Water Quality Trading: Current Georgia Research

Abstract

Water quality trading is a market-based policy tool that is intended to bring increased flexibility and cost savings to wastewater management. It is being actively promoted by federal agencies including the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and it is currently included in the draft statewide water management plan for Georgia. Water quality trading is a complex policy tool that raises questions that are both technical and policy oriented. This session will provide an overview of current research on water quality trading in Georgia. This type of research is important because it helps to answer the questions that the potential application of water quality trading in Georgia might raise. Another session in the water policy track at this conference considers the policy issues that water quality trading might raise in Georgia.