Economic valuation of drinking water quality in Aguascalientes, Ags, Mexico

Resumen

Objective: To estimate the economic valuation of inhabitants of Aguascalientes, Mexico, to improve the quality of the drinking water service.

Design/methodology/approach: The contingent valuation method was used through a questionnaire that incorporated socioeconomic variables and questions about willingness to pay. It was applied to a sample of n=160 users, selected with simple random sampling in the municipality of Aguascalientes.

Results: The results show that heads of family are willing to pay on average $189 pesos monthly to contribute to improving the quality of the drinking water service; likewise, variables such as days when they receive water, perception of the fee, age, improvement of the quality, and sufficiency of the water they receive were identified as relevant in the willingness to pay. Factors such as marital status, occupation, and gender were not relevant for such willingness.

Findings/conclusions: There is high acceptance among heads of family towards initiatives to improve the drinking water quality, which indicates a significant awareness regarding the importance of preserving the quality of the water resource and a tangible willingness to participate in its recovery.