The Economic Characterization of Asopos River Basin

Abstract

This chapter puts the emphasis on the economic characterization of Asopos River Basin (RB) in order to identify the members of the society that will bear the cost of improvements and will benefit from its implementation. Following the first step of Directive’s implementation, requiring the economic characterization of the river basin, there is the need to evaluate the economic significance of water in the region, identify key economic drivers influencing pressures and water uses, examine how these economic drivers will evolve over time and will influence pressures and how will water demand and supply evolve over time. Hence, an important objective of this chapter is to identify the economic significance of water uses, focusing on Asopos experience, considering primarily industrial and agricultural uses since residential and tourist related uses are the focus of Chap. 4.