Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards

This guidance is for use by states and EPA regional offices in considering economics at various points in the process of setting or revising water quality standards.

Spreadsheet tools to evaluate economic impacts

Workbook

Complete Workbook (PDF) including the cover memo (125 pp, 555K). If you prefer, you can jump to Web versions of each chapter.

• Chapter 1—Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards
  • Figure 1-1—Steps in the Economic Impact Analysis Determining Whether Impacts will be Substantial and Widespread
• Chapter 2—Evaluating Substantial Impacts: Public Sector Entities
  • Figure 2-1—Measuring Substantial Impacts (Public Entities)
  • Table 2-1—Secondary Indicators
  • Table 2-2—Assessment of Substantial Impacts Matrix
• Chapter 3—Evaluating Substantial Impacts: Private-Sector Entities
  • Figure 3-1—Measuring Substantial Impacts (Private Entities)
  • Exhibit 3-1
  • Exhibit 3-2
  • Exhibit 3-3
  • Exhibit 3-4
  • Exhibit 3-5
  • Exhibit 3-6
  • Exhibit 3-7
• Chapter 4—Determination of Widespread Impacts
  • Table 4-1—Demonstration of Substantial and Widespread Economic and Social Impacts of Attainment of Designated Uses
• Chapter 5—Antidegradation: Role of Economic Analysis
  • Figure 5-1—Antidegradation Review
  • Table 5-1—Secondary Indicators
  • Table 5-2—Assessment of Substantial Impacts Matrix
• Appendix A—Data Resource and Reference Material
• Appendix B
• Appendix C—Conceptual Measure of Economic Benefits

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Worksheets

All worksheets have been bundled together in this document (PDF) (36 pp, 59K).

• Worksheet A—Pollution Control Project Summary Information
  • Worksheet A Option A—Public-Sector Development - Qualitative Description of Estimated Change in Socioeconomic Indicators due to Pollution Control Costs
  • Worksheet A Option B—Private-Sector Development - Factors to Consider in Making a Determination of Widespread Social and Economic Impacts
• Worksheet B—Calculation of Total Annualized Project Costs
• Worksheet C—Calculation of Total Annual Pollution Control Costs Per Household
  • Worksheet C Option A—Calculation of Total Annual Pollution Control Costs Per Household Based on Flow
• Worksheet D—Municipal Preliminary Screener
• Worksheet E—Data Used in the Secondary Test
• Worksheet F—Calculating The Secondary Score
• Worksheet G—Calculation of Total Annualized Project Costs
• Worksheet H—Calculation of Earnings Before Taxes With and Without Pollution Control Project Costs
• Worksheet I—Calculation of Profit Rates With and Without Pollution Control Project Costs
• Worksheet J—Calculation of The Current Ratio
• Worksheet K—Calculation of Beaver's Ratio
• Worksheet L—Debt to Equity Ratio
• Worksheet M—Qualitative Desription of Estimated change in Socioeconomic Indicators due to Pollution Control Costs
• Worksheet N—Factors to Consider in Making a Determination of Widespread Social and Economic Impacts
• Worksheet O—Pollution Control Project Summary Information
• Worksheet P—Public-Sector Pollution Control Calculation of Total Annualized Project Costs
• Worksheet Q—Calculation of Total Annual Pollution Control Costs Per Household
  • Worksheet Q Option A—Calculation of Total Annual Pollution Control Costs Per Household Based on Flow
• Worksheet R—Private-Sector Development Caluculation of Total Annualized Project Costs
• Worksheet S—Municipal Preliminary Screener
• Worksheet T—Data Used in the Secondary Test
• Worksheet U—Calculating The Secondary Score
• Worksheet V—Calculation of Earnings Before Taxes
• Worksheet W—Calculation of Profit Rates
• Worksheet X—Calculation of The Current Ratio
• Worksheet Y—Calculation of Beaver's Ratio
• Worksheet Z—Debt to Equity Ratio

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Spreadsheet tools to evaluate economic impacts

The purpose of these spreadsheets is to help states, tribes, and stakeholders implement the recommendations in EPA's Interim Economic Guidance for Water Quality Standards, Workbook (1995). The spreadsheets supplement The Guidance by guiding the user through the necessary calculation steps to successfully implement The Guidance recommendations.

• UAAs and Variances – Public Sector (excel, 221K)
  These worksheets provide suggested information and methods to conduct an analysis of potential substantial and widespread economic and social impacts of attainment of designated uses when public sector entities must meet certain water quality standards.
• UAAs and Variances – Private Sector (excel, 236K)
  These worksheets provide suggested information and methods to conduct an analysis of potential substantial and widespread economic and social impacts of attainment of designated uses when private sector entities must meet certain water quality standards.
• Antidegradation – Public Sector (excel, 209K)
  These worksheets provide suggested information and methods to conduct an analysis of potential interference with an important economic and social development when public sector entities must maintain high-quality waters.
• Antidegradation – Private Sector (excel, 192K)
  These worksheets provide suggested information and methods to conduct an analysis of potential interference with an important economic and social development when private sector entities must maintain high-quality waters.

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