Incentive pricing and cost recovery at the basin scale

Ward, Frank A.; Pulido-Velázquez, Manuel

doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2007.09.009

Cited by 42 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…S2 shows a schematic of the basic hydrologicagronomic balance at the field-stream level. Mathematical documentation of earlier versions of the model has been published elsewhere (27,28). Although the model and its documentation were developed for the Basin, it was designed to be adaptable to other basins, cultures, and economic environments that characterize the economic value of water.…”

Section: Freely Available Online Through the Pnas Open Access Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water conservation in irrigation can increase water use

Ward

Pulido-Velázquez

2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Climate change, water supply limits, and continued population growth have intensified the search for measures to conserve water in irrigated agriculture, the world's largest water user. Policy measures that encourage adoption of water-conserving irrigation technologies are widely believed to make more water available for cities and the environment. However, little integrated analysis has been conducted to test this hypothesis. This article presents results of an integrated basin-scale analysis linking biophysical, hydrologic, agronomic, economic, policy, and institutional dimensions of the Upper Rio Grande Basin of North America. It analyzes a series of water conservation policies for their effect on water used in irrigation and on water conserved. In contrast to widely-held beliefs, our results show that water conservation subsidies are unlikely to reduce water use under conditions that occur in many river basins. Adoption of more efficient irrigation technologies reduces valuable return flows and limits aquifer recharge. Policies aimed at reducing water applications can actually increase water depletions. Achieving real water savings requires designing institutional, technical, and accounting measures that accurately track and economically reward reduced water depletions. Conservation programs that target reduced water diversions or applications provide no guarantee of saving water.agriculture ͉ sustainability ͉ institutions ͉ hydrology

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Section: Freely Available Online Through the Pnas Open Access Optionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Water conservation in irrigation can increase water use

Ward

Pulido-Velázquez

2008

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

Self Cite

609

323

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“…Thus, compared with poor households, wealthy ones are expected to use more water (paying extra charges)'. Eurthermore, as stressed by Boland & Whittington (2000a) and Ward & Pulido-Velazquez (2009), the first block should be set taking into account the water quantities that are required to meet the basic needs (the EMQ). Accordingly, for this first block, and in order to not jeopardize affordability, charges ai-e expected to be low (even less than the marginal costs), with the respective quantities being 'subsidized' by the higher consumption levels'^.…”

Section: Ibt As a Tool To Achieve Social Objectives?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing social concerns in water tariffs

et al. 2012

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In the European Union, water supply services are referred to as 'services of general interest', meaning that they are subject to multiple, potentially conflicting, public service obligations. This paper considers empirical data for Portuguese municipalities and provides a comprehensive approach to assessing the social dimension hy evaluating whether the concerns of universal access to water services for hasic needs, affordability and equity are embodied in the corresponding water supply tariffs. Accordingly, 'essential minimum quantities' (EMQs) of water for representative households are calculated and then compared with the lowest tariff block's upper limit, by water utility. Next, charges underlying the EMQs are calculated and compared with the average income of each representative household, by municipality. The results show that, in general, the EMQs are enclosed in the first block of consumption and also that the corresponding water charges do not represent a disproportionate burden on average household size and income. Nonetheless, our findings indicate that, when considering the 20% poorest households, the water charges raise affordability concerns in an important number of municipalities. Further, the results show that there is a socio-economic inequity that favours the better-off households.

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“…Regarding the unit price of the water, according to Wichelns (2013) the consumption in the first pricing block should be subsidized while the volumetric rate in the second pricing block should be sufficient to cover the operational costs and subsidies provided to customers in the first block. With respect to the volume of water to be considered in the initial block, Ward and Pulido-Velazquez (2009) stressed that the first block should be set taking into account the water quantities that are required to meet household's basic needs. In this sense, Martins et al (2013) defined the Essential Minimum Quantity (EMQ) as the water consumption needed to maintain acceptable or minimum living standards.…”

Section: Historical and Legal Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%