Household economic burden from seawater intrusion in coastal urban areas

Abstract

This study quantifies the direct and indirect household economic burden of saltwater intrusion in Beirut, Lebanon, which experiences chronic water shortages. Incurred burdens include water purchase, reduction in the lifespan of household appliances, and building-level water treatment systems. Due to salinity, median household expenditure on water exceeds 6.5% of income, significantly higher than worldwide averages. A majority of affected respondents are willing to pay for mitigation measures to reduce salinity. The reported willingness to pay increased with education, income, salinity, and household expenditure on alternative water sources. © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.