@article{Blanco-Gutierrez:43846,
      recid = {43846},
      author = {Blanco-Gutierrez, Irene and Varela-Ortega, Consuelo and  Flichman, Guillermo},
      title = {Cost-Effectiveness of Water Conservation Measures: A  Multi-level Analysis with Policy Implications},
      address = {2008},
      number = {725-2016-49428},
      pages = {5},
      year = {2008},
      abstract = {Groundwater in Spain, as in other arid
or semiarid  countries worldwide, has been intensely
used for the  expansion of irrigated agriculture. This
booming  development has induced a remarkable
socioeconomic  development in many rural areas but
has produced  far-reaching environmental problems.
In the Spanish Western  La Mancha Aquifer, the
excessive, and sometimes illegal,  water abstraction for
irrigation agriculture has resulted  in the Aquifer’s
overexploitation and has been responsible  of the
degradation of the associated wetlands “Tablas  de
Daimiel”, an internationally reputed,  Ramsarnominated
aquatic ecosystem. To undertake  this
analysis, a mathematical programming model has
been  developed to simulate farmers’ behaviour and
their  responses to different water policy  scenarios.
Specifically, the policy simulations selected  are:
alternative water pricing schemes (uniform  volumetric
and block-rate water tariffs), water use quota  systems
and water rights market. Results show  that
controlling illegal water mining is a  necessary
condition but it is not sufficient to recover the  aquifer.
Consequently, other measures will be necessary for  an
effective water management in this area. Among  these,
the block-rate water pricing scheme seems the  most
cost-effective system to reach the goal of  aquifer
sustainability but will entail important income  losses
in several farms. Therefore, we cannot conclude that  a
unique water conservation policy instrument will be
the  best overall solution for all types of holdings that
will  respond to efficiency as well as to equity
considerations.  It seems reasonable to make a
combination of the tools  proposed, even including
additional measures that promote  an environmental
protection and develop sustainable  agricultural
systems.},
      url = {http://ageconsearch.umn.edu/record/43846},
      doi = {https://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.43846},
}