IMPORTANCE OF BENEFIT IDENTIFICATION IN EVALUATING WATER POLLUTION CONTROL PROGRAMS

Most economic studies dealing with water pollution abatement programs are carried out without properly identifying the benefits in tangible physical terms, namely the degree of water quality improvement. The paper explores the concept of water quality, how it is measured, and its significance for economic benefit evaluation. Tangible benefit evaluation is also crucial for sequencing abatement of various pollutants. Most economic benefit evaluation studies are also remiss on spatially identifying water uses and numbers of users. These can differ greatly among watersheds. Identifying tangible benefits as well as (potential) uses and users is a prerequisite for proper economic analysis, although often overlooked.