As groundwater flows through the ground, metals such as iron and manganese are dissolved and may later be found in high concentrations in the water. Industrial discharges, urban activities, agriculture, ground-water pumpage, and disposal of waste all can affect ground-water quality.
Cost-benefit analysis is a relatively straightforward tool for deciding whether to pursue a project. To use the tool, first list all the anticipated costs associated with the project, and then estimate the benefits that you'll receive from it.
In economics, a cost curve is a graph of the costs of production as a function of total quantity produced. At a level of Q at which the MC curve is above the average total cost or average variable cost curve, the latter curve is rising. 2  If MC is below average total cost or average variable cost, then the latter curve is falling.