• about AquaMoney
• background
• case studies
• results
• events
• partners
• advisory committee
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• partner area
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about AquaMoney

AquaMoney, funded by DG RTD, brings together 16 leading European research institutions to develop and test practical guidelines for the assessment of environmental and resource costs and benefits (ERCB) in the European Water Framework Directive (WFD).

The concept of ERCB plays a central role in the economic analysis of the WFD, in particular for the cost recovery of water services (Article 9 WFD), but as expected also in relation to the decision whether or not the costs of additional measures are disproportionate (Article 4 WFD). However, so far no clear guidelines exist for the assessment of ERCB in practice. AquaMoney was established to address this gap.

Over a three-year period (April 2006 to September 2009), AquaMoney will:

• assess policy maker demand for information about ERCB;
• develop practice-oriented guidelines on how to assess ERCB, with particular focus on the transfer of economic values between river basins;
• test these guidelines by carrying out pilot case studies in 10 different European river basins;
• analyse experiences in the pilot case studies and translate these into practical policy guidelines.
• investigate the potential for using geographical information systems (GIS) to synthesise data from the pilot case studies with available environmental and census data to generate value maps of improved water quality due to WFD implementation.

The AquaMoney project duration has been extended until the end of September when the final Guidelines will be deliverd.