نشریه آب و توسعه پایدار
سال سوم شماره 1 (پیاپی 6، بهار و تابستان 1395)

The water and wastewater considered as one of capital intensive industrials in Iran because it has 436 thousand milliard rial in fixed asset, 32.8 million rial in monopolistic market and the share of 0.05 % in GDP. The statistics showed that there is approximately 22 % of facilities and equipment in industrial production process as uncompleted projects. The need for macro investment, the limited financial resources and pricing, the government credits problems, the crises of water shortage, environmental pollutions and …these are reasons for special attention to optimal use of investment resources in water and wastewater sector. Identification of the lost opportunities in uncompleted projects and planning for completion and proper use of these projects have significant effects on the optimal allocation of resources that it is essential for wealth creation and public capital formation in order to the facilities development and promotion of water and wastewater standards. On basis of the goal, this study is identified the lost opportunities and economic impacts in uncompleted projects by using of economic technical approach in period of 2000-2014. Results indicated that the economic factors have a significant share in opportunity cost of uncompleted projects (338581 milliard rial) that it can be the valuable guide for senior management and industry sector in order to the production promotion , the completion of uncompleted projects and efficiently and effective of activities.

In last decade it is almost impossible to not seen anything about water resource crisis and water shortage in natural resources exploitation and use reports. Such information encourages decision makers and researchers to looking for solutions in relation to this problem and sustainable management of water resources. In this regard, first step towards sustainable management of water resources is picturing status of existing management, in a way that, answers the questions about supply and consumption of difference water resources not only from engineering perspective, but also from economic perspective. In this regard, water accounting approaches with different methods was suggested and implemented by researchers. In this paper several types of water accounting methods will analyzed and compared from estimated quantitative indexes in final reports point of view. Based on water accounting purposes in Iran, System of Environmental-Economic Accounting for Water (SEEAW) knew as most efficient system that will explain in last section of present paper.

Assess the ecological effects of economic activity on the water, earth and man in the Iranian economy approach using input - output tableWater is a vital resource for each biological and economic phenomenon. Water is considered as a production input. Production is not possible without water in all economic sectors. Also, the environment including air, soil, fauna and plants utilize water in their bioprocess, therefore the quantity of water demand is not limited only to final and intermediate demand in economic sectors. In this paper effect of economic activities and ecological water footprint, land and human has been investigated using an input- output table with method RAS in 2012. Data of this study derived from national accounts and water statistical yearbook data. First, production multiplier coefficient of sectors links and then water, land, and human multiplier coefficient, are calculated. In fact, the calculated multiplier coefficient expresses the relationship between final demand and water, land, and human in physical quantity terms in Iran’s economy. Results show that one unit of demand or investment in agricultural sector requires 65722 m3 of water. Also, this quantity in industry, mining, building and service sectors are 13922, 1227, 3260 and 1005 m3 respectively. Also, the results of land multiplier coefficient show that one unit demand or investment(in terms of billion Rials) in agricultural, industry, mining, building and service sectors requires 137552, 27888, 6419, 1832 m2 land respectively. Also, the results of human multiplier coefficient show that for one unit demand in the agricultural sector, 4 people employed directly and indirectly. Mining sector per one unit demand or investment requires one people. The mining, building and service sectors require 3, 5 and 2 people (directly and indirectly) respectively.

In this study we investigated the impacts of population increase on life quality, with a special focus on its impact on the natural resources and environmental issues. This analysis was conducted using data over a 16 year period. Since water is one of the most important factors contributing to the growth and development of countries, the increase in population size, industry sector growth, urbanization expansion, changes in lifestyle and the need for sustainable food security, alongside reducing water resources and mismanagement have all attributed to turning water scarcity into a serious crisis. Therefore, in this study the relationship between population increase and water crisis is explained using the Bayesian network causal. The effects of such a crisis on the economic macro variables and indicators were also investigated. The results indicate that the water crisis will be more intense as the population growth rate increases. The economic consequences of water crisis include increase in inflation rate, unemployment and the decrease in economic growth. Also, the only social consequence is reduction in access to clean and healthy water. Therefore, considering the environmental aspects such as water scarcity, air pollution and global warming, the population policies in macro level must be taken into account that have no negative consequences on national natural resources and environment.

The concept of virtual water trade refers to transact of the water consumed for production of goods and agricultural products through international trade. The Anthony Allan introduced this concept to improve global water used efficiency. In this paper, the original theory of Allen has been investigated through incorporating virtual water as a factor of production in Heckscher-Ohlin international trade model. The results indicate that contrary to Allen's initial optimistic forecasts, virtual water trade increased the pressure on water resources in some countries. This pattern may be the consequence of the following causes: (1) the imbalance of production factors relative to one another (especially water to land) in the agricultural sector (2) the inefficient agricultural water pricing, (3) government's agricultural incentive policies, and (4) barriers to free trade. Then, we have investigated the experiences of using the virtual water concept from the perspective of policy making on sustainable water resources management in the framework of similar countries to Iran and also, the parallel policy options.

