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Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands (SFCW) for Nutrient Reduction in Drainage Discharge from Agricultural Fields in Denmark

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Abstract

Constructed wetlands have been proposed as cost-effective and more targeted technologies in the reduction of nitrogen and phosphorous water pollution in drainage losses from agricultural fields in Denmark. Using two pig farms and one dairy farm situated in a pumped lowland catchment as case studies, this paper explores the feasibility of implementing surface flow constructed wetlands (SFCW) based on their cost effectiveness. Sensitivity analysis is conducted by varying the cost elements of the wetlands in order to establish the most cost-effective scenario and a comparison with the existing nutrients reduction measures carried out. The analyses show that the cost effectiveness of the SFCW is higher in the drainage catchments with higher nutrient loads. The range of the cost effectiveness ratio on nitrogen reduction differs distinctively with that of catch crop measure. The study concludes that SFCW could be a better optimal nutrients reduction measure in drainage catchments characterized with higher nutrient loads.

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Notes

  1. Non-point source pollution enters water diffusely in the run-off or leachate from rain or melting snow and is often a function of land use (Ribaudo et al. 1999).

  2. Marginal abatement cost (MAC) is the cost of reducing or avoiding emission of an additional unit of pollutant.

  3. This cost is calculated using an hourly consultant fee of €47 with two supervisory visits per month (Thing, A. B. personal communication, April 15, 2014).

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Danish Strategic Research Council, Grant no. 09-067280 (Sustainable Phosphorous Remediation Technologies, www.supremetech.dk). The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Danish Strategic Research Council and the provision of cost and farm data by the three farm owners.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Food and Resource Economics, University of Copenhagen, Rølighedsvej 25, 1958, Frederiksberg, Denmark

    F. G. Gachango & S. M. Pedersen

  2. Department of Agroecology - Soil Physics and Hydropedology, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark

    C. Kjaergaard

Authors
  1. F. G. Gachango
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  2. S. M. Pedersen
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  3. C. Kjaergaard
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Correspondence to F. G. Gachango.

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Gachango, F.G., Pedersen, S.M. & Kjaergaard, C. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands (SFCW) for Nutrient Reduction in Drainage Discharge from Agricultural Fields in Denmark. Environmental Management 56, 1478–1486 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-015-0585-y

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