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Impact of upstream plant level pollution on downstream water quality: evidence from the clean water act

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  • Lopamudra Chakraborti

Abstract

This is the first study to find empirical evidence that pollutant inputs from major point sources worsen downstream water quality, net of upstream pollution levels, and controlling for location-specific factors. We utilize panel data on monthly biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentration for a sample of 87 municipal and industrial plants located in the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, for the period 1990-2003. Monthly dissolved oxygen (DO) from 67 locations is the measure of water quality. We find that an increase in aggregate BOD (for multiple plants) results in downstream net of upstream DO to decline by 0.001 mg/l. Despite the small magnitude (due to natural attenuation), the results are robust to distance traveled by pollutant and seasonal considerations of high temperature or low stream flow. We infer that point sources have a significant negative impact on ambient water quality net of non-point sources of pollution at upstream locations.

Suggested Citation

  • Lopamudra Chakraborti, 2021. "Impact of upstream plant level pollution on downstream water quality: evidence from the clean water act," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 64(3), pages 517-535, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:jenpmg:v:64:y:2021:i:3:p:517-535
    DOI: 10.1080/09640568.2020.1776227
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    Cited by:

    1. Yang, Yuzhi & Ansink, Erik & Gudmundsson, Jens, 2025. "How to pollute a river if you must," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    2. Yuzhi Yang & Erik Ansink, 2022. "The river pollution claims problem," Tinbergen Institute Discussion Papers 22-058/VIII, Tinbergen Institute.
    3. Wang, Hao & Ploegmakers, Huub & van der Krabben, Erwin & Meijerink, Sander, 2024. "The environmental effectiveness of water quality trading: Evidence from emissions trading programs in China," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).

    More about this item

    JEL classification:

    • Q52 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Pollution Control Adoption and Costs; Distributional Effects; Employment Effects
    • Q53 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics - - - Air Pollution; Water Pollution; Noise; Hazardous Waste; Solid Waste; Recycling

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