Costs of the Wastewater Standard in Pig Production in Mexico |
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Authors: | Rosario Perez Espejo |
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Institution: | (1) Economics Research Institute, Mexican National Autonomous University, Tower of Humanities 2, 1st floor, 04510 Coyoacán, Mexico DF |
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Abstract: | The objective of this article is to address the environmental costs of pig farms in the La Piedad region Mexico, through an
analysis of the standard on wastewater discharges to national water bodies. Field work was carried out from April to September
1999; a survey was conducted on 23 farms and samples of wastewater were taken on 11 farms. Pig production is the third most
important system in Mexican livestock production. Heterogeneity in production systems, dependence on imported inputs (genetics
and feed grains), and weak internalization of environmental costs are the main characteristics of pig production in Mexico.
With no specific environmental regulations on intensive livestock activities at the municipal or state levels, Mexican Official
Standard 001 on wastewater discharges is the only environmental obligation that pig farms must meet. Standard 001 on wastewater
contains the maximum permissible limits for 20 contaminant parameters, and is based on a cost-benefit analysis that points
to secondary treatment for the regulation’s economic viability. Investment in treatment systems and the fees that pig producers
must pay when they fail to comply with the limits stipulated in the regulation, are estimated assessed as an approach to environmental
costs. In order to remain within the limits in the standard, pig farms must invest in tertiary treatment, and that makes meeting
the standard unaffordable for this sector. |
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Keywords: | Mexico pig farms wastewater standard cost |
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