Water quality trading programs: A comparison between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres

Water quality trading is continually being explored and implemented to improve water quality in many parts of the world. They are being used to cost-effectively reduce point and/or non-point source obligations to meet water quality goals such as nutrient discharge limits. A comparison between evolving trading programs in New Zealand and some in North America illustrate a number of differences as well as similarities in terms of the successes and hurdles. These can be used to better design more effective programs