THE IMPLEMENTATION of new water tariff adjustment under the Tariff Setting Mechanism (TSM) for domestic users in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, which is a federal territory, will come into effect from February 1 onwards.
The National Water Services Commission (Span) announced today that the adjustment involves an average increase of 22 sen per cubic meter.
“This increase is still low and not able to cover the actual cost of providing water supply services of as much as RM1.75 per cubic meter based on actual records of 2022,” it said in a statement.
“However, in order to minimise the impact of the increase on people's monthly water bills, the water supply operators in each state are advised to continue the existing initiative of providing targeted assistance to domestic consumers, such as giving rebates to the B40 group,”
It explained that under the TSM, the tariff structure and its components will be standardised for states in the peninsula and Labuan. The tariffs are to be reviewed every three years to ensure consistency in payment determination.
The adjustment of water tariffs for the domestic category can no longer be delayed so as not to affect sustainability of the water service industry in the long term, which would impact on the quality of water supply services enjoyed by the people, it stressed.
Thus, tariff adjustment that reflects the cost of water supply is very important to enable operators to improve the level of their services in supplying quality water continuously.
“With this tariff review, water operators will be more prepared to make continuous investments for developing water supply system infrastructure such as building or upgrading water treatment plants, making replacements of obsolete pipes, carrying out regular maintenance, and dealing with complaints more efficiently to ensure continuity of water supply services while meeting consumers’ expectations.”
The commission explained that the implementation of tariff adjustments will be based on the needs and requirements of the respective state governments.
The federal government through Span will monitor closely to ensure water service improvements are carried out in line with the tariff increase.
Span called on all consumers to cooperate by using water responsibly and thriftly.
Some of the steps people can take include using water-efficient products labelled by Span, checking and repairing any leaking pipes and faucets in their premises, installing a rainwater harvesting system, and using recycled water as an alternative source for non-beverage use. – The Vibes, January 17, 2024
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