Our economist Alexandra Humphrey Cifuentes presented “Every Drop Counts: Unlocking the True Economic Value of Water Conservation in New Zealand“ at the IWA-ASPIRE & Water New Zealand Conference & Expo 2025 (IWA ASPIRE 2025).
She shared insights on how to better value the economic, social, and environmental benefits of water conservation in long-term planning.
Historically, the benefits of conservation – from reducing drought impacts to avoiding costly infrastructure investment – have been overlooked in decision-making. Our work demonstrates that when these benefits are quantified, conservation can deliver significant additional value to communities and economies, far exceeding the usage price of water.
In her presentation, Alexandra showed how decision-makers can identify, value, and integrate these benefits into water security planning.
Author: Alexandra Humphrey Cifuentes. Industries: Climate Change & Sustainability, Public Policy & Government, Urban & Rural Water. Expertise: Biodiversity & Environmental Economics, Cost-Benefit Analysis & Real Options Analysis, Public Policy Advisory.
