Assessing services supplied by irrigation systems: the case of groundwater recharge

Abstract

Surface irrigation associations in Southern France do frequently face difficulties to ensure infrastructures' durability and to provide a satisfying irrigation service. Besides, these systems also provide additional services, for which they almost never receive any remuneration. This paper studies a method for assessing the economic value of externalities produced by these irrigation systems, in order to estimate their potential exchange value. This method comes from the will to take these services into account into the local spatial planning and, thereby, to ensure the durability of such irrigation systems. The method is then applied to the case of groundwater recharge by the Corbère surface irrigation system (Pyrénées-Orientales, France). As a result, we propose a range of values within which a payment for these services could be negotiated between the suppliers (irrigation associations) and the beneficiaries.