Valuing Ground Water

Valuing Ground Water
Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 203
Release: 1997-07-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 0309175003

Because water in the United State has not been traded in markets, there is no meaningful estimate of what it would cost if it were traded. But failing to establish ground water's valueâ€"for in situ uses such as sustaining wetlands as well as for extractive uses such as agricultureâ€"will lead to continued overuse and degradation of the nation's aquifers. In Valuing Ground Water an interdisciplinary committee integrates the latest economic, legal, and physical knowledge about ground water and methods for valuing this resource, making it comprehensible to decision-makers involved in Superfund cleanup efforts, local wellhead protection programs, water allocation, and other water-related management issues. Using the concept of total economic value, this volume provides a framework for calculating the economic value of ground water and evaluating tradeoffs between competing uses of it. Included are seven case studies where ground-water valuation has been or could be used in decisionmaking. The committee examines trends in ground-water management, factors that contribute to its value, and issues surrounding ground-water allocation and legal rights to its use. The book discusses economic valuation of natural resources and reviews several valuation methods. Presenting conclusions, recommendations, and research priorities, Valuing Ground Water will be of interest to those concerned about ground-water issues: policymakers, regulators, economists, attorneys, researchers, resource managers, and environmental advocates.

Determining the Economic Value of Water

Determining the Economic Value of Water
Author: Robert A. Young
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 359
Release: 2014-07-23
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 1135040524

Water provides benefits as a commodity for agriculture, industry, and households, and as a public good such as fisheries habitat, water quality and recreational use. To aid in cost-benefit analysis under conditions where market determined price signals are usually unavailable, economists have developed a range of alternative valuation methods for measuring economic benefits. This volume provides the most comprehensive exposition to-date of the application of economic valuation methods to proposed water resources investments and policies. It provides a conceptual framework for valuation of both commodity and public good uses of water, addressing non-market valuation techniques appropriate to measuring public benefits - including water quality improvement, recreation, and fish habitat enhancement. The book describes the various measurement methods, illustrates how they are applied in practice, and discusses their strengths, limitations, and appropriate roles. In this second edition, all chapters have been thoroughly updated, and in particular the coverage of water markets and valuation of ecosystem services from water has been expanded. Robert Young, author of the 2005 edition, has been joined for this new edition by John Loomis, who brings additional expertise on ecosystem services and the environmental economics of water for recreational and other public good uses of water.

Multiple Uses of Water in Irrigated Areas

Multiple Uses of Water in Irrigated Areas
Author: International Water Management Institute
Publisher: IWMI
Total Pages: 59
Release: 1999
Genre: Irrigation
ISBN: 9290903805

Water is being transferred out of agriculture to meet the growing demand in other areas, often without an agreement of or compensation to farmers with irrigated land and water rights. Furthermore, there is a failure to recognize that irrigation systems supply water not only for the main fields, but also for domestic uses, home gardens, trees and other permanent vegetation, and livestock. Other productive uses include fishing, harvesting of aquatic plants and animals, and a variety of other enterprises such as brick making. In addition, irrigation systems can have a positive or negative effect on wildlife habitats. Thus, the withdrawal of water affects the rural household, rural economy, and the environment in a number of ways. This paper argues that to ensure efficient, equitable, and sustainable water use, to reduce poverty and improve the well-being of the community, irrigation and water resources policies need to take into account all uses and users of water within the irrigation system. The multiple uses of water in the Kirindi Oya irrigation system are examined in this paper. An interdisciplinary group of scientists have investigated a number of areas including water accounting, water quality, household water use, the valuing of water for alternative uses, and the complementarities, competition, and conflicts among uses and users.

Intensive Use of Groundwater:

Intensive Use of Groundwater:
Author: M. Ramon Llamas
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 498
Release: 2002-01-01
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 9789058093905

This text is written by a number of authors from different countries and disciplines, affording the reader an invaluable and unbiased perspective on the subject of intensive groundwater development. Based on information gathered from the experience of many countries over the last decades, the text aims to present a clear discussion on the conventional hydrogeological aspects of intensive groundwater use, along with the ecological, legal, institutional, economic and social challenges. Divided into two main sections, the first group of authors put forward the positive and negative aspects of intensive groundwater use, whilst a second group provide an overview of the situation specific countries face as a consequence of this phenomenon. Fully revised and up-to-date, Groundwater Intensive Use makes a significant number of discoveries in a subject area that is topical in today's climate.

