Estimating willingness to pay for desalinated seawater: the case of Djerba Island, Tunisia

A significant majority of households on Djerba Island, Tunisia, support the use of desalinated water to address water scarcity, yet fewer are willing to pay for it. This study combines a contingent valuation survey with joint modeling to assess societal support and household willingness to pay (WTP) for desalinated seawater—a relationship not previously explored in research. Findings indicate that while desalination is widely accepted as a solution to water stress, the financial viability of such projects remains uncertain due to low WTP. The research underscores the need to evaluate WTP in developing countries before investing in large-scale desalination infrastructure, ensuring cost recovery and sustainable water management.

Ben Brahim-Neji, H., Del Saz-Salazar, S., Besrour, A., & González-Gómez, F. (2017). Estimating willingness to pay for desalinated seawater: the case of Djerba Island, Tunisia. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 35(1), 126–144. https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1377060