es502338j_si_001.pdf (148.55 kB)
Cost-Benefit Analysis of the Swiss National Policy on Reducing Micropollutants in Treated Wastewater
journal contribution
posted on 2014-11-04, 00:00 authored by Ivana Logar, Roy Brouwer, Max Maurer, Christoph OrtContamination
of freshwater with micropollutants (MPs) is a growing
concern worldwide. Even at very low concentrations, MPs can have adverse
effects on aquatic ecosystems and possibly also on human health. Switzerland
is one of the first countries to start implementing a national policy
to reduce MPs in the effluents of municipal sewage treatment plants
(STPs). This paper estimates the benefits of upgrading STPs based
on public’s stated preferences. To assess public demand for
the reduction of the environmental and health risks of MPs, we conducted
a choice experiment in a national online survey. The results indicate
that the average willingness to pay per household is CHF 100 (US$
73) annually for reducing the potential environmental risk of MPs
to a low level. These benefits, aggregated over households in the
catchment of the STPs to be upgraded, generate a total annual economic
value of CHF 155 million (US$ 113 million). This compares with estimated
annual costs for upgrading 123 STPs of CHF 133 million (US$ 97 million)
or CHF 86 (US$ 63) per household connected to these STPs. Hence, a
cost-benefit analysis justifies the investment decision from an economic
point of view and supports the implementation of the national policy
in the ongoing political discussion.