Balancing the Climate and Accessibility: Quality Water in Wallonia at a Reasonable Price

2023-06-30 10:27:00
The climate and accessibility to quality water, in quantity and at a contained price, in Wallonia

Indeed, if a couple can expect to spend 386 euros, on average, for a normal annual consumption (68 m³) of water, the existence of eight major distributors – including SWDE, CILE and In BW – and 38 different municipal authorities prevents all Walloons from paying the same price.

The clever calculation of the price of water: we explain everything to you

Just as the bill for a single person – whose average water needs were estimated at 34 m³ in 2021 – can already vary by 60 euros over a year, the price differences between the least expensive municipality (Rouvroy) and the locality the most expensive (Vresse-sur-Semois) become even more substantial as annual consumption increases. In a region where it is considered that a three-person household (a couple and a child) uses 104 m³ of water per year, the final bill can thus go from 459 euros to 626 euros, a difference of… 167 euros!

The Walloons have finished filling their swimming pool, jacuzzi and bubble bath

Municipal authorities more often at the margins

Yet calculated everywhere in the same way by companies that “do not make profits but must not make losses either”, the price of water varies above all according to the true cost of distribution, i.e. say all the costs relating to the production and distribution of water such as collection costs, pumping or maintenance of connections. Lower costs in many municipal authorities such as Rouvroy, Meix-devant-Virton, Saint-Léger or even Musson… but sometimes more (much) higher as in Tellin, Nassogne and Vresse-sur-Semois.

“At the end of the last legislature, the majority planned to sell our network to SWDE. But for my group, it’s not regarding that. We will keep the water as long as possible. Water is a fundamental source of revenue for municipalities. The future oil will be water”, already underlined in 2022 Frédéric Martin, the alderman of Vresse-sur-Semois in charge of the distribution of water, to defend the prices practiced in his commune.

Finally, because the various distribution networks are aging and inflation (salaries, materials, etc.) has gone through this, the true cost price of distribution has increased by a few euro cents at several distributors, including CILE and the SWDE. Race results? Between 2022 and 2023, the price of water will increase by a few euros within the same municipality.

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