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A Cost–Benefit Analysis of Reclaimed Water and Desalinated Seawater for Irrigation in Axarquia, Southern Spain

Author

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  • Antonio R. Hurtado

    (Water, Environmental and Agricultural Resources Economics (WEARE) Research Group, Department of Agricultural Economics, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus Rabanales Building C5, 14014 Córdoba, Spain)

  • Julio Berbel

    (Water, Environmental and Agricultural Resources Economics (WEARE) Research Group, Department of Agricultural Economics, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus Rabanales Building C5, 14014 Córdoba, Spain)

Abstract

In water-scarce regions, policymakers resort to reclaimed water (RW) and desalinated seawater (DSW) to supply economic agents when conventional resources are not available. This paper develops a proposal for a simple methodology to apply a cost–benefit analysis (CBA) approach to RW and DSW as a support to the evaluation of water policy goals. To test the method, it applies a CBA to RW and DSW in Axarquia (southern Spain), a water-scarce region suffering a long and extreme drought that is impacting urban supply and the agricultural sector. The benefit-to-cost ratio (BCR) of 17.02 estimated for reclaimed water highlights its high return on investment, suggesting that it offers substantial economic and environmental benefits. This high BCR indicates that reclaimed water as a resource for irrigation is highly cost-effective, particularly if it is combined with nutrient management. By contrast, the estimated BCR of 4.05 for desalinated water, although positive, is considerably lower, suggesting that desalinated water is a feasible but less cost-effective solution due to its high energy requirements and associated costs. This methodology may be extended to other hydrological systems, such as aquifer basins, to promote the generation of more comprehensive insights.

Suggested Citation

  • Antonio R. Hurtado & Julio Berbel, 2024. "A Cost–Benefit Analysis of Reclaimed Water and Desalinated Seawater for Irrigation in Axarquia, Southern Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:12:p:2156-:d:1541096
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    5. Julio Berbel & Julia Martin-Ortega & Pascual Mesa, 2011. "A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Water-Saving Measures for the Water Framework Directive: the Case of the Guadalquivir River Basin in Southern Spain," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 25(2), pages 623-640, January.
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