Rationale for a water pollution code

Abstract

A water pollution code must quantitatively express the amount and locations of allowable waste discharges. To do this, each of the steps leading to the decision on allowable waste discharge must be defined and quantified.

Six of these steps were discussed in Part I of this analysis. The seventh step, which will be discussed here, concerns the assessment of the costs and benefits associated with different levels of water quality, and the selection of a water quality standard with reference to prevailing community attitudes. The procedure for making this assessment is discussed. The development of a social welfare function using the cost benefit approach and also the relative preferences approach, is described, and the selection of the appropriate water quality standard, using the social welfare function, is discussed.

The final step in deciding allowable waste discharges, which concerns the selection and application of the most acceptable and efficient waste control strategy, will be considered in Part III of this analysis.