The pressure on water infrastructure has increased due to an increase in the number of aging water pipes. Aging pipes are prone to failure, causing significant financial losses and service disruptions. The increasing number of aged pipes and limited budget for pipe rehabilitation or replacement necessitates water infrastructure asset management to ensure sustainable water supply services. In this study, contingent valuation was used to estimate the willingness to pay (WTP) and value improved water supply services through the implementation of asset management. To estimate the WTP at the individual and county levels, we performed a nationwide survey including eight provinces and 24 counties/cities with distinct water supply service performances. At the individual level, the median WTP estimated using the double-bounded dichotomous choice model was 249.50 KRW/month (0.22 USD/month). The results showed that high-level satisfaction of customers with water supply services and positive price perception of water bills resulted in a high WTP. At the county level, decreasing water supply service performances were associated with a low WTP, indicating that proper interventions by local utilities are required to achieve sustainable water supply services. Our results provide a quantitative basis for decision-making in implementation of water infrastructure asset management.

中文翻译：

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基于资产管理的改善供水服务的支付意愿：韩国的一项或有估值研究

由于老化的水管数量增加，水基础设施的压力增加。老化的管道容易出现故障，造成重大的经济损失和服务中断。越来越多的老化管道和管道修复或更换预算有限，使得水基础设施资产管理成为必要，以确保可持续的供水服务。在这项研究中，或有估值被用来估计支付意愿（WTP）和通过实施资产管理改善供水服务的价值。为了估算个人和县级的支付意愿，我们在全国范围内进行了调查，调查对象包括供水服务绩效不同的 8 个省和 24 个县/市。在个人层面，使用双界二分选择模型估计的 WTP 中位数为 249.50 韩元/月（0.22 美元/月）。结果表明，客户对供水服务的高满意度和对水费的积极价格感知导致了较高的支付意愿。在县一级，供水服务绩效下降与低支付意愿相关，这表明需要当地公用事业公司进行适当干预以实现可持续供水服务。我们的结果为实施水基础设施资产管理的决策提供了定量依据。供水服务绩效下降与低支付意愿相关，这表明需要当地公用事业公司进行适当干预以实现可持续供水服务。我们的结果为实施水基础设施资产管理的决策提供了定量依据。供水服务绩效下降与低支付意愿相关，这表明需要当地公用事业公司进行适当干预以实现可持续供水服务。我们的结果为实施水基础设施资产管理的决策提供了定量依据。