BOOK
Diffuse Pollution, Degraded Waters: emerging policy solutions
(2017)
Additional Information
Book Details
Abstract
After decades of regulation and investment to reduce point source water pollution, OECD countries still face water quality challenges (e.g. eutrophication) from diffuse agricultural and urban sources of pollution, that is disperse pollution from surface runoff, soil filtration and atmospheric deposition. The relative lack of progress reflects the complexities of controlling multiple pollutants from multiple sources, their high spatial and temporal variability, associated transactions costs, and limited political acceptability of regulatory measures. This report outlines the water quality challenges facing OECD countries today, presents a range of policy instruments and innovative case studies of diffuse pollution control, and concludes with an integrated policy framework to tackle diffuse water pollution. An optimal approach will likely entail a mix of policy interventions reflecting the basic OECD principles of water quality management – pollution prevention, treatment at source, the polluter pays and beneficiary pays principles, equity, and policy coherence.
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cover | Cover | ||
| Table of contents | 7 | ||
| Acronyms and abbreviations | 9 | ||
| Executive summary | 11 | ||
| Chapter 1: The water quality challenge | 13 | ||
| Key messages | 14 | ||
| An introduction to water quality and its impact on the environment and society | 15 | ||
| A typology for water pollution: sources, types and pathways | 16 | ||
| Characteristics and determinants of water quality | 16 | ||
| An overview of the main pollutants | 18 | ||
| Negative feedbacks on water quality | 19 | ||
| Links between water quality and water quantity | 19 | ||
| Ongoing challenges of diffuse pollution sources and eutrophication in OECD countries | 20 | ||
| Water quality and climate change | 23 | ||
| Water quality challenges for cities of OECD countries | 25 | ||
| Notes | 29 | ||
| References | 30 | ||
| Annex 1.A1: An overview of the main water pollutants in OECD countries | 35 | ||
| Excess nutrient losses | 36 | ||
| Microbial contamination | 36 | ||
| Acidification | 37 | ||
| Salinity | 38 | ||
| Sedimentation and organic materials | 39 | ||
| Toxic contaminants | 39 | ||
| Thermal pollution | 41 | ||
| Plastic particle pollution | 41 | ||
| Contaminants of emerging concern | 41 | ||
| Other factors that contribute to degradation of water quality | 42 | ||
| Notes | 43 | ||
| References | 43 | ||
| Chapter 2: Economic costs and policy approaches\r\nto control diffuse source water pollution | 47 | ||
| Key messages | 48 | ||
| The economic case for water quality management | 49 | ||
| Water quality risks | 49 | ||
| Market failure and water pollution | 50 | ||
| Economic valuation of ecosystems and water quality | 51 | ||
| The cost of water pollution and management options | 53 | ||
| Water pollution control mechanisms in OECD countries | 59 | ||
| Determining who pays for pollution abatement and water quality improvements | 60 | ||
| The need for policy coherence | 62 | ||
| The potential effects of climate change mitigation and adaptation policies on water quality | 63 | ||
| Note | 65 | ||
| References | 65 | ||
| Chapter 3: Emerging policy instruments for the control of diffuse source water pollution | 69 | ||
| Key messages | 70 | ||
| Introduction | 71 | ||
| Regulatory approaches | 72 | ||
| Regulating diffuse pollution outputs | 74 | ||
| Case study: The Total Maximum Daily Load Management System, Korea | 76 | ||
| Allocating diffuse pollution allowances within a cap | 78 | ||
| Case study: The natural capital approach to allocating diffuse nitrogen pollution, Manawatu-Wanganui, New Zealand | 79 | ||
| Economic instruments | 81 | ||
| Pollution charges and taxes | 81 | ||
| Water quality trading | 84 | ||
| Case study: Lessons learnt from water quality trading, Chesapeake Bay, United States | 84 | ||
| Case study: The Lake Taupo nitrogen market, New Zealand | 86 | ||
| Payment for ecosystems services | 88 | ||
| Financing mechanisms | 90 | ||
| Two case studies are presented: | 90 | ||
| Case study: State revolving funds for water quality protection, United States | 90 | ||
| Case study: A public-private approach to delivering the Thames Tideway Tunnel, United Kingdom | 92 | ||
| A collective management approach to water quality management | 94 | ||
| Case study: A collaborative governance model: The Canterbury Water Management Strategy, New Zealand | 94 | ||
| Notes | 98 | ||
| References | 99 | ||
| Chapter 4: A policy framework for diffuse source water pollution management | 101 | ||
| Key messages | 102 | ||
| A policy framework for diffuse source water pollution management | 104 | ||
| Political ambition | 105 | ||
| Know diffuse pollution risks | 105 | ||
| Target diffuse pollution risks | 107 | ||
| Policy principles to guide decision-making | 108 | ||
| Hierarchy of principles for action | 108 | ||
| Additional principles for policy design | 109 | ||
| Principles on Water Governance | 111 | ||
| Risk management and selection of policy instruments | 111 | ||
| Manage diffuse pollution risks | 111 | ||
| Economic instruments as part of an effective policy mix | 113 | ||
| Include differences in the land resource as an integral part of water policy | 115 | ||
| A role for central government | 116 | ||
| Note | 118 | ||
| References | 118 |