Economic analysis of the alternatives water transfer vs.desalination

Abstract

Transferring water has historically been a very viable way of making water available. However, despite its viability, nowadays it is considered to be synonymous with conflict. Due to the media coverage, the Tagus-Segura water transfer is well known, but on the Iberian Peninsula there are numerous large water diversions. In this paper the most important water transfers will be described and the cost between carrying out a water diversion and the implementation of a desalination plant will be compared by calculating the equivalent annual cost, which is the methodology used to determine the economic burdens of the River Basin Plans, in application of the Water Framework Directive.