An affordability assessment of consolidated management of nitrate treatment. Issue 6 (1st December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jensen, Vivian; Henrie, Tarrah; Darby, Jeannie; Clements, Janet
• Is Part Of: AWWA water science. Volume 2:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-12-01
• Subjects: affordability -- California -- consolidated management -- drinking water -- nitrate treatment; Water -- Analysis -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering -- Periodicals; Water -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; Water -- Purification -- Periodicals; Water-supply engineering; Water -- Social aspects; Water -- Analysis; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 628.162
• DOI: 10.1002/aws2.1209
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2577-8161

Abstract

Abstract: Affordability is critical in drinking water treatment selection, requiring consideration of both capital and operations and maintenance (O&M) costs. With ongoing O&M costs as a potential limiting factor in the economic sustainability of treatment, recent work in California explores a new approach using consolidated management of multiple water systems to reduce O&M costs. In the context of drinking water treatment for nitrate removal, affordability of treatment with and without consolidated management was investigated for three small systems in the Central Valley. Findings from initial cost estimates suggest that consolidated management of nitrate treatment has the potential to be more affordable than the conventional approach; estimated total annualized costs were reduced by as much as 44%, primarily as a result of anticipated O&M savings on disposal and labor costs. This assessment also highlights the practical application of various affordability metrics, including consideration of socioeconomic indicators, cost of living, nondiscretionary expenditures, affordability ratios, and affordability thresholds.