Potentialities of water charge in the management of Brazilian water resources

We investigated the application of economic instruments in the management of Brazilian water resources as mechanisms to stimulate the rational use of water and to recognise its economic value. We analysed water-charge scenarios at the national and international levels as a methodology to provide an economic estimate of environmental services related to water resources. Through bibliographical and documentary research, we identified the economic instruments applied to Brazilian water-resource management, describing the methodologies and values used Brazilian water charges and in some member states of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. We identified how economic valuation methods of environmental resources could contribute to the improvement of water charges, considering the environmental services offered by a healthy river basin. In the Brazilian and the international scenarios, water charge methodologies include the volumetry of abstracted or consumed water, associating some elements that indicate the pollution level. The prices per cubic meter of water are still very low in all the scenarios. Environmental valuation techniques can be an essential tool for rethinking the methodologies and costs applied in water charges, increasing the potential of water’s rational use through economic instruments.

Analysing Irrigation Farmers’ Preferences for Local Governance Using a Discrete Choice Experiment in India and Pakistan

This paper reports the results of an investigation into the preferences of irrigation farmers for different payment apparatus for irrigation fees. We also report the results of a study that queried farmers’ preferred model for water governance at a local level. The results and analysis thus make an important contribution to the debate about how participatory irrigation might operate more effectively, especially in India and Pakistan. The rationale for this study is that aligning the payment mechanisms and local water governance more closely with farmer preferences is likely to reduce the barriers to accepting participatory irrigation and the requirement to pay water charges. To the knowledge of the authors, no other study has specifically addressed this issue by seeking direct feedback from farmers.

Public Demand for Improved Urban Water Supply Services in Multan

Governments in developing countries face financial constraints to ensure supply of clean drinking water. They may benefit from increasing water charges for those who are be willing to pay little extra in lieu of their demand for improvement in water quality and service. To check the plausibility of this proposal, we investigated drinking water supply and quality, and welloff consumers demand for improved service delivery in Shah-Rukun-e-alam and Mumtazabad towns in Multan city of Pakistan. Qualitative data obtained through a questionnaire survey was analyzed using descriptive and regression techniques. Qualitative information obtained through semi structured interviews was helpful in designing survey questionnaire and to elaborate quantitative results. Results reveal that the respondents accord high importance to the provision of safe drinking water than to other daily household needs. The demand for improvement in water supply parameters exceeds the demand for improvements in water quality parameters, with the reliable supply being the most demanded improvement. Majority realize the government’s budget constraints in improving service delivery. Most respondents would pay PKR 100 in addition to what they are paying now. Their willingness to pay (WTP) this amount correlates with their awareness on water and health nexus, and depends household income, number of children under 14 years age and awareness of actual water quality tested through laboratory. Besides recommending raise of water charges by PKR 100 per month per household in both towns, the service quality improvement may consider interventions such as mobile water testing laboratory and awareness campaigns motivate citizens to pay for safe drinking water.

Kartellrechtliche Missbrauchsaufsicht über Gebühren

Is the German Competition Act applicable to public authority economic action governed by public law? This work approaches the issue – due to greatly varying prices and § 185 (1) sentence 2 GWB – based on the abuse control of drinking water charges levied by a public law entity. It analyzes the extensive legal division between the abuse control under the GWB over prices and the supervision of municipal authorities exercised by the individual Länder over charges. The work examines whether that gap can be bridged by interpretation or under consideration of EU law. Finally, it proposes to abolish § 185 (1) sentence 2 GWB and to adopt an equivalent to Art. 106 (2) TFEU to systematically consider public interests.

Determination of the Irrigation Water Supply Services Cost

The article summarizes and analyzes experience in irrigation water charges fixation. Many countries of the world with developed irrigation systems face problems of lack or inadequacy of financial resources to maintain these systems in an efficient state. There is the necessity to find effective financial and organizational mechanisms to address these problems. The purpose of this article is to summarize and analyse the experience of setting fees for the supply of water for irrigation in various socio-economic conditions and to find out possibilities of improving systems of payment collection for the provision of irrigation services and in particular, for irrigation water supply. The analysis is based on a wide range of conditions specific for both developing and developed countries. In addition, the article attempts to assess the experience of using the amount of payment for irrigation water as an incentive for cost recovery to achieve financial sustainability and demand management for the efficient use of water resources. Quotas, water markets, subsidies, as well as information/educational problems have been considered as incentives of water resources demand management. We have considered special features of the tariffs formation in the Central Asia countries. The study has demonstrated that the two-stake tariff implementation will enable to compensate the irrigation services expenses at the level acceptable for water users in case of cultivation of crops generating an adequate income for the tariff’s financing.

Bulk water charges in the dairy industry: A case study of interstate basins in Minas Gerais, Brazil

ABSTRACT: Water is an essential input for any agribusiness, used for various purposes such as hygiene procedures, heat exchangers and beverage formulation. Water charging, regulated in Brazil by the National Water Resources Policy (Federal Law 9.433/97), is an important issue for the food industry, since it may change the profile of food production costs. Thus, this article aimed to estimate the price increases in the dairy industry from the use of water charging and evaluate the potential benefit of this collection, comparing it to some planned investments in basins plans. We used a case study of a dairy that produced 1 t/d of mozzarella cheese in the state of Minas Gerais. Results indicated that water charging among the basins with current collection models may vary up to 131%. The increase in price related to water charging was low (0.04-0.09% of production costs), indicating that it can be absorbed by the industry. Conversely, values collected by the basins may be decisive for implementation of several actions aiming an average quantity and quality of water, which is good for the industry, itself. In the current charging collection models in the state of Minas Gerais, it is possible to recognize that collection is a promising initiative for the economical valuation of water. However, charging still seems to lack sufficiency in safety and a rationalization for its use.

Charges for Water and Access: What Explains the Differences Among West Virginian Municipalities?

Examining both spatial and non-spatial econometric analyses with a dataset of 125 municipal water utilities, we investigate utility cost and community factors that explain variation in residential user charges and monthly access charges for water. The results of water charges model are consistent with the theory of water cost determination as water source, debt, and economies of size plus scale influence residential consumer charges for water. Both models (water charges and minimum monthly access) displayed positive spillover effects, although the only variable in either model with a significant indirect effect is water charges on minimum monthly access charges. Based upon model results, ground water use by utilities lowers water charges and is estimated to save residential customers in West Virginia over $3.6 million annually. West Virginia households typically pay far below the OECD standard of 3 to 5% of household income for municipal water, which may explain why socioeconomic factors do not influence minimum monthly charges for access.