The economic cost of groundwater contamination in Nebraska

Harshanee Jayasekera

A majority of water needs in Nebraska are met using groundwater and this is true for drinking water as well as irrigation needs. That said, Nebraskans have been grappling with maintaining the quality of this source water to a standard that is safe for human consumption. A large body of literature has shown there are adverse health implications of consuming water contaminated with agrochemicals for both humans and animals. These adverse health outcomes have steep financial costs and far-reaching social costs that are not well understood.  However, understanding the economic costs associated with consuming contaminated drinking water can aid in creating more awareness and in facilitating better decision-making by stakeholders.  This presentation will provide an overview of the evidence that links poor drinking water quality and adverse health outcomes, and discuss the significance of understanding the economic costs of Nebraska’s contaminated groundwater that is used for human consumption.

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