A cost benefit analysis of rural residential water supply – constant flow vs. full pressure

Dakers, Nicole (2009) A cost benefit analysis of rural residential water supply – constant flow vs. full pressure. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

This project seeks to investigate the costs and benefits of full pressure and constant flow water supply on a rural residential community located in the Lockyer Valley.
The Lockyer Valley Regional Council was formed on the 15th of March 2008 through an amalgamation forced by the State government of the previous Laidley Shire Council
and Gatton Shire Council. The amalgamation of the Councils identified large differences in water supply agreement for their rural residential developments. A uniform approach across the newly formed Council was required.

An investigation into the costs of constant flow and full pressure water supply was required before Council could make an informed decision about a new combined policy.
A cost benefit analysis of the two existing options has been sponsored by the Lockyer Valley Regional Council in order to regulate water supply infrastructure throughout the
region.
The objectives of the project are to:
· Determine the water consumption behaviour of rural residential properties located within the full pressure supply area of Gatton and the constant flow supply area of Regency Downs.
· Investigate trunk infrastructure requirements and maintenance costs for full pressure and trickle feed water supply.
· Investigate and determine the effect of rural residential development and the water supply options on salinity due to ground water table behaviour
· Provide a cost benefit analysis of the two water supply options and provide recommendations which consider economic, social and environmental aspects.
Cost benefit analysis is a critical method of determining costs and benefits of the alternative options in monetary terms, whether those costs or benefits are economic, social or environmental. This research project has been limited to the environmental cost due to salinity and the physical infrastructure costs for the alternatives.
Based on the cost benefit analysis undertaken, it was determined that the supply of full pressure water supply would come at an additional cost of $2,334,566.00 for Council, and $55,417.00 to agricultural yield per farm over a period of twenty years compared to the supply of constant flow water supply. Due to the applicable costs, a recommendation was made to the Lockyer Valley Regional Council that rural residential developments should continue to be supplied with a constant flow water supply, based on the costs to Council and the environment due to the potential for increased dryland salinity


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Item Type: USQ Project
Refereed: No
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Agricultural, Civil and Environmental Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited: 19 Jul 2010 05:20
Last Modified: 25 Jan 2023 03:09
Uncontrolled Keywords: cost benefit analysis; water supply; rural; residential
Fields of Research (2008): 09 Engineering > 0905 Civil Engineering > 090509 Water Resources Engineering
05 Environmental Sciences > 0502 Environmental Science and Management > 050206 Environmental Monitoring
Fields of Research (2020): 40 ENGINEERING > 4005 Civil engineering > 400513 Water resources engineering
41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410404 Environmental management
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/8431

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