An Online Tool for Estimating Return-on-investment for Water Recycling at Nurseries

Water availability, quality, and management, particularly under climate change constraints and fierce competition for water resources, are challenging the sustainability of intensively irrigated nursery crops. We created an online tool to estimate costs and benefits of a water recycling investment at a commercial nursery, given data on the operation input by the user. The online tool returns a “regulatory risk score” based on the user’s drought and pollution risk. Then, using a partial budget approach, it returns net present value of the investment, upfront capital cost, and expected change in annual cash flow. The present article seeks to cross-validate this computer model with results reported in the case study literature. We aggregated data on 38 nurseries and greenhouses profiled in five published studies into a meta study dataset. These data validated the computer tool’s assumptions about the relationship of operation size to total capital cost. Separate simulations on the profitability effects of varying public water rates and price premia due to green marketing corroborated the findings of earlier studies. A major finding of the simulation analysis not previously emphasized in the literature is that capital cost and profit vary significantly with the precise method that is used to size the recapture pond. A “minimalist” approach to this decision is likely to be the most cost-effective, but growers should also keep stormwater runoff and other issues of environmental best practices in mind.

What Drives Water Utility Selection of Pricing Methods? Evidence from California

Water pricing is a demand management strategy to address the looming challenge of greater water scarcity in arid regions. Much of the literature on residential water rates focuses on evaluating the impact of pricing on household conservation. A separate, but rarely addressed question is what motivates a water utility to select a particular rate structure and the timing of doing so. We assess utilities’ decisions to adopt pro-conservation rate structures, such as increasing block rates and water budget rates. We develop a conceptual model of utility decision-making regarding the transition to pro-conservation rates and apply it to California.We examine the relationship between rate adoption and characteristics of utilities and customers using logistic regression and a balanced panel dataset of 323 California water systems from 2006-2015. We find a notable shift towards pro-conservation rates, which 71% of California utilities had by 2015, compared to 44% in 2006. Capacity factors associated with adoption include size of service population and customer income level, while motivating factors include peer adoption, greater customer engagement, and special district governance. Overall, this study provides insight into barriers to pro-conservation pricing, which can inform policies to enable transitions and advance conservation goals.

ASSESSING THE VALUE OF GROUNDWATER REVENUES AND DETERMINATION OF OPTIMUM RATES IN MAKASSAR CITY

Ground water is defined as water that is in the ground and is water that moves and is present in the spaces between the grains of soil that make it up and rock crevices, where the initial part is called layer water and the latter is called fissure water. Water is one of the natural elements that are needed in the life activities of living things, especially humans. The purpose of this study is to assessing the value of groundwater revenues and determine of optimum rates in Makassar City. Data analysis method used is the analysis of groundwater value by referring to the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Regulation No.20 of 2017 concerning Guidelines for Establishing Groundwater Revenue Value and the marginal cost pricing method. The results showed that the average revenue of groundwater in Makassar City was IDR.690,276,939.35 with an average tax of IDR.138,055,387.87. The value of groundwater is quite high when compared to the revenue value of groundwater that has been determined by the Makassar City government at this time. The results of determining the optimum rates obtained for the user group 1 is IDR.9,661.96 per m3 per month, the user group 2 is IDR.13,973.63 per m3 per month, the user group 3 is IDR.10,866.67 per m3 per month, and the user group 4 is IDR.4,255.56 per m3 per month. Whereas the beneficiary group 5 has a higher average groundwater utilization cost when compared to the PDAM water rates. The results of research can become policy basis of the Makassar City local government in determining the value of groundwater.

Avoiding Punishment? Electoral Accountability for Local Fee Increases

Do voters punish incumbent legislators for raising service costs? Concern about electoral punishment is considered a leading obstacle to increasing taxes and fees to fund service provision, but empirical evidence of such backlash is surprisingly sparse. This paper examines whether voters hold local elected officials accountable for raising water service costs. Using 10 years of panel data on municipal elections and water rates in North Carolina, we find rate increases do not reduce incumbent city council members’ vote shares. Local politicians may overestimate their electoral risk from raising taxes and fees to fund public services.

Strategy for Improving the Quality of Public Services at PDAM Company Tirta Mangakaluku Palopo City

This research is motivated by a problem in which the Regional Water Company Tirta Mangkaluku Palopo City has received many complaints from customers in providing services starting from water rates, water quality that is still cloudy, abnormal water discharge and water that does not flow at all. In general, this study aims to determine how the strategy of the Tirta Mangkaluku Regional Drinking Water Company in improv the quality of public services. Palopo. This research uses descriptive qualitative research type. The focus of this research is on the service strategy of PDAM TM Palopo City. Data collection techniques are interviews, observations, and also based on documents from the Regional Water Company Tirta Mangkaluku Palopo City. The results showed that the strategy for improving the quality of public services at the Tirta Mangkaluku Regional Drinking Water Company in Palopo City on the core strategy, consequences, customers and control was adequate in realizing public services but the cultural strategy had not provided the quality of public services in accordance with the expectations of stakeholders, because the community still continues to complain about the attitudes, behavior and services provided to the community as customers.