For about a decade the virtual water trade has been highlighted as a means of promoting water efficiency and helping to solve regional restrictions of water resources in order to provide water and food security. Although these tools are not just for certain areas of the world with a specific climate, they are more important for countries which are faced with water resources restriction and crisis. The industrial and mining sectors of our country do not currently possess a significant portion of the water consumption. Although on the one hand, the industrial development experience of the world countries indicates that the portion of water consumption by the aforementioned sectors has been an ever increasing trend, on the other hand, the commodities of this sector contribute to a significant portion of our country’s commercial products. Therefore, attention to the management of water resources and consumption in this sector is important. Hence the aim of this study is to use a virtual water trade approach to determine the country’s water footprint in the industrial and mining sectors; in addition to determining the portion of the individual industrial and mining activities in the imports and exports of virtual water. To achieve this, the technical-based indicators approach for measurement of the virtual water has been used to distinguish the ISIC double-digits relevant to the industry and mining sector. The required information is extracted from the census of industrial workshops with ten or more employees, the country’s Mines under exploitation, and the statistical yearbook of foreign trade for a period of 1387-92. Results indicated that Iran is a net importer of virtual water in the industry sector and is a net exporter in the mining sector. In the mining sector the largest volume of imports and exports of virtual water belongs to the metal ore mining group, whilst within the industrial sector this belongs to the chemical products sector. The results obtained in this study provide information that can be used to improve the trade balance of water in industrial and mining activities. Moreover, to help water resources management in these sectors through changes in the composition of tradable industrial and mineral goods.

The methods, the technology, the production patterns, the equipment, the capacity of the domestic infrastructure of each country, the mechanism of market capacity, market chains, releasing and distribution channels of agricultural and food product, purchasing patterns, and food consuming of consumers affect on the wastes of food products. Regardless of the level of economic and social development of each country, the food wastes should be on the lowest level in the country. In term of resources losses in the agricultural sector, the food wastes are important, especially water input is considered as rarest input in this sector. Therefore in this research, regarding the estimating the amount of the waste products of agriculture (crop and garden) in the 2013-2014 crop year, we calculate the amount of wastes and economic value of water. We utilize the FAO definition in 2011 for estimating the wastes. In order to achieve the objectives of the research, at first, the amount of wastes products of agriculture for 17 major crop products and 6 major garden products have been determined. These products contain the most water. Followed by the results, the results have been expanded to all crop and garden irrigated products. Based on the results of the study, the amount of lost water due to waste products of agriculture is 9.3 billion m3, equivalent to about 45 percent of the volume of water stored behind the dams in the water year 2013-2014. The economic cost of lost water due to wastes is also 92297.1 billion Rials.

The increase in water demand and its services due to population growth and the raising of the standards of living, health, and hygiene along with the limitation of water resources, droughts, and climate change has attracted water specialists and planners to explore the use of unconventional water resources, such as sewage and saline waters. Moreover, industrial and rural wastewater disposal and the penetration of their pollutants to the surface- and ground-water resources is an important concern in many countries, including Iran. Wastewater treatment and its application for various uses reduces the negative externalities of wastewater release on the environment and human health. Accordingly, in this paper the methodology for economic and environmental evaluation of wastewater collection and treatment, and the necessary holistic view taking into account the issues that must be considered in this regard has been addressed. Furthermore, the steps and framework of a modified cost-benefit analysis of the Tehran wastewater collection and treatment plan have been discussed.

Recently, the existing mechanism of the market has been considered as an efficient method for allocating water resources in some developed and developing countries. The necessary conditions to establish an efficient water market and its economic consequents must be recognized before using this method in Iran. The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic consequences and present practical solutions based on scientific foundations and international experience to develop an efficient water market in Iran. Also, economic consequents of water markets were studied in Mojen and Ardabil. Results show that water markets usually have been constituted in arid and semi- arid regions. Although water resources have a national characteristic, however, water concession can be traded. For this purpose, water rights must be clearly defined and property rights enforced by social or legal institutions. Also separating water rights from that of land, enforcing transactions, decreasing administrative costs and maintaining water delivery infrastructure have decreased transaction costs and consequently promoted water markets efficiency. Sometimes, governments or market institutions have mitigated negative externalities. Furthermore, results show that the price of water is close to the economic value of water in Mojen and Ardabil water markets and the water market has increased the user's revenue.

The development of market-based task allocation mechanisms is currently being discussed as sustainable, flexible and efficient approaches to water resources management and its redistribution among different users. Nevertheless, the market potential for efficient water allocation depends on the specific circumstances of the market and the item being traded i.e., water. Experience has demonstrated that the potential for creating such a market allocation is not unlimited, and it comes with its associated risks whereby the improper structure of the market may lead to the failure of said mechanisms. The aim of this research, as well as providing a theoretical explanation of the water market, is to describe the requirements necessary for its practical implementation and the identification of issues that lead to its deficiency and the failure of the water market. Therefore, public policy suggestions and solutions to resolve the aforementioned deficiencies, based on domestic and global experiences with the emphasis on social, economic and legal conditions governing the state water resources management, are provided.

Today, limitations of water availability besides common rights between countries on transboundary rivers causes a competition among them for more water using. Usually, stakeholders prefer to overuse from their water rights because of unreliability, risk aversion and short term approaches. Iran, Afghanistan and Turkmenistan as common congruities on Harirud always try to maximize their benefits from the river. Here, this research likes to map the roads of hydro diplomacy amongst the common countries and show the best future moving pace for all of them according the game theory. Results show that the best approach is full cooperation between the countries and establishing water narket.