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A System of Waste Discharge Rights for the Management of Water Quality
Author(s) -
Mar B. W.
Publication year - 1971
Publication title -
water resources research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.863
H-Index - 217
eISSN - 1944-7973
pISSN - 0043-1397
DOI - 10.1029/wr007i005p01079
Subject(s) - water quality , quality (philosophy) , business , government (linguistics) , environmental economics , control (management) , effluent , environmental science , environmental planning , water resource management , environmental engineering , computer science , economics , ecology , philosophy , linguistics , epistemology , biology , artificial intelligence
Water quality management based on water quality standards and required waste treatment levels has serious informational and administrative problems. An alternative management system of marketable rights to change water quality is analyzed to stimulate a search for improved management tools. Such a system of rights can (1) simplify the problems in existing management systems of new discharger entry into a region, (2) incorporate the economic efficiency of the ‘effluent charge’ system and the regional management approach, and (3) provide a mechanism for government or the private sector to adjust the quality of water without creating serious economic penalties for other parties discharging waste or requiring high water quality. A marketable right to discharge waste into a specified area of water subject to the observance of a water quality standard at the boundaries of that area is proposed. Utilities would compete for major rights, whereas individuals would purchase minor rights from a utility. The utility would provide control of waste discharges that impact only segments of a body of water and an institution that could shift water quality above the standard.