Land subsidence costs in Houston- Baytown area of Texas.

Date

1976

Authors

Jones, L.L.; Warren, J.P.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Abstract

Pumping of ground water has caused subsidence of as much as 9 ft in the Houston area. Costs for this water have not included damage caused by the subsidence. In this paper, an economic model based on damages reported on questionnaires and in interviews, In most costs and losses associated with subsidence were found to be caused by temporary or permanent tidal or freshwater flooding. The model reveals that the substitution of surface for ground water use in the area would provide a lowest-cost alternative for water supply. Total costs of water for the area are minimized by not permitting ground-water withdrawal beyond the point where subsidence would begin to occur.

Description

p. 597-599.

Keywords

subsidence; ground water; economics; economic models; flooding; economic analysis

Citation