Deputy Energy Minister Alireza Daemi announced water tariffs have increased by 10% for subscribers abiding by the consumption pattern and by 30% for high consumers as of September 23.
"Water charges will increase in a step-wise structure where the rate per unit of water increases on par with the volume of consumption," he said, allaying concerns that prices have gone up for all subscribers equally.
Speaking to ISNA, Daemi said the price hike is reasonable since the annual inflation causes an increase in the price of all goods, but the rule has not been applied to water tariffs for a long time.
Earlier, planning and development deputy of National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company, Ali Asghar Qane', had stated that water tariffs were to increase by 15% for high consumers and by 10% for subscribers observing the consumption pattern.
Noting that high consumers make up only 30% of the entire lot, he said tariffs have not increased by a tangible margin and a 10% increase will not make a big difference for those who abide by the consumption pattern.
Referring to the large gap between the current water charges, priced at less than one cent (3,000 rials) and what it costs the ministry to supply, he stressed that the meager increase would not meet the needs of the water industry.
Qane' also advised the government to push the current charges up to the cost price under a five-year plan to alleviate the problems of the water sector.
Overexploitation of water resources, together with a booming population and water-intensive agricultural programs, as well as low precipitation, has made Iran face a serious water crisis.
Iran's average precipitation has plummeted to 205 millimeters in the past 15 years, down from 250 mm as opposed to the global average rainfall of around 750 mm.
Recent analyses reveal that seven of the country’s 32 provinces are classified as experiencing water shortage while 13 face a critical water situation.
The Energy Ministry had previously clarified that its plan to raise water tariffs is not an attempt to generate profit, but to curb its wasteful co nsumption, recalling that utilization is at a "reasonable" level for around 72% of consumers nationwide.
