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Environmental Sciences and Ecology: Current Research
[ ISSN : 2833-0811 ]


The Price to Pay for Treated Wastewater: an Evaluation of Water Pricing Scenarios in the Jordan Valley

Research Article
Volume 2 - Issue 1


Shahbano Ali Kashani , Imran Ali , Muhammad Sharif Hasni , Mudassir Asrar , Jabran Ahmad , Muhammad Zeeshan Shahzad

Published : January 11, 2021

Abstract

Treated wastewater for irrigation could form a viable alternative to substitute fresh water resources in the Jordan Valley. Yet, investing in treatment infrastructure is costly and the subsidized water prices in the Jordan Valley results are low compared to the cost price for treated wastewater. Therefore, this study examines the effect of additional water volumes on net profits of four farm archetypes and the possibilities for cost coverage of treated wastewater under various pricing scenarios. The study accounts, in a stylized manner, for positive (festination) and negative (salinization) effects of the treated wastewater quality. The results show that additional volumes are highly profitable for vegetable farms yet; salinity levels negatively affect banana farms. The scenario with the highest pricing variant provides some compensation, yet, most of the costs have to be covered by other public funds.