247 Multi-Benefit Resources

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Seminatural Wetlands and Activated Sludge Wastewater-Treatment Systems

Author: Mannino et al., (2008)
Geography: U.S.
Level of Detail: Economic valuation

Availability: Paywall

Water Management Strategies: Engineered wetlands, Wastewater Treatment

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Affordability, Local economy, People and Community

A Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Seminatural Wetlands and Activated Sludge Wastewater-Treatment Systems compares cost efficiency of wastewater treatment capacity for three constructed wetlands and three wastewater treatment plants. Considering only the wastewater treatment, and no other costs and benefits, the authors find constructed treatment wetlands are competitive with traditional wastewater treatment facilities.

From ash pond to Riverside Wetlands: Making the business case for engineered natural technologies

Author: Guertin et al., (2018)
Geography: Midwestern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study, Decision support tool

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Land Management, Wetland protection and restoration

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Ambient water quality, Habitat and biodiversity

From ash pond to Riverside Wetlands: Making the business case for engineered natural technologies applies a nature valuation framework to a case study on the Tittabawassee River in Michigan. This framework was developed through a partnership with the Dow Chemical Company and the Nature Conservancy to meet a goal of $1 billion in long term value for business projects that improve nature. This article explains the framework and applies it to the Tittabawassee River site.

Estimating the costs and health benefits of water and sanitation improvements at global level

Author: Haller et al., (2007)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Economic valuation

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Centralized wastewater treatment, Wastewater Treatment

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Community resilience, Drinking water quality, Health and safety, People and Community, Water quality

Estimating the costs and health benefits of water and sanitation improvements at global level compares the cost of improving water supply and sanitation to the benefit of averting disease burden. The authors find improving sanitation has positive benefits up to $13,000 per disease year prevented, and the most cost effective intervention is household water treatment.

Measuring the success of climate change adaptation and mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems

Author: Morecroft et al., American Association for the Advancement of Science (2019)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Quantitative benefits

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Land Management

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: GHG emissions, Land and environment

Measuring the success of climate change adaptation and mitigation in terrestrial ecosystems examines how restoration can impact carbon sequestration and improve ecosystem resilience. This review paper examined 70 different studies and identifies synergies between restoration, climate, and people as an important step to ensure restoration effectiveness.

A Path Forward forCalifornia’s FreshwaterEcosystems

Author: Mount et al., Public Policy Institute of California (2019)
Geography: Western U.S.
Level of Detail: Qualitative description

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Land Management, Reforestation and forest conservation, Stream protection and restoration, Wetland protection and restoration

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Habitat and biodiversity, Land and environment

A Path Forward for California’s Freshwater Ecosystems makes the case for shifting Endangered Species Act implementation from the species to the ecosystem level. This shift could allow for the creation of direct ecosystem-based objectives and increase implementation of multiple benefit projects.

Triple Bottom Line Guidelines

Author: Melbourne Water (2007)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Decision support tool

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Water Reuse, Water Transfer

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Land and environment, People and Community, Risk and Resilience

The Triple Bottom Line Guidelines from Melbourne Water outlines a process of including triple bottom line analysis into new water management projects. This guide provides a simple framework to assess projects from identifying needs to stakeholder engagement. Case studies showing applications of triple bottom line assessment are also included.

Nature-based Solutions Evidence Platform

Author: University of Oxford (2019)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Qualitative description

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Agricultural land management, Land Management, Reforestation and forest conservation, Stream protection and restoration, Wetland protection and restoration

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Flooding, Land and environment, People and Community, Water quality

The Nature-based Solutions Evidence Platform provides visualization and sorting tools for resources and data related to benefits from nature-based solutions. The data can be filtered by a variety of categories, mapped by country, or charted to show results.

Conservation Gateway

Author: The Nature Conservancy (N/A)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Qualitative description

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Land Management, Water Conservation and Efficiency

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Habitat and biodiversity, In stream flows, Land and environment

The Conservation Gateway provides resources to support conservation practices in water management. The gateway provides a variety of resources from funding for freshwater conservation to protocols on water quality assessment. The resources are divided between: Corporate Water Use, Environmental Flows, Water Infrastructure, Water Quality, Habitat Protection and Restoration, Financial Solutions, Saving Great Rivers, and Setting Freshwater Priorities.

Downstream Economic Benefits of Conservation Development

Author: Johnston et al., University of Illinois (2005)
Geography: Midwestern U.S.
Level of Detail: Case study, Economic valuation

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Distributed Stormwater Infrastructure, Runoff storage

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Flooding

Downstream Economic Benefits of Conservation Development uses a case study in Chicago, Illinois to value the benefits of on-site stormwater storage. Johnson et al. uses simulation models to demonstrate these practices can create benefits to downstream properties. They find stormwater storage can reduce construction costs and provide significant benefits in reduced flood damage to downstream properties.

Economics of Managed Aquifer Recharge

Author: Maliva, Schlumberger Water Services (2014)
Geography: Global
Level of Detail: Economic valuation

Availability: Publicly Available

Water Management Strategies: Groundwater Management, Groundwater recharge

Specific Benefits or Trade-offs: Supply augmentation, Water Supply

Economics of Managed Aquifer Recharge suggests methodology for performing a cost benefit analysis for aquifer recharge projects. They list the indicators for determining costs and the methods that could be used to valuing benefits. The risks and uncertainty from performing such analysis are discussed and recommendations are made for implementing aquifer recharge valuations.