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Productivity of wastewater treatment plants in the Valencia Region of Spain

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  • Fuentes, R.
  • Torregrosa-Martí, T.
  • Hernández-Sancho, F.

Abstract

This study analyses the evolution of productivity over the 2008–2012 period for a homogenous set of 199 wastewater treatment plants that are located in the Valencia Region of Spain and utilize the same treatment technology, using the smoothed bootstrap Malmquist productivity index based on Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA). The results reveal a negative trend in productivity that is mainly the result of resource management rather than an inappropriate level of innovation or use of new technologies. In addition, the effect of exogenous factors on productivity is analysed using the Kruskal-Wallis (KW) test, finding that productivity levels were affected by the quality of the influent water and the size of the plants, but not by the other factors considered.

Suggested Citation

  • Fuentes, R. & Torregrosa-Martí, T. & Hernández-Sancho, F., 2017. "Productivity of wastewater treatment plants in the Valencia Region of Spain," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 58-70.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:juipol:v:46:y:2017:i:c:p:58-70
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jup.2017.04.004
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    Cited by:

    1. Ryota Nakatani, 2023. "Productivity drivers of infrastructure companies: Network industries utilizing economies of scale in the digital era," Annals of Public and Cooperative Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 94(4), pages 1273-1298, December.
    2. Nakatani, Ryota, 2022. "Productivity drivers of infrastructure companies: network industries to maximize economies of scale in the digital era," MPRA Paper 115531, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    3. Xie, Qiwei & Xu, Qifan & Zhu, Da & Rao, Kaifeng & Dai, Qianzhi, 2020. "Fair allocation of wastewater discharge permits based on satisfaction criteria using data envelopment analysis," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C).
    4. Urakami, Takuya & Saal, David S. & Nieswand, Maria, 2021. "Industry Fragmentation and Wastewater Efficiency: A Case Study of Hyogo Prefecture in Japan," ADBI Working Papers 1218, Asian Development Bank Institute.
    5. Ramon Sala-Garrido & Manuel Mocholí-Arce & María Molinos-Senante, 2021. "Assessing the Quality of Service of Water Companies: a ‘Benefit of the Doubt’ Composite Indicator," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(1), pages 371-387, May.
    6. Molinos-Senante, Maria & Maziotis, Alexandros, 2022. "Evaluation of energy efficiency of wastewater treatment plants: The influence of the technology and aging factors," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 310(C).

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