Water price hike proposed for 2020

(FASTNEWS | COLOMBO) –  The National Water Supply and Drainage Board (NWSDB) will increase water tariffs in 2020 for upper and middle-income earners as the NWSDB is in the red, Water Supply Facilities Minister Vasudeva Nanayakkara said yesterday.

He added that no price increase will be effective on consumption of up to 15 units of water.

Addressing the media at his office last morning, Minister Nanayakkara said only the upper and middle class consumers who consume excessive water will be subjected to the price increase of water and those who use less water will not be affected.

“Water tariff has to be reviewed every three years but this has not happened in the last ten years. The production or purification of water supply and distribution of water has been increased drastically in the last ten years in addition to the price hike of chemicals used in water purification,” Minister Nanayakkara said.

Within the Colombo city limits alone the wastage of water is about 45% which is a heavy burden on the NWSDB. Pipelines within the Colombo city are over 110 years old.

The old pipelines are currently being replaced with new lines to avoid leakages of water.

“The final decision to increase tariff on water has to be taken by my Cabinet Minister and Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa. The cabinet must also approve the price hike on water,” he said.