. Within the SAT management model, the shuffled complex evolution algorithm (SCE) is used as the optimization tool. SCEis a relatively new meta-heuristic search technique for continuousproblems that has been used extensively for hydrologic model calibration. In this application, SCE is integrated with the simulation models (MODFLOW, MT3D, and MODPATH) to represent movement and quality transformations. Two steady state case studies on a general hypothetical aquifer (modeled after a field site) were examined using the management model.     

Contributing to the sustainable use of stormwater: the role of pervious pavements.

The city of Melbourne, Australia is experiencing a water crisis with potable water storage reservoirs at an all time low. With increasing urbanisation there is an ever increasing need to research and explore sustainable water management initiatives. There is potential to minimise the negative impacts of stormwater runoff and augment dwindling supplies of potable water through adoption of pervious paving technology. The traditional approach to stormwater management has focused on constructing drainage networks to carry stormwater away from developed areas as quickly as possible to avoid the risk of flooding. The main aim of this research project was to establish relationships between rainfall intensity, infiltration rate and pervious pavement runoff and to examine the improvement to stormwater quality after infiltrating through pervious pavements. This paper describes the laboratory experiment set-up to determine the infiltration patterns and stormwater quality improvement for simulated storms precipitating on pervious pavements. Next, the scaling-up of the experimental rig to a field-based trial is explained. Preliminary results from this work are presented to demonstrate the potential benefits of pervious pavements in the Australian landscape.     

The future sustainability of water supply in Kuwait

Abstract

The main natural source of water available in Kuwait is the brackish groundwater located in the Kuwait Group and the Dammam aquifers, where the salinity ranges from 4300 to 10200 mg/l and from 2500 to 10000 mg/l, respectively. Limited fresh groundwater resources in Al‐Rawdhatain and Umm Al‐Aish fields, which have a salinity of 359 ‐1737 mg/l, are also available. Most of the groundwater in Kuwait is used for irrigation, domestic purposes, small‐scale industries and for blending with distilled water. Because rainfall is seasonal and less than annual evaporation, the recharge of the groundwater from rainfall is negligible. The objective of this paper is to assess the different water resources in Kuwait in order to make an integrated management plan and to focus on future sustainability. Generally, in the State of Kuwait, there is increasing pressure on the natural water resources because of the exploitation of the aquifers at a rate exceeding that of both the groundwater recharge and population growth (from 1.4 million in 1980 to 2.55 million in 2003). This has lead to the observed decline in groundwater level and to the deterioration of water quality. In the early 1950s, a plan was endorsed in Kuwait to establish seawater desalination plants. By 2005, six desalination plants have been established, with a total capacity of distillation units of 1434.72 ×103 m³/d (315.6 MIGD). However, the gross maximum consumption for the year 2003 reached a value of 1440.17 ×103 m³/d (316.8 MIGD), which is higher than the total capacity of the available distillation units. Given the limitation of conventional water and the shortages of non‐conventional water, along with the increasing population, Kuwait must consider the recycling of wastewater for irrigation, industrial or any other unrestricted non‐potable purpose.     

唐山市饮用天然矿泉水地球化学特征与成因探讨

依据大量水质分析资料,介绍唐山市境内饮用天然矿泉水的分布规律和水文地球化学特征,从水岩作用角度分析了矿泉水中锶和偏硅酸的来源,探讨了唐山市锶型、偏硅酸型和锶+偏硅酸型饮用天然矿泉水的形成机理.     

Evaluating media framing and public reactions in the context of a water reuse proposal

ABSTRACT

The public is increasingly engaging with information about water reuse proposals through the Internet. Though there are benefits to engaging the public online, there may also be challenges associated with media bias or online advocacy. This study qualitatively examines the public response (online comments, n = 1323) to online news reporting an indirect potable reuse proposal for London. The study found no evidence of the media’s framing of the event strongly shaping the unsolicited online public reactions. Findings suggest that though communications may struggle to counter longer-term news agendas, there may be benefits to experimenting with framing water safety measures and shorter-term gains.     

饮用水源保护区生态补偿标准修正核算方法

研究从"谁保护,谁受益"、"谁使用,谁付费"、"谁污染,谁负责"的角度出发,综合考虑生态保护总成本法、水资源价值法和水质补偿赔偿法的优点,确立了基于水量、水质修正系数的饮用水源保护区生态补偿标准核算方法,并以杨木水库为例估算了用水地区对杨木水库生活饮用水源保护区所在地的生态补偿额度:16 746.06万元/年,即用水地区每年向水源保护区所在地支付16 746.06万元作为生态补偿资金。所建核算方法避免了传统方法仅考虑单一因素的计算,较为全面的反映生活饮用水源保护区生态补偿的实际情况,对生态补偿机制的建立具有一定参考作用。     

滦河流域节水潜力估算

针对城镇生活用水、工业用水、农业用水、第三产业4个方面的节水目标,进行节水潜力估算,确定规划水平年2015年和2030年总节水量分别为6.5883亿m3和13.1985亿m3。     

