| Title |
Economic Sustainability in Wastewater Treatment Companies: A Regional Analysis for the Iberian Peninsula |
| ID_Doc |
17915 |
| Authors |
Santos, E; Lisboa, I; Eugenio, T |
| Title |
Economic Sustainability in Wastewater Treatment Companies: A Regional Analysis for the Iberian Peninsula |
| Year |
2021 |
| Published |
Applied Sciences-Basel, 11, 21 |
| DOI |
10.3390/app11219876 |
| Abstract |
Economic sustainability can enhance firms' competitive strategy and the development of new business opportunities. The economic aspects of sustainability are of key importance to organizations and concern not only firms' survival efforts but also to base solid grounds to thrive and grow, which can be of interest to a broader audience because it may also concern the value of co-creation through partnerships with the stakeholders. An important part of environmental degradation is caused by the discharge of untreated or mistreated wastewater. The reuse of water is paramount to the National Strategic Plan for the Water Supply and Wastewater Sanitation Sector in Portugal and Spain. Since centralized treatment systems have proved to be inefficient, tackling environmental issues requires a regional approach. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) mitigate environmental impacts and contribute to the financial savings of other firms. However, the literature evaluating WWTPs' financial performance and economic sustainability is scarce. The implementation of a resource recovery technology depends heavily on economic viability. Thus, this paper analyses the financial sustainability of 222 WWTPs in the Iberian Peninsula by NUTS II regions in 2016-2019 to assess the region with the best performance and financial stability and provide regional policy implications. Using the SABI database, this research encompasses a numerical and narrative analysis of key financial ratios. Results show that firms in Algarve and La Rioja exhibit higher financial sustainability when compared to other regions. Results can foster enhancements in the governance of regulated utilities. |
| Author Keywords |
water; economic sustainability; Portugal; Spain; regional analysis |
| Index Keywords |
Index Keywords |
| Document Type |
Other |
| Open Access |
Open Access |
| Source |
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED); Social Science Citation Index (SSCI) |
| EID |
WOS:000722351700001 |
| WoS Category |
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Engineering, Multidisciplinary; Materials Science, Multidisciplinary; Physics, Applied |
| Research Area |
Chemistry; Engineering; Materials Science; Physics |
| PDF |
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/11/21/9876/pdf?version=1634898692
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