Photo by: Duane Daws
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) has proposed water tariffs for the 2018/19 financial year, with a proposed increase of up to 14.6% throughout the spectrum of raw water users.
The DWS proposed the increase at its final national raw water consultation, held in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni, on Friday. The consultation was aimed at soliciting the last round of inputs from key stakeholders in the water and sanitation sector.
The water resource infrastructure charges for the domestic and industrial sectors are proposed to increase by between 0% and 14.6%, as will irrigation charges.
Further, the water resource management charges for the domestic and industrial sectors, as well as the forestry sector, are expected to increase by between 0% and 14.6%. The irrigation sector charges will be capped, with an increase of between 4% and 14.6%.
The proposed raw water use charges have been prepared in accordance with the 2007 Raw Water Pricing Strategy established in terms of sections 56 to 60 of the National Water Act (NWA).
The primary aim of the pricing strategy is to find appropriate methods of funding water resource management, water resource development and use of waterworks as per Section 56(2) of the NWA.