Land Users' Economic Responses to Groundwater Protection Policies

摘要

The authors develop and estimate a policy model for non-point source groundwaterpollution, beginning with nitrate contamination from agricultural and other land uses. Least squares estimated loading equations showed that imposition of a 10 percent sales tax on commercial nitrogen fertilizer might reduce groundwater nitrate levels by one-tenth of what could be expected from a zoning restriction on intensive agricultural lands from recharge areas. If intensive agricutlural land use is restricted, and land converts to medium-density unsewered use, two unintended consequences might occur. Nitrate levels might rise instead of decline because the replacing land use has a higher loading coefficient, and expected loadings of sodium and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) would also rise.