BENEFIT-COST-ANALYSIS OF BEST MANAGEMENT-PRACTICES IMPLEMENTED TO CONTROL NITRATE CONTAMINATION OF GROUNDWATER

Implementing best management practices (BMPs) can reduce nitrate conce ntration in groundwater, but does it pay to invest in programs that re duce nitrate by encouraging increased adoption of BMPs? In this paper we evaluate water quality improvement by benefit-cost analysis of adop ting BMPs under such a program. The analysis shows that under current levels of contamination, costs of the program to foster BMP implementa tion will be equal to annually accrued benefits over a period of 6 yea rs. However, under the worsening scenarios of increased nitrate-N conc entrations, the same costs will be equal to the benefits in a 4- to 5- year period. If water quality improves to acceptable levels through ad option of BMPs, the results reveal that in the long run, investing in a BMP program will be more cost effective to reduce contamination than to seek alternative sources of safe drinking water supplies.