A health-based socio-economic assessment of drinking water quality: The case of Lebanon

Abstract

Water-related diseases are a human tragedy, resulting in millions of deaths each year, preventing millions more from leading healthy lives, and undermining development efforts by burdening the society with substantial socio-economic costs. This problem is of great significance in developing countries, where polluted water, water shortages, and unsanitary living conditions prevail. This paper presents a case study on a health-based socio-economic assessment of drinking water quality in Lebanon, based on relevant valuation approaches and available country-specific data. The assessment revealed that the potential health and economic benefits due to water and sanitation improvements can be significant (0.15-3.35 percent of GDP). © 2003, MCB UP Limited