山区农村饮水安全工程模式探讨

农村饮水安全既要解决量的问题,又要解决质的问题。为解决水质问题,推广和运用简便、实用、经济的水处理技术和不同的工程措施,达到水质达标的目的。以湖北省秭归县为例,得到结论以集中供水的生物慢滤模式来解决农村饮用水安全是值得大力推广的。     

Techno-institutional models for managing water quality in rural areas: case studies from Andhra Pradesh,India

Abstract

This article examines the rationale, technologies, economics and institutional modalities in water quality management operations to draw lessons for designing policies for sustainable service delivery at scale. While the rationale for providing potable drinking water at affordable prices is clear, their economic viability is weak given their present scale of operations. There is a need for institutional safeguards for selection of deserving villages and water quality monitoring. It is argued that public–private–community partnerships are economically viable and sustainable. Adopting appropriate technologies could help with addressing the water quality issues in a more comprehensive manner.     

Water and Sustainable Development in Ghana

Abstract

Water is vital for the survival and development of every community or society. The health of a given community is reflected to a large extent in the water quality of the community's available water resources. In Ghana, efforts have been made since colonial days to supply both the urban and the rural communities with potable water to enhance the rapid socio-economic development of the country. It is economically viable due to the remoteness of most of the rural communities to supply them with potable water from local sources such as groundwater. The urban water supply systems are mainly based on surface water sources. With the ever-expanding population, there is a need to improve freshwater resources conservation and management in order to avoid impending shortages. To ensure the total coverage of all rural and urban communities by the year 2020, a huge capital outlay of $1 billion and 51.5 billion, respectively, is needed. Most of these funds are expected to come from the private sector, both local and foreign, with the Government making some substantial contribution.     

南水北调中线工程是保证天津经济发展的重要条件

天津是北方重要的交通枢纽，综合性工业基地，现代化国际港口城市。总面积１．１万平方公里，总人口９２０万人，人均水资源量４７３立方米，仅为全国的１８％，各河进入市境的水量逐年减少。过境入海水量５０年代为１４４．３亿立方米，至８０年代降至９．８亿立方米，汛后各河基本无水可取，中央决定再次引黄救急，并于１９８３年兴建引栾入津工程。引栾水后人均水资源量也仅５９７立方米，仅占全国平均的２２．７％。最新预测，本     

区域水资源与水污染控制系统综合规划

本文提出在区域范围内将水资源与水污染控制作为一整体进行综合规划。依据系统规划的目标关系,采用解释结构模型法,构建具有6个目标层次的系统综合规划目标体系;结合规划特点,将所建综合规划目标体系量化,以满足区域用水需求、改善水环境质量及系统年成本最低为目标,建立了多目标综合规划数学模型。将该方法用于北方某区域规划,其最佳方案可减少天然水资源开采量56％,提高污水处理率30%,再生水利用率32%,仅计算全区域使用再生水所节省的水资源费每年可达14143万元,具有显著的社会、经济与环境效益。     

2013年武威市集中式饮用水源地水质综合评价

采用水质单项组分综合评价、综合污染指数评价及综合营养状态指数评价方法,对2013年武威市平原区集中式地表水地下水饮用水源地水质监测数据进行综合评价。结果表明,地下水饮用水源地4个监测断面水质良好。地表水饮用水源地中西营水库、黄羊水库、南营水库、扎子沟4个监测断面4个季度水质较清洁;红崖山水库4个季度水质轻污染;校东桥前3个季度水质处于重污染,第4季度水质为中污染。南营水库、红崖山水库、西营水库和黄羊水库4个监测断面4个季度营养状态均属于贫营养。根据水质综合评价结果,提出了平原区饮用水水源地的污染防治对策,旨在为石羊河流域饮用水源地的保护和相关研究工作提供借鉴。     

富营养湖泊的藻类现存量控制和供水处理的藻类去除

我国城镇供水正面临湖泊(水库)富营养化的严峻挑战.评述了高藻类现存量干扰水处理过程导致的供水问题,以及高藻类生物量控制对策和供水处理除藻工艺的国内外发展现状.就国内外现有藻类生物量控制对策和供水处理除藻工艺提出若干结论,并对我国今后在该领域的进一步研究提出建议.     

永定河流域生态补偿标准研究

结合流域生态补偿研究中忽略水质功效、生态价值计算方法缺少系统性的不足,本文给出基于水量水质模拟、水生态价值核算的流域生态补偿标准测算框架,并以水量水质功效的不可分割性为基础,给出永定河跨界断面补偿标准。上游山西省、河北省在下泄水量不足、入河污染物浓度及总量超标的情况下,应向下游北京给予水量、水质赔偿10762、19055万元。借鉴永定河流域生境及物种的多元化、不同水域相关功能属性的差异性,本文从河流生态系统、森林生态系统、湿地生态系统层面考虑,借助投入产出对应关系确定受益补偿标准为150亿元。以限制发展机会成本、水源涵养损失机会成本为依据,给出流域生态受损补偿标准为16亿元。结合应用成果,探讨了生态补偿标准完善策略。