Saudi Shoura Council asks ministry to postpone water price increases

Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has urged the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture to postpone plans for new water tariffs.

Saudi Gazette reports that the council called on the ministry yesterday to carry out a study into the real consumption of citizens and make changes to the tariffs as a result.

The council also urged the ministry to postpone issuing new invoices until it had studied how to rein in excessive water consumption and ways to prevent leakage in the household water network.

“The ministry must implement quickly the Saudi Building Code pertaining to water. It is indispensable for the ministry and the National Water Company to obtain necessary drilling permit from the concerned authorities before awarding water and sewage projects,” the council said.

Water tariffs in the country are expected to rise from next month, according to local reports.

The new system will see non-residential consumers pay 50 per cent more per cubic metre.

It comes as the country tackles a sizeable budget deficit by raising prices, reducing subsidies and cutting public sector wages.

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