Water consumption charges for property owners in the Nicosia region are set to increase from 55 cents to 80 cents per cubic metre, according to the Nicosia Sewerage Board (SBN).
This usage fee, an additional cost to the sewerage system construction fee, will impact numerous property owners in areas including Nicosia, Strovolos, Ayios Dometios, Engomi, Lakatamia, Aglandjia, Latsia, Yeri, Tseri, Kokkinotrimithia, Paliometocho, and Ayioi Trimithias.
The SBN collects this usage fee through its account. Under the newly proposed regulations, a household consuming 50 cubic meters of water, currently paying €25, will see an increase to €40. Notably, the same household paid 22.5 cents for the same water consumption in 2010.
The SBN argues that this increase is necessary to avoid bankruptcy. Every property owner or holder within the area supplied with water by the SBN or another Public Legal Entity, and served by the sewerage system, must pay a uniform fee for each cubic meter of water consumed every two or three months.
It is noted that even when a property receives water from another source, the SBN has the authority to demand a uniform fee, not exceeding 80 cents per cubic meter, from the owner or holder of that property for sewage or industrial liquid waste emptied within the property’s premises.
In 2010, the charge was 45 cents per cubic meter of water consumption, increasing to 50 cents in 2011 and 55 cents in 2012, which has remained in effect until today.
An explanatory note accompanying the regulations states that the proposed amendment to Regulation 35, by increasing the upper limit of the usage fee from €0.55 to €0.80 per cubic meter, aims to improve the financial situation of the SBN.
This is justified by the fact that the current usage fees are deemed insufficient to recover the related costs and cover the board’s ongoing expenses and obligations, the SBN said.
