CHEMICAL COSTS OF WATER TREATMENT DUE TO DIMINISHED WATER QUALITY: A CASE STUDY IN TEXAS
The cost of municipal water treatment due to diminished water quality represents an important component of the societal costs of water pollution. Here, the chemical costs of municipal water treatment are expressed as a function of raw surface water quality. Data are used for a three year period for 12 water treatment plants in Texas. Results show that when regional raw water contamination is present, the chemical cost of water treatment is increased by $95 per million gallons from a base of $75. A one percent increase in turbidity is shown to increase chemical costs by one fourth of a percent.