Abstract
The present study attempts to estimate individuals’ willingness to pay for recycled water irrigation, in order to enhance the water supply and ensure the continuation of irrigated agriculture in Nestos catchment. Contingent valuation method has been developed for the investigation of farmers’ preferences, in monetary terms, to adopt this alternative water source for irrigation purposes. The applied method is regularly followed in the framework of environmental valuation. The results of the survey are based on data collected from questionnaires, which were answered by respondents at a river basin scale. In a representative sample of 302 farmers, we find that 64.2% of them expressed a positive stance towards using recycled water, a fact that results in lower environmental impacts. However, findings indicate that participants are willing to pay a significantly less amount of money than they already pay, for freshwater. Additionally, the analysis demonstrates that the use of recycled water in agriculture is more acceptable to respondents who are aware of its environmental benefits. Therefore, the provision of complete information on the welfare of using recycled water for irrigation to farmers may lead to greater adoption intention and a greater environmental benefit.
Highlights
In many countries worldwide, fresh water scarcity has already emerged
The analysis of the findings shows that only 34.4% of the farmers are adequately knowledgeable about the environmental benefits of wastewater reuse
The study contributes to the literature by applying a stated preference method to estimate farmers’ WTP for water reuse in irrigation
Summary
Fresh water scarcity has already emerged. The agricultural sector exacerbates this problem, as it is the main water user and accounts for 90% of water demand per year [1]. As the water purification technologies advance, municipal wastewater could be reclaimed and reused for landscape and crop irrigation purposes. This new resource provides a viable opportunity to complement water supplies in a safe and sustainable way [4]. It guarantees a high level of supply reliability given the capacity to provide a constant volume of water. Recycled wastewater may be used to rejuvenate the previous characteristics of the water bodies’ ecological status [8] This new resource creates supply-side benefits enhancing the local economy, as well as becoming a satisfactory factor to guarantee socio-economic stability [9]
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