Design Scope
Charges on domestic and non-domestic water discharges were introduced by water basin authorities
Monitoring and Enforcement
Non-domestic discharges are controlled through water quality permits which sets limits on the concentration and volume of effluent, firms need to acquire a permit prior to any discharge into water; charges apply to any source discharging ‘at least the equivalent of a population of 200,'(OECD 1997, pp40)
Rates
Charges vary for different substances and charges are based on permits, but can be based on direct-measurements at the request of the forms or authorities (OECD 1997, pp40)
Performance
According to a 1989 OECD the charges were originally too low to create an incentive effect, but a proposed increase of 146% between 1992 and 1996 is expected to increase the incentive effect (OECD 1997, pp40)
‘industrial emissions of oxygen binding substances, suspended solids and heavy metals decreased by 28%, 38% and 39% respectively in the period 1980-1992,' (EEA 1996, pp58)
Annual revenue of 9.4 billion francs (Tindale & Holtham 1996, pp29) which is reinvested in water management (Barde & Smith 1997, pp24)
Incentive effect unclear, but probably low (Barde & Smith 1997, pp24)
References
Do Economic Instruments Help the Environment?Barde & Smith, The OECD Observer, No.24, Feb/Mar 1997, pp22-26 http://www.oecd.org//publications/observer/209/ART_IDXE.HTM
Evaluating Economic Instruments for Environmental Policy, OECD 1997, pp39-40 (order form at http://www.oecd.org//env/policies/publications.htm#eistrpub)
Green Tax Reform, Pollution Payments and Labour Tax Cuts, S Tindale and G Holtham, Institute For Public Policy Research, London ,1996, pp29
Environmental Taxes: Implementation and Environmental Effectiveness (Environmental issues Series No.1), European Environment Agency, Copenhagen 1996, pp58
Information Request
As it is the aim of this website to provide information which is as accurate, comprehensive and up-to-date as possible, please contact us with any aditional information or studies on this topic and we will add it to the website.
Email contact: louise.dunne@ucd.ie
0 Comments