Micro and Macro-level Approaches for Assessing the Value of Irrigation Water

Micro and Macro-level Approaches for Assessing the Value of Irrigation Water
Author: Robert C. Johansson
Publisher: World Bank Publications
Total Pages: 68
Release: 2005
Genre: Abastecimiento de agua
ISBN: 6011709095

Abstract: Many countries are reforming their economies and setting macroeconomic policies that have direct and indirect impact on the performance of the irrigation sector. One reason for the movement toward reform in the water sector across countries is that water resources are increasingly becoming a limiting factor for many human activities. Another reason for increased pressures to address water policy issues is that many countries are in the process of removing barriers to trade, particularly in agricultural commodities. Therefore, knowledge of the value of water when crafting domestic and macroeconomic policies is important to compare the variable impacts of reform across sectors of the economy and populations within the country. Researchers have used many methods for assessing the value of irrigation water. This survey reviews a broad literature to ascertain how two basic questions have been addressed by research over the past few decades. First, what is the value of water across different sectors and levels? Second, how will this value change under different macroeconomic and domestic policies? This survey details a number of methods for approaching these two questions. The literature has been organized according to a progression from theoretical underpinnings to empirical approaches to how the value of irrigation services are relevant to the link between globalization and poverty.

Water Availability and Use Science Program: Estimated Use of Water in the United States In 2015

Water Availability and Use Science Program: Estimated Use of Water in the United States In 2015
Author: Cheryl A. Dieter
Publisher: Geological Survey
Total Pages: 76
Release: 2018-08-16
Genre: Nature
ISBN: 9781411342330

Estimates of water withdrawals enable the depiction of trends in total water use for the Nation among different geographic areas, categories of use, and sources over time. Water-use information is a critical component of water budgets, which are essential to surface- water and groundwater availability studies. This information is also essential to accurately understand how future water demands will be met while maintaining adequate water quality and quantities for human and ecosystem needs across the United States of America. Data is represented in text abstracts and analysis, tables, chart graphics, and photos presented throughout. The estimates contained within this volume focus on water use for eight (8) categories: Public Supply * Irrigation Self-supplied Domestic * Livestock Aquaculture * Industrial Mining * Thermoelectric Power Related products: Other products produced by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) are available here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/agency/us-geological-survey-usgs Check out our Water Management resources collection here: https://bookstore.gpo.gov/catalog/water-management

Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior

Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior
Author: Wolfram Schlenker
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 316
Release: 2019-11-13
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 022661980X

Agricultural yields have increased steadily in the last half century, particularly since the Green Revolution. At the same time, inflation-adjusted agricultural commodity prices have been trending downward as increases in supply outpace the growth of demand. Recent severe weather events, biofuel mandates, and a switch toward a more meat-heavy diet in emerging economies have nevertheless boosted commodity prices. Whether this is a temporary jump or the beginning of a longer-term trend is an open question. Agricultural Productivity and Producer Behavior examines the factors contributing to the remarkably steady increase in global yields and assesses whether yield growth can continue. This research also considers whether agricultural productivity growth has been, and will be, associated with significant environmental externalities. Among the topics studied are genetically modified crops; changing climatic factors; farm production responses to government regulations including crop insurance, transport subsidies, and electricity subsidies for groundwater extraction; and the role of specific farm practices such as crop diversification, disease management, and water-saving methods. This research provides new evidence that technological as well as policy choices influence agricultural productivity.

Economic Research Supporting Water Resource Stewardship in the Pacific Northwest

Economic Research Supporting Water Resource Stewardship in the Pacific Northwest
Author: Laurie L. Houston
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
Total Pages: 80
Release: 2011
Genre: Technology & Engineering
ISBN: 1437933335

This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. Knowledge about the value of water to different users and methods with which to evaluate biophysical, economic, ecological, and social tradeoffs associated with allocating limited water resources among competing uses is vital to devising appropriate and effective water resource policies. Intended primarily for non-economists, this report reviews existing water resource economics literature (as of 2002) concerning the economic value of water in different uses in the Pacific Northwest, the evaluation of tradeoffs among uses, and the use of economic incentives for water conservation and protection or enhancement of water quality. Includes an annotated bibliography of water resource economics research.

Wastewater use in agriculture: Review of impacts and methodological issues in valuing impacts

Wastewater use in agriculture: Review of impacts and methodological issues in valuing impacts
Author: Intizar Hussain
Publisher: IWMI
Total Pages: 62
Release: 2002
Genre: Irrigation water
ISBN: 9290904720

The objective of this paper is to provide a review of the characteristics of wastewater used for irrigation, and the reasoning behind the international guidelines presently used in regulating wastewater reuse for agriculture. This paper presents various systems of wastewater treatment available and discusses their benefits and shortcomings. A selective review of recent empirical studies identifies major impacts both positive and negative impacts of wastewater irrigation. Finally, the paper provides the review of environmental valuation techniques for analyzing impacts of wastewater uses in agriculture, and suggest a framework for application of some of these techniques. This framework will be applied to a developing country case study (Faisalabad area in Pakistan), in the ongoing IWMI research program.