Water Quality Trading Programs Towards Solving Environmental Pollution Problems

Abstract

Increased regulatory attention in controlling pollutants has encouraged the development of water quality trading programs over the past several decades. These trading programs could provide the mechanisms to cost-effectively achieve water quality objectives. Encouragement of innovative methodologies for emission prevention and control, and the contributions from non-regulated pollution sources, are also important factors in the development of successful water quality trading programs. The objectives of this paper are to: assess the advantages of a trading program to reach water quality goals while providing additional benefits to the whole watershed; describe the challenges confronted during the design to implementation phases; and outline the essential elements of a successful program. A meta-analysis was also conducted using several water quality trading programs to assess main market-based elements driving the success of trading programs between point and agricultural nonpoint sources. Uncertainty, policy drivers and social embeddedness--the degree to which stakeholders are integrated into program development--seem to be the most influential determinant of program success. RÉSUMÉ L'instauration en perpétuelle croissance de nouveaux règlements pour la lutte contre la pollution de l'eau a encouragé le développement de nombreux programmes d'échange de crédits de la qualité de l'eau. Ces programmes pourraient constituer un outil efficace de gestion de la pollution de l'eau en vue d'améliorer à moindre coût la qualité des eaux. L'implémentation des techniques innovantes en matière de prévention et de contrôle des émissions ainsi que participation des sources de pollution non réglementées (par exemple agricoles) sont des facteurs importants et primordiaux sur le développement de ces programmes de crédit.L'étude envisagée présente les objectifs suivants: évaluer les avantages des programmes d'échange de crédits généralement élaborés dans le but d'atteindre les objectifs de qualité de l'eau tout en offrant des bénéfices supplémentaires à l'ensemble du bassin versant; identifier les incertitudes scientifiques et décrire les défis à lever dans les phases de conception et d'implémentation de ces programmes; et classer les éléments essentiels du développement d'un programme d'échange de crédits efficace.Une méta-analyse a été effectuée en utilisant des données des divers programmes d'échange (entre des sources ponctuelles et des sources diffuses agricoles) des crédits de la qualité d'eau dans le monde entier afin d'évaluer les paramètres essentiels influençant le succès de ces programmes. La variabilité, les règlements et l'intégration sociale--niveau le d'implication des parties prenantes dans l'élaboration du programme--s'avèrent être les facteurs les plus déterminants dans la réussite de ces programmes.

Uncertainty analysis for an effluent trading system in a typical nonpoint-sources-polluted watershed

“…As illustrated in Table 5 , when the uncertainty factor was increased to 1.1, the changes in the marginal abatement costs of NPSs was higher, indicating that more abatement efforts would come from the regulation of NPSs. This result demonstrates that the increase of BMPs’ effectiveness would reduce the marginal cost of NPS credits and makes them more attractive than those of PSs 7 .…”

“…To make the PS-NPS ETS more attractive, the confidence level of the WAC should be adjusted to cover the variability in the NPSs emissions. Another consideration might be to use a reserve ratio or margin of safety for a reliable ETS, in which some of the total TP permits are treated as an additional insurance WAC by quantifying the variability in NPS emissions 7 .…”

“…However, PS-NPS ETSs have not been implemented successfully, especially in terms of the number and type of trading participants 6 7 . PS-NPS ETSs have problematic aspects, mainly because of the specific characteristics of NPSs.…”

An economic inquisition of water quality trading programs, with a case study of Jordan Lake, NC

“…The stochastic nature of NPS emission makes the loading reduction efficiency of a given CP uncertain and increases the risk that water quality goals may not be achieved (Horan, 2001). A high trading ratio could reduce the economic attractiveness of trading programs because it discounts credits from NPSs (Corrales et al 2013) and tilts WQT demand to the left.…”

Ionic Adsorption and Desorption of CNT Nanoropes

“…Metal plating equipment, petroleum and chemical industry, battery industry, pesticide residues, and so on are producing more and more heavy metal which directly or indirectly emit to the environment [3], especially in the developing world. Heavy metal is different from organic pollutants [4].…”