Open AccessEstimating the Public Water Supply Protection Value of Forests
Author(s) -
Elias Emile,
Laband David,
Dougherty Mark
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of contemporary water research and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1936-704X
pISSN - 1936-7031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1936-704x.2013.03171.x
Subject(s) - environmental science , watershed , water quality , water supply , valuation (finance) , ecosystem services , contingent valuation , total organic carbon , water resource management , hydrology (agriculture) , environmental engineering , ecosystem , business , willingness to pay , engineering , computer science , economics , ecology , geotechnical engineering , finance , machine learning , biology , microeconomics
We developed a methodology to assess the economic value of forested watersheds to improve water quality for public supplies. The interdisciplinary approach required collaboration between economists, municipal water managers, regional growth planners, hydrologic and water quality modelers. Data used in this project were derived from federal, state and local entities. We used regional growth projections with linked watershed and reservoir simulation models and cost‐based valuation economics. Additional treatment cost to comply with Safe Drinking Water Act regulations was calculated using volume treated and simulated total organic carbon (TOC) concentrations. Simulated base TOC concentrations (3 percent urban) were compared with TOC concentrations predicted by 2020 (22 percent urban). Mean increase in daily treatment costs ranged from $91 to $95 per km 2 per day. The developed methodology is applicable to other watersheds to estimate water purification ecosystem services and is recommended for use in future interdisciplinary modeling courses.