By MILDRED KATONGO –
THE National Water Supply and Sanitation Council (NWASCO) has approved the increment of domestic and commercial water tariffs for six water utility companies for the period of 2017 to 2019.
The six water utility companies are Lusaka, Mulonga, Nkana, Kafubu, North-Western and Chambeshi Water and Sewerage companies.
NWASCO public relations manager Rose Tembo said the increment entailed that for the first tariff band of 0 to 6 cubic meters, domestic customers would now pay K 4.72 from K3.93 for LWSC, K3.45 from K3.14 for North-Western WSC, K 3.76 from K3.36 for Mulonga WSC, K3.6 fromK3.13 for Kafubu WSC, K3.63 from K3.16 for Chambeshi WSC and K3.54 fromK3.08 for Nkana WSC.
Ms Tembo said in a statement that the tariff increment would cover inflation and other rising direct costs such as electricity and chemicals.
She said this would enable water companies import chemicals for treatment of water to acceptable standards, purchase electricity to produce water, treat wastewater, maintain and expand water and sewer networks from treatment plants to households and commercial properties.
“The Board of the NWASCO at its 32nd extraordinary meeting on December 20, 2016 approved multi-year tariffs for the period 2017 to 2019 for Lusaka, Mulonga, Nkana, Kafubu, North-Western and Chambeshi Water and Sewerage companies,” she said.
Ms Tembo said the six water companies qualified for adjustments of their domestic and commercial tariffs, after meeting conditions of their previous tariffs and attaining at least a 75 per cent success on previous conditions.
She said NWASCO’s mandate was to ensure that water and sanitation services were affordable to all Zambians and that the cost was commensurate to the level of service and that ultimately, the consumer had to be protected, while allowing the provider to be sustainable.