Economy
Price of tap water rises in Beijing
By Zhao Chunzhe (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2009-12-22 11:42
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The price of water for residential use will rise from 3.7 yuan (54 cents) to 4 yuan (58 cents) per cubic meter, according to a December 22 announcement from the Beijing Development and Reform Commission (BDRC).
The BDRC, which is the city's top economic planner, also announced on Tuesday that the water resource fee would increase by 0.16 yuan while sewage treatment fees would rise by 0.14 yuan.
"Beijing is suffering a huge water shortage. The rainfall in Beijing has been long below the average level in nine years out of ten. The rise of water price is to encourage people to save water and it's good for the conservation and sustainable development of water source in Beijing," an unnamed official from the BDRC said.
