Non-market value of Singapore's ABC Waters Program. (15th June 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Iftekhar, Md Sayed; Buurman, Joost; Lee, Tommy Kevin; He, Qihui; Chen, Enid
• Is Part Of: Water research. Volume 157(2019)
• Page Start: 310
• Page End: 320
• Publication Date: 2019-06-15
• Subjects: ABC Waters Program -- Choice experiment -- Singapore -- Virtual reality -- Water sensitive urban design; Water -- Pollution -- Research -- Periodicals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-1354

Abstract

Abstract: Water sensitive urban design is being promoted in many countries. In Singapore, the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme is a long-term strategic initiative of PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, to improve the quality of water and urban liveability. While there are some estimates of the bio-physical and ecological benefits of the ABC Waters Programme, information on its social or non-market values is lacking. Using choice experiment datasets this study explores whether people express preferences for ABC Waters features. It also examines whether there is any difference in preferences between respondents living in developments with and without ABC Waters certification, and between respondents living in public and private housing. It is found that respondents living in private housing have substantially higher willingness to pay for ABC Waters features compared to the respondents in public housing. The differences between respondents from certified and non-certified projects were found to be mixed. Such information would be useful to tailor the design of the ABC Waters program. Finally, the potential impact of using a virtual reality tool to present information in a choice experiment towards people's preferences is explored. Application of a virtual reality tool has reduced the proportion of protest voters and increased people's willingness to pay for ABC Waters projects. Thus, this paper contributes to the growing literature on the implications of providing information visually in non-market valuation surveys. Highlights: Information on the economic value of the Active, Beautiful, Clean (ABC) Waters Programme in Singapore is lacking. Non-market valuation study on ABC Waters conducted for the first time. People are willing to pay (WTP) for ABC Waters design features. The WTP is higher for respondents living in private residences with ABC Waters certificates. There is clear impact of using a virtual reality app on the people's WTPs.