The Municipality of Addis Ababa revised the tariffs it had established for sewage disposal. The Addis Ababa City Water and Sewerage Authority has been offering this service for 69 birr levied on households for the past 15 years but has now increased the charge to 176 birr.
The increase in the tariff due to the current revision is an estimated 155% making the revision a considerable one according to sources.
The rate charged by private operators for the same service has gone up from 196 birr to 500 birr it was learned.
The tariff revision is due to the increase in fuel prices and spare parts for vehicles that have been significant in the 15 years since the tariff was originally set explained Jemal Rashid, Deputy Director of the municipal authority.A sewage disposal vehicle incurs a cost of 375 birr for a single trip meaning that the authority will still be subsidizing a great percentage of the cost claimed Jemal.
The authority has been considering the revision in tariff in the past two years and it was finally endorsed by the authority and the city administration earlier this month he noted.
Source: The Reporter
