Top official denies plans to increase water rates
By Ni Yinbin |
April 17, 2013, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THERE are no plans to hike water prices in China even though the chairman of the water authority had earlier suggested that rates should be at least 10 times higher to "be raised between 30 to 40 yuan (US$6.47) per ton."
Wang Wenke, chairman of the board of the China Water Investment Co, said his comments were meant to heighten public awareness about saving the precious resource since water wastage is common.
"The comment on increasing the price was based on the negative situation of China's water quality and should not be simply understood as raising the current price many times over," Wang explained yesterday. "The company has no plans to alter the tariffs."
He added that China is a water-deficient country and the protection or otherwise of the resource would directly affect the sustainable development of society. Economically, current water prices have a limited impact on strengthening water-saving awareness among people.
Wang believed a multi-step price mechanism would encourage locals, especially big users, to save water.
According to a recent study by H2O-China.com, water cost takes up less than one percent of a Chinese family's monthly utility expense while the World Bank suggests a ratio of three to five percent, Wang said.
Wang Wenke, chairman of the board of the China Water Investment Co, said his comments were meant to heighten public awareness about saving the precious resource since water wastage is common.
"The comment on increasing the price was based on the negative situation of China's water quality and should not be simply understood as raising the current price many times over," Wang explained yesterday. "The company has no plans to alter the tariffs."
He added that China is a water-deficient country and the protection or otherwise of the resource would directly affect the sustainable development of society. Economically, current water prices have a limited impact on strengthening water-saving awareness among people.
Wang believed a multi-step price mechanism would encourage locals, especially big users, to save water.
According to a recent study by H2O-China.com, water cost takes up less than one percent of a Chinese family's monthly utility expense while the World Bank suggests a ratio of three to five percent, Wang said.
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