Hanoi increases water prices for first time in 10 years

Under a decision recently issued by the city people’s committee, the price increase will be done in two phases: the first from July 1 through year-end and the second next year.

In 2024, the prices are expected to increase to VND8,500 for the first 10 m3.

For public offices, the prices have increased from VND9,955 to VND12,000 this year, and will rise to VND13,500 in 2024.

For industrial use, they have been hiked from VND11,615 to VND15,000 this year and to VND16,000 next year.

For other commercial consumers, they have gone up from VND22,068 to VND27,000 and VND29,000.

Authorities said a household that uses 10-16 m3 of water a month would henceforth pay an additional VND15,000-26,000 a month.

In rural parts, where consumption is lower, a household that uses 6-8 m3 of water would need to pay an extra VND10,000-13,000, they said.

The capital has not increased water prices for the last 10 years, office head of the Hanoi People’s Committee, Truong Viet Dung, had said at a regular press conference last month.

A hike planned in 2019 was put off because of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added.

The combined capacity of the city’s water treatment plants is 1.53 million m3 a day. The average water loss rate has decreased for 24% to less than 18%.