Gov’t raises fixed charge in water bill by almost 100%

AMMAN –– The government recently decided to raise a fixed charge included in the water bill by nearly 100 per cent. 

Under the decision, which went into effect as of October 1, water bills for the fourth quarter of this year will be issued according to the new rates. 

Water subscribers in the Kingdom receive bills on a quarterly basis. 

Households consuming between zero to 18 cubic metres per three months, which originally had to pay a fixed charge of JD2.43 in addition to the bill, will now be charged an extra JD2.

Subscribers consuming between 19 cubic metres and 72 cubic metres, who used to pay between JD4.80 and JD5.73, will now have to pay an additional JD4. 

The fixed charge in the water bill will go up by JD6 for households that consume over 73 cubic metres, making it JD11.73 after the raise. 

The decision, a copy of which was made available to The Jordan Times, was taken on September 6 upon recommendations by the board of directors of the Water Authority of Jordan. 

On June 1, 2014, the government increased the sewage tariff in the water bill by 15 per cent.