Green evolution: are economic incentives the next step in nonpoint source pollution control?

Synthesis and application of lignin-based copolymer LSAA on controlling non-point source pollution resulted from surface runoff

“…Best Management Practices (BMPs) issued from Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) is considered to be the most efficient management program on controlling NPS till now, which calls for the development of new techniques if they are proved to be efficient for a certain area (Young and Karkoski, 2000). The application of polymers on reducing surface runoff contamination was proved to be a feasible way to control NPS.…”

Water tradable permits: a review of theoretical and case studies

“…Garrick et al 2009;Horan and Shortle 2011;Fisher-Vanden and Olmstead 2013). Moreover, several studies conducted on specific watersheds that compared alternative policy instruments have found that tradable permits can outperform Journal of Environmental Planning and Management 1307 both taxes and voluntary best management practices in terms of welfare (Johansson and Moledina 2005) and/or environmental effectiveness (Young and Karkoski 2000). Another argument often used in favour of permits is that if their initial distribution is based upon historical data (the grandfathering principle), firms receive a free transfer by the regulator.…”

“…Some authors believe that to regulate non-point sources from an administrative point of view is not only difficult but also economically inefficient for the community, due to the high costs to be paid by the management authority (McCann and Easter 2000). However, in some contexts farm drainage is collected in a series of pipes and canals prior to discharge so that monitoring the polluting activities of non-point sources is not particularly difficult and costly (Young and Karkoski 2000). Moreover, non-point sources have generally lower depuration costs than point sources and are the major sources of pollution in many water basins (Jarvie and Solomon 1998).…”

“…15 In spite of this, water quality improved and after the initial difficulties reported in the first two years when the selenium discharge limits were exceeded by 7% and 20%, respectively, a substantial reduction in selenium discharges was observed in the following years (cf. Young and Karkoski 2000). 16 Three main reasons can explain the observed water quality improvement in this area according to Young and Karkoski (2000): (1) a clearly-defined and non-discretionary performance standard; (2) the preservation of local control over drainage management decisions; and (3) the farmers' expectations of more severe restrictions on discharges in the future.…”

Water pricing in irrigation: mapping the debate in the light of experience.

“…Effluent permits can also, in principle, be made tradable although this is rare in agriculture. A programme in California with regard to selenium has been successful (Young and Karkoski, 2000) and, although comparable trading regimes have yet to be applied to irrigation or farming in Europe, they are being increasingly adopted in other sectors.…”