Conclusion
Economic tools for water management

The economic tool in the field of water management has become essential due to the implementation of the Water Framework Directive, and is an important decision-making tool in the following areas:

• designation of heavily modified water bodies ;

• exemptions from deadlines or targets ;

• choice of measurements ;

• application of the polluter-pays and cost-recovery principles ;

• use of payment systems for environmental services.

Monetizing environmental and health impacts and/or benefits, and assessing the value of our natural heritage, remains a difficult task. Various valuation techniques exist, and these are described in detail in this article. Their advantages and limitations...