Water bill to increase by 30%

@scheng1 (24649)
Singapore
February 21, 2017 6:30am CST
In the Budget speech yesterday, our government announced that water bill to increase by 30%. There were other aspects of the Budget, but everyone on the street is talking about the steep increment, and ignore the rest. Whatever subsidy given by the government to offset the increase is an one-off, but the steep increment will mean a very pricey water bill forever. The price of water in our country is already expensive compared to many parts of the world. We do not have enough natural resources, and we have been buying water from our neighboring country all the while. Now the government is trying to build infrastructure in order to ensure consistent water supply. Personally I feel an increment in water bill is needed, but not 30%, and especially not now when the unemployment rate is increasing, and the factories and shipyards are downsizing. They could have phased in the increment by 2% every year.
9 people like this
9 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (502628)
• Italy
21 Feb 17
This is a huge increase in the water bill, I agree that they should do this gradually.
2 people like this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
22 Feb 17
The worst thing is that the utility bill is subjected to GST (VAT). That means the total increment is not just 30%. When you add in the extra tax, the increase is really high.
1 person likes this
Anna
@LadyDuck (502628)
• Italy
22 Feb 17
@scheng1 We also pay VAT on the utilities, but it's not a big deal.
1 person likes this
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Feb 17
It's a lot. Same here in our city. I see disconnection notice in our nieghbors door, other can't afford to pay the increase.
2 people like this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
21 Feb 17
For us, the situation is worse if we cannot pay the bill. We cannot get water anywhere else, since we are living in high rise apartments. There is no way to dig a well or collect rainwater.
2 people like this
Bhem
@JustBhem (70555)
• Davao, Philippines
21 Feb 17
@scheng1 Exactly. Where in the city and nowhere to dig a deep well.
1 person likes this
Lee Ka
@kaka135 (14994)
• Malaysia
21 Feb 17
That's really a lot! We always complain when it's a 10% increase, 30% is really too much. Moreover, the current water bill is already quite pricey, right?
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
22 Feb 17
Yes, the current water bill is already high. On top of the 30% increase in water bill, all utility bills are subjected to 7% GST. That means the increment is not just 30%!
Fishmomma
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
11 Mar 17
Sorry to hear your water bill is high. Water is expensive anywhere there isn't enough water.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
11 Mar 17
We do not have enough natural water. We have to buy from other country, and we have to build plants to process seawater into drinking water, and waste-water to clean water. All these cost a lot of money.
1 person likes this
youless
@youless (114117)
• Guangzhou, China
21 Feb 17
I also think it will be easier for people that the water price increases step by step. In fact here our water price is also expensive. And it charges according to different levels. If you use more water, and you have to pay for more. But it doesn't make a sense because nobody can reach the minimum level of water usage unless you don't live there.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
22 Feb 17
Yes, ours is also on escalating rate. The problem is that the water bill is subjected to 7% GST. That means the total increase is not just 30%. The government dare not increase the water bill during election year. They have to do it at a time when many people in shipyards and shipping companies are jobless. It really is bad timing.
1 person likes this
Anushaw Desai
@Aushaw (880)
•
21 Feb 17
Good political information about your country. What is the amount you pay for 1 liter of water there? In India it costs 20 rupees for a liter if I'm not wrong.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
22 Feb 17
Right now it is S$2.61 per liter. It will go up to S$3.69 per liter. That means we will be paying 174 rupees for a liter. It is a huge amount by international standard. I doubt there are many countries with higher cost of water.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
1 Mar 17
@Aushaw The worst is that all businesses need water. They will surely pass the cost to us by increasing prices.
1 person likes this
Anushaw Desai
@Aushaw (880)
•
22 Feb 17
@scheng1 Oh my god! For water that we drink, basic facility has become so costly. Your voice against is reasonable. It is really not good.
1 person likes this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (169489)
• United States
21 Feb 17
That increase sounds devastating. I think those of us with cheaper water take it for granted, possibly even wasting it.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
21 Feb 17
Yes, it is hard to imagine living in a country without enough water, and we have to rely on our neighboring country and technology to get the water we need.
1 person likes this
Dominique
@dodo19 (48166)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
21 Feb 17
I can understand raising the price, but I will admit that 30% is a lot. I'm not quite sure why they're raising it by that much, but that's just me.
1 person likes this
scheng1
@scheng1 (24649)
• Singapore
21 Feb 17
I do not understand the steep increment too. It will be manageable if they increase by just 1 or 2 percent every year. At least we have time to get used to it.
1 person likes this
Beatburn
@Beatburn (4286)
• Philippines
21 Feb 17
That's so high!
1 person likes this