Assessing disproportionate costs to achieve good ecological status of water bodies in a Mediterranean river basin.

摘要: Water management is becoming increasingly important as the demand for water grows, diversifies, and includes more complex environmental concerns. The Framework Directive (WFD) seeks to achieve a good ecological status all European Community bodies by 2015. To this objective, economic consideration of must be given decision-making processes. Exemption (time or level stringency) from objectives EU can justified proving that cost implementing measures disproportionate benefits. This paper addresses issue costs through cost-benefit analysis (CBA). predict costs, function method used. quantification benefits complex, because they are not determined market. As an alternative stated preference methods, we use distance approach estimate improving quality. We then apply methodological Mediterranean River Basin in Spain. results show achievement could rejected based on criterion river basin. illustrates CBA useful tool inform policy decision making. Furthermore, it shown economics, particularly valuation benefits, plays crucial role fulfilling WFD.