Estimating Isfahan Citizens'- Willingness to Pay for Drinking Water Supplied from Agricultural Surplus Water

The vital role and significance of water for all lif forms, and for human beings in particular, make it essential to determine its real value. This study was carried out in 2014 with the objective of making an estimation of the value of agricultural surplus water and the parameters determining the general preferences of Isfahani citizens to use this water for drinking purposes. To realize these objectives, the contingent valuation method and the Logit Regression model were used. Results showed that the individuals’ willingness to pay a surcharge for the surplus water had a significantly negative relationship with such variables as per capita water bill, family size, and the proposed price while it had a significantly positive relationship with the individual’s education. Family size and ethical appreciation of environment were found to promote the highest acceptance and the greatest effect on one’s willingness to accept the surcharge on their water bills. Estimation of the Logit function revealed that the average monthly water consumption of each Isfahani family (with an average size of 4) was equal to 27.57 cubic meters and that they would pay a monthly surcharge of 5201.8 Rials for one cubic meter of agriculturtal surplus water.