The Consumer Council claims weaker sectors of society will have to pay more.
An examination conducted by the Israel Consumer Council of the new water fees proposed by the Water and Sewage Authority has found disparities of up to 23% between the lowest and highest fees. Ahead of a hearing on the subject on Thursday, the Consumer Council submitted its critique to the Water and Sewage Authority, and claims that the proposed tariffs will create a situation whereby the disadvantaged sectors of the population will be required to pay higher fees than consumers living in middle class areas.
According to the new regulations, various water tariffs will be collected according to regional divisions.
At the head of the fees table, according to the Consumer Council's examination, are locations with a concentration of disadvantaged residents: large families, regions with high unemployment, Arab citizens and mixed villages. For example, according to the new tariffs residents in the villages of the Lower Galilee will pay NIS 6.08 for a cubic meter of water for basic needs, compared with just NIS 2.08 for a similar amount for the same usage at Ein Netafim near Eilat.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on November 18, 2008
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