In its session held yesterday, Sunday, the Jordanian Council of Ministers approved the recommendation of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors, which includes a plan to restructure water and sanitation tariffs for the domestic sector for the years 2023-2029, in line with the National Water Strategy 2023-2040, which aims to achieve water security and improve the supply and service provided to subscribers. .
The tariff restructuring plan also aims to achieve financial sustainability for the sector, whose debt currently amounts to about 2.3 billion dinars, and it is feared that it will reach 4 billion dinars by 2030 if the necessary measures are not taken to deal with the increasing burden, noting that the total cost of a cubic meter of water is 220 piasters. The government supports different consumption segments at varying rates, averaging 64%.
The plan included a shift from issuing the water and sanitation bill from quarterly to monthly for all sectors, throughout the Kingdom, starting from the current September bill, according to the currently approved tariff rate and without any change to it, until December 1, 2023, according to the Jordanian News Agency, Petra.
The segments were divided on the monthly bill as follows: The first tranche is from 0 to 6 m3, the second tranche is from 7-12 m3, the third tranche is from 13-18 m3, the fourth tranche is from 19-24 m3, the fifth tranche is from 25-30 m3, the sixth tranche is from 31-42 m3, and the seventh tranche is for consumption exceeding 42 m3.
The plan to restructure water and sanitation tariffs included a gradual annual increase in the values of water and sanitation tariffs for household consumption, with an average increase of 4.6%, starting from December 1, 2023 until December 2028, to cover the cost of operation and maintenance gradually by 2030, with the new tariff starting to be implemented as of December 2028. From next December to be reflected in the bill for January 2024.
According to the new structure, there will be no change in the flat water tariff for the first tranche that consumes 6 m3 or less per month during the year 2024, which amounts to 218 piasters, while the tariff will increase by 5 piasters per cubic meter for each of the second, third and fourth tranches that consume water between 7 – 24 m3, and 10 piasters. per cubic meter for the fifth bracket, which consumes quantities between 25 – 30 m3, 18 piasters per cubic meter for the sixth bracket, which consumes between 31 – 42 m3, and 28 piasters per cubic meter for the seventh bracket, whose monthly consumption exceeds 42 m3.
As for the sewage tariff, the flat tariff will remain constant for the first tranche for the year 2024 at a value of 23 piasters, while it will increase by 3 piasters per cubic meter for the second tranche, one piaster for the third tranche, 3 piasters for the fourth tranche, 5 piasters for the fifth tranche, and 2 piasters for the third tranche. Sixth, and 10 piasters on the seventh tranche.
The proportion of the first tranche of the number of subscribers in the Kingdom is about 29%, the second tranche is about 31%, the third tranche is about 22%, the fourth tranche is about 10%, the fifth tranche is about 4%, while the sixth tranche is about 3%, while the percentage of The percentage of the seventh and final segment whose monthly consumption exceeds 42 cubic meters is estimated at 1%.
The government will continue to support the total costs of water and sanitation until after 2028 to take into account those with limited income. The value of government support in 2024, based on the average total cost per cubic meter of water for the first tranche, will amount to 180 piasters (82%) of the total cost, 170 piasters for the second tranche (77%) of the total cost, and 157 piasters for the third tranche (71%) of the cost. Total, 131 piasters for the fourth tranche (60%) of the total cost, 106 piasters for the fifth tranche (48%) of the total cost, and 60 piasters for the sixth tranche (27%) of the total cost, while the seventh tranche, whose consumption exceeds 42 m3 per month, is not supported. .
According to the decision of the Council of Ministers, and to protect those with low and limited income, the first tranche will be given a preferential advantage if its total consumption for three consecutive months remains within the ceiling of 18 m3, regardless of the monthly consumption rate, so that if the subscriber moves during one of the three months to the second tranche, any amount will be placed He was paid in excess of the monthly flat rate in his balance to be deducted from subsequent bills, starting from the bill for the month of September 2023.
