Chattogram Wasa mulls rising water price by 5%
Household consumers will bear the brunt of any fresh increase
The Chattogram Water Supply and Sewerage Authority (Wasa) plans to raise water tariffs by 5% at the consumer level, presenting a proposal from its revenue department at a board meeting yesterday (1 August).
Rather than taking an immediate decision, the board formed a four-member committee to gather feedback from consumers and professional groups.
The committee's convener, Deputy Managing Director Vishnu Kumar Sarker, alongside Chief Revenue Officer Ruman Dey and board members Begum Sayeda Jerin Hossain and Russel Mia, will consult stakeholders and submit final recommendations before the next board meeting.
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Officials explained that under existing law, the board can approve up to a 5% annual tariff increase without government sanction.
Higher hikes require Cabinet approval.
The revenue department proposed the 5% adjustment for both residential and commercial users to offset rising production costs – driven by shifting from deep tube wells to river water purification – and to service foreign loan repayments.
Chattogram Wasa Managing Director Salim Md Jane Alam confirmed the proposal was submitted under the 5% legal provision, adding that a final board decision hinges on the committee's findings.
The authority previously attempted a steep 30% to 50% hike in April 2024, seeking to raise residential rates from Tk18 to Tk23.5 per 1,000 litres and non-residential rates from Tk37 to Tk55.5.
That plan collapsed following the fall of the Awami League government in the July Uprising.
Chattogram Wasa last increased water prices in September 2022, executing a 38% jump to current rates.
Out of 1,04,511 total connections, nearly 93% are residential, meaning household consumers will bear the main burden of any fresh increase.
Data show residential rates stood at Tk5.41 per unit in 2009, rising to Tk6.9 in 2014, Tk12.4 in 2020, and Tk13 in January 2022, before reaching the current Tk18 per unit in September 2022.
