Economic valuation of maintaining water quality in Bartin river

Studies on economic valuation of environmental resources, goods and services have been increased since 1980, especially in developed countries. In this context many studies on estimating economic values of conservation of water resources and maintaining water quality have been carried out due to lack of information involved in sustainable water resource management.In this study, it is aimed to estimate economic values of conservation of Bartın River and maintaining river water quality by Contingent Valuation Method; a method used to determine the values of goods and services produced by environmental resources unmarketed.In willingness to pay analyses willingness to pay zero was included to analyses in the research, annual average willingness to pay (consumer surplus) was estimated as 57.58 TL for per household and 15.27 TL per capita. However in willingness to pay analyses in which willingness to pay zero was excluded, annual average willingness to pay (consumer surplus) was estimated as 65.50 TL for per household and 17.75 TL for per capita. If Bartın River and its Environment Improvement Project taken in hypothetical scenario is carried into practice, total consumer surplus was estimated as 18,963,590 TL for 32 years according to annual average willingness to pay for per household in which willingness to pay zero was excluded and the formula giving the capital value of the annual income as finite.These results which can be important indicators for resource managers and policy makers in the region have shown that there is an important demand for improving the qualities of environmental goods and services in the river.Key Words : Contingent Valuation, Bartın River