How much do San Diego and SPAY for their water? So I looked up some statistics in advance of our talk. It depends a little bit on what you call a block rate pricing, which means that the first bit of water is cheaper than the next bit of water. The statistic that I found is that San Diego citizens pay about $5.20 per thousand gallons for water. And since I don't, I have a little trouble thinking about a thousand gallons.
David Zetland of Leiden University College in the Netherlands and author of Living with Water Scarcity talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the challenges of water management. Issues covered include the sustainability of water supplies, the affordability of water for the poor, the incentives water companies face, and the management of water systems in the poorest countries. Also discussed are the diamond and water paradox, campaigns to reduce water usage, and the role of prices in managing a water system.