ANALISIS WILLINGNESS TO PAY PELANGGAN AIR BERSIH PDAM DI KOTA KUPANG (Analysis of Willingness to Pay Clean Water Customers of PDAM in Kupang City)

AbstrakPDAM Kabupaten Kupang dalam mengelola pelayanan air bersih kepada masyarakat Kota Kupang menghadapi tantangan dalam pelayanannya. Salah satu permasalahan yang dihadapi PDAM adalah menyangkut tarif air minum. PDAM dalam menetapkan tarif selalu mengacu pada peraturan perundangan yang berlaku dengan pertimbangan tarif yang ada dapat memberikan keuntungan setelah biaya operasional dan pengembalian investasi. PDAM tidak pernah melakukan survey untuk mengetahui tingkat kesediaan konsumen dalam membayar tarif air minum. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengestimasi nilai Willingness To Pay (WTP) pelanggan air bersih golongan rumah tangga di Kota Kupang dan menganalisis faktor-faktor yang secara signifikan mempengaruhi WTP pelanggan air bersih golongan rumah tangga di Kota Kupang. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode survey deskriptif dan teknik pengambilan sampel menggunakan kombinasi antara Area Sampling dan Proportionate Random Samplingdengan 250 responden. Metode valuasi kontingensi digunakan untuk mengetahui nilai WTP pelanggan air bersih. Nilai WTP pelanggan (individu) per bulan dalam membayar air bersih sebesar Rp. 145.489,46 sedangkan nilai total WTP untuk seluruh pelanggan PDAM Kabupaten Kupang golongan rumah tangga A (Rp 20.846 konsumen) per tahun sebesar Rp 36.394.479.684,00. Faktor-faktor yang berpengaruh signifikan terhadap WTP adalah tingkat pendapatan dan jumlah pemakaian air.AbstractPDAM Kabupaten Kupang to manage clean water service always face challenges in its service. One of the problems that PDAM often faces is the tariff of drinking water. The PDAM in determining the tariff always refers to the prevailing law and regulation with the consideration of the existing tariff can give profit after the operational cost and the return of investment. PDAM has never conducted a survey to find out how much the willingness of consumers in paying drinking water rates. This study aims to estimate the value of Willingness To Pay (WTP) of household clean water subscribers in Kupang City and to analyze the factors that significantly affect the WTP of household clean water subscribers in Kupang City. The research method used is descriptive survey method and sampling technique using a combination of sampling area and proportionate random sampling with 250 respondents. Contingency valuation method is used to know the value of PAP of clean water customer. WTP value of customer (individual) per month in paying clean water Rp. 145,489.46 while the total value of WTP for all customers of PDAM Kabupaten Kupang household class A (20,846 consumers) per year amounted to 36.394.479.684,00. Factors that have significant effect on the PAP are the level of income and the amount of water consumption.

A mesocosm experiment in ecological physiology: adaptive modulation of energy budget in a hibernating marsupial under chronic caloric restriction

During the last sixty years, mammalian hibernation (i.e., seasonal torpor) has been interpreted as a physiological adaptation for energy economy. However -and crucially for validating this idea – direct field comparisons of energy expenditure in hibernating and active free-ranging animals are scarce. Using replicated mesocosms and a combination of energy budgeting approaches (i.e., doubly labelled water, rates of CO2 production and food intake), we experimentally manipulated energy availability and quantified net energy costs of hibernation in a marsupial. We hypothesized that, when facing chronic caloric restriction (CCR), a hibernator should maximize torpor use for compensating the energetic deficit, compared to ad libitum fed individuals (=controls). However, intensifying torpor duration at low temperatures could increase other burdens (e.g., cost of rewarming, freezing risk). In order to explore this trade-off, we followed the complete hibernation cycle of the relict marsupial Dromiciops gliroides, and estimated its total energy requirements, and compared this with a control condition. Our results revealed: (1) that energy restricted animals, instead of promoting heat conservation strategies during hibernation (e.g., social clustering and thermoregulation), maximized torpor use and saved just enough energy to cover the deficit, and (2) that hibernation represents a net energy saving of 51% compared with animals that remained active. This work provides compelling evidence of a fine-tuning use of hibernation in response to food availability and presents the first direct estimation of energy savings by hibernation encompassing the total hibernation cycle.

Water Savings and Return on Investment of a New Drought Resistant Turfgrass

Bermudagrass is a commonly used turfgrass for home lawns and sports fields. Given increasing pressure to conserve water throughout the U.S., there is a desire by many homeowners to incorporate more drought-tolerant turfgrasses into their landscape. ‘TifTuf' is a new cultivar of bermudagrass that has increased drought tolerance compared to similar cultivars. ‘TifTuf' is currently sold at a premium price compared to other bermudagrass cultivars. However, there is currently no information regarding the payback period and potential water savings for ‘TifTuf'. In this study, we developed a model to evaluate potential cost savings for ‘TifTuf' relative to a conventional bermudagrass. We found cost and water savings are highly dependent on geographic location and water rates. Within the Southeast, the average water savings per year is 12.88 cm with water cost savings around $799 per 0.41 ha. Payback period for a new lawn in the Southeast (recoup only the $0.05 per 0.09 m2 premium) is around 3-4 years, while a payback period for a replacement lawn (recoup the full cost of the lawn, $0.36 per 0.09 m2) is around 21 years. In the Southwest, the water savings and cost savings are higher, implying a shorter payback period. Index words: bermudagrass, ‘TifTuf', drought tolerance. Species used in this study: Cynodon dactylon x C. transvaalensis: DT-1 ‘TifTuf'.