THE VALUE OF WATER, PART 6--NEGATIVE VALUES

The assumed negative values of water can be illustrated by at least five examples.

First, water in excess, in the form of flooding, can have a substantial negative impact upon life and property. Indeed, during flood events, water can destroy life instead of sustain life. The measure of such negative value of water may equate to the often difficult and arbitrary value of lost life and the replacement cost of lost property, including economic losses.

Second, absence of water, in the form of drought, obviously can have a substantial negative economic impact, ranging from loss of crops to displacement of people. The Dust Bowl in the United States in the 1930s illustrates this effect. Further, the negative values of crop, home and income losses can include collateral impacts due to health, social and educational challenges.

Third, certain contaminates carried in water can have serious adverse health consequences if such contaminates are not removed by treatment before water is used. The costs incurred to heal illnesses or to suffer destruction of crops contaminated by polluted water can be measures of negative value.

A fourth example of negative value of water may be illustrated when sources of water become depleted. A recent Yale led research study sought to measure the value of natural capital assets such as water. The study demonstrated pricing of natural capital by focusing on the Kansas High Plains groundwater aquifer, which supports the region's agriculture-based economy. The study found that groundwater extraction and changes in aquifer management policies reduced the state's total wealth held in groundwater by a total of $1.1 billion in the period 1996-2005. (See Yale News, March 14, 2016, "What's Nature Worth. Study Puts a Price on Ground Water and Other Natural Capital.")

Finally, public perception of tap water appears to imply a negative valuation regardless of compliance with all applicable regulatory standards. It appears that people in the United States are willing to pay significantly more for bottle water than for tap water. A 2013 American Water Works Association study found that tap water costs only $0.004 per gallon, or 1/300 of the average price of a 16.9 oz bottle of water. Another survey found that the public was willing to spend from 250 to 10,000 times more for bottled water, although USEPA estimates 40% of bottle water actually is more highly treated tap water.* Does the greater cost and use of bottle water indicate a negative value for tap water? Should it?

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*Bui,"No Sacred Cows:Getting To The Crux
Of The Matter," Journal AWWA,June 2016,
p. 12

THE VALUE OF WATER, PART 5--FAITH

An aspect of water generally not broadly discussed, but whose value may be great, is water's importance to faith.

By way of example, the Judeo-Christian scriptures contain numerous references to the role and value of water. Some references relate to dramatic events, others to important sacraments.

Many references to water are to its cleansing role. In the Old Testament of the Bible, perhaps the most dramatic cleansing was the Flood, when water literally is said to have cleansed the entire earth. More commonly, washing with water of the body and/or clothes was a required ritual is a theocratic environment when one was said to be "unclean" due to a transgression or when entering a place of worship.

Water wells and springs also became a meeting place. Young unmarried men, searching for romance, would gather around wells and springs to meet young unmarried women coming to gather water. Perhaps this could have been the first singles bar.

More seriously, there is conjecture that the Annunciation may have taken place when Mary, the mother of Jesus, actually was outside of her home drawing water from a well or spring.* In addition to a second century biography of Mary, a painting at the Yale Art Gallery suggests this conclusion. The painting, excavated by Yale archeologists in the 1920s or 1930s, apparently was a piece of wall art from a third century house used as a church.

For Christians, baptism--washing with water--is a sacrament performed by churches. The washing with water reminds one of the cleansing from sin accomplished by Jesus' sacrifice at the cross and resurrection. Baptism also is a recognition of entry into the larger community of Christian faith.

Just as we put faith in water for its life sustaining value, water qua water can be an element of faith itself.

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*See Peppard, "Birth Announcement",
Yale Alumni Magazine, May/June 2016
p.56