Table Of ContentProduction, Use, and
Sustainability of Groundwater
Production, Use,
and Sustainability
of Groundwater
Charles A. Job
Second edition published 2022
by CRC Press
6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300, Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742
and by CRC Press
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© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
First edition published by CRC Press 2009
CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, LLC
The right of Charles A. Job to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with sections 77
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Job, Charles A., author.
Title: Groundwater economics, two-volume set / Charles A. Job.
Description: Second edition. | Boca Raton : CRC Press, 2021. | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
Contents: volume 1. Production, use, and sustainability of groundwater -- volume 2. Cost-benefit analysis of groundwater
policy and projects, with case studies. | Summary: “The competition for groundwater sources as a water supply reinforces
the need for a strong economic rationale in decision-making. Evaluating economic decisions in the context of total water
management and life-cycle water use is essential to making critical development and remediation choices. This revised
volume provides fundamental economic and policy concepts related to groundwater, discusses important factors in cost-
benefits and life-cycle evaluation, and explains triple-bottom-line analysis for different groundwater projects. It includes
new and updated case studies on groundwater issues with solutions for a range of situations based on economic data”–
Provided by publisher.
Identifiers: LCCN 2021021261 (print) | LCCN 2021021262 (ebook) | ISBN 9780367205478 (hardback) |
ISBN 9780367206314 (hardback) | ISBN 9781003164081 (ebook) | ISBN 9780429262197 (ebook) |
Subjects: LCSH: Groundwater–Economic aspects. | Water resources development–Economic aspects.
Classification: LCC HD1691 .J63 2021 (print) | LCC HD1691 (ebook) | DDC 333.91/04–dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021261
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021021262
ISBN: 978-0-367-20547-8 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-75799-1 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-0-429-26219-7 (ebk)
Typeset in Times
by SPi Global, India
This book is dedicated to
Avery, Gavin, Sadie, Kylie, Rita and
all the children of the world
with the hope that they will have the water they need!
He opened the rock, and water gushed out;
like a river it flowed in the desert.
Psalm 105:41
. . . And he who waters will also be watered himself.
Proverbs 11:25
Contents
Preface ............................................................................................................................................xvii
Acknowledgments ...........................................................................................................................xix
Author .............................................................................................................................................xxi
Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Economics of Groundwater .....................................................1
Economics Informs Decisions......................................................................................1
Economic Significance of Groundwater .......................................................................1
Advantages of and Demand for Groundwater ..............................................................2
Characteristics of Groundwater ....................................................................................3
Economic Analysis Approach to Groundwater .......................................................6
Significant Groundwater Economics Issues ............................................................8
Brief Overview of the Text, Volumes 1 and 2 ............................................................10
For Further Consideration ..........................................................................................11
References ..................................................................................................................11
Additional References Consulted...............................................................................13
Addendum to Chapter 1 .............................................................................................14
Economic Concepts Reference..............................................................................14
References ..................................................................................................................18
Chapter 2 Groundwater in the Ecosystem ...................................................................................19
Physical Significance of Groundwater .......................................................................19
The Hydrologic Cycle ................................................................................................20
Natural Factors Affecting Groundwater Resources ....................................................23
Precipitation...........................................................................................................23
Aquifer...................................................................................................................23
Deep Ancient Aquifers ..........................................................................................23
Evaporation ............................................................................................................23
Permeability and Soil Texture ...............................................................................24
Geologic Matrix (Or Aquifer Media) ....................................................................24
Subsurface Water Migration ..................................................................................24
Recharge Zones .....................................................................................................26
Discharge Zones ....................................................................................................27
Productivity or Yield ..............................................................................................27
Depth .....................................................................................................................28
Managed Yield and Sustainability .........................................................................28
Surface Water and Groundwater Interaction .........................................................28
Wetlands ................................................................................................................28
Other Factors Affecting Groundwater Supply ............................................................28
Groundwater Availability ...........................................................................................29
Groundwater Quality ..................................................................................................30
Groundwater Flow ......................................................................................................33
Local/On-Site Flow ...............................................................................................33
Watershed Flow .....................................................................................................33
Regional Flow ........................................................................................................34
Natural Sensitivity and Vulnerability .........................................................................35
vii
viii Contents
Regional Sensitivity ...............................................................................................35
Local Sensitivity and Vulnerability .......................................................................36
Human Activity and Ecosystem Vulnerability .......................................................36
Biodiversity in Groundwater ......................................................................................39
Ground and Near-Surface ......................................................................................39
Karst ......................................................................................................................40
First Aquifer...........................................................................................................40
Littoral Zones ........................................................................................................41
Deep Aquifer Environments ..................................................................................41
Note on Biodegradation .........................................................................................41
Groundwater Occurrence and Human Interaction ......................................................42
Wells ......................................................................................................................42
Springs...................................................................................................................42
Wetlands ................................................................................................................42
Groundwater–Surface Water Interaction ...............................................................43
The Water Budget .......................................................................................................44
Groundwater and Climate Change .............................................................................47
Summary: General Observations on Natural Factors Affecting Groundwater
in the Ecosystem.........................................................................................................48
For Further Consideration ..........................................................................................49
References ..................................................................................................................50
Chapter 3 Groundwater in the Economy .....................................................................................55
Groundwater’s Influence in the Economy ..................................................................55
Groundwater Availability ...........................................................................................56
Economic Effects of Geology ................................................................................56
Economic Impacts of Groundwater Use ................................................................56
Conjunctive Management of Water Sources..........................................................57
Land Value Effects .................................................................................................57
Climatic Effects .....................................................................................................58
Groundwater Quality ..................................................................................................59
Major Economic Groundwater Uses in National and International Contexts ............61
International...........................................................................................................61
United States..........................................................................................................64
Irrigation ..........................................................................................................65
Drinking Water ................................................................................................67
Industrial..........................................................................................................69
Per Capita Use .................................................................................................69
All Groundwater Uses .....................................................................................70
Groundwater Services Sector and Employment ..............................................70
Unintended Effects of Groundwater Use in an Economy ..........................................72
Ecological and Aesthetic Uses of Groundwater .........................................................72
Residual Absorption as a Use of Groundwater ..........................................................73
Chemical Wastes ....................................................................................................73
Pesticides ...............................................................................................................74
Competition for the Subsurface Environment ............................................................74
Health and Economic Productivity .............................................................................74
Other Socioeconomic Factors in Overview ................................................................74
Economic Management Characteristics of Groundwater ...........................................75
Economic Challenges and Market Failure .................................................................77
A Model of Groundwater in the Economy .................................................................78
