The Value of Improving Water Quality: Case Study of Nutrient Reductions in Utah’s Waters

The state of Utah asked the question: What is the cost of failing to address current and future degradation from excess nutrients? Stating the question a different way: What are the benefits to Utahns of maintaining and improving the quality of the state’s rivers and lakes?The state determined current water quality conditions and developed predictions for future scenarios for water quality with and without additional interventions to limit nutrients. The primary data to support the economic benefit assessment were obtained by an economic valuation survey of Utah households. Utahns reported that maintaining water quality is worth from about half a billion to more than a billion dollars while improving water quality is worth more than two times that amount. This means that from an economic perspective it is worth finding cost-effective solutions that achieve the desired results and are within the limits of what households are willing to pay.