City councillors have finally approved the enforcement of a regulation to charge Bangkok residents for wastewater treatment after 14 years of vacillation.
The new city ordinance has been in place since 2004 but it has not been implemented. In calculating wastewater treatment fees, 80% of the total amount of tap water used by households and businesses each month (in cubic metres) is to used as the baseline.
The regulation, which is supported by many Bangkok residents, was given the green light at the council on Wednesday. It is now waiting to be endorsed by Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang.
"Up to 80% of 1,111 people surveyed by City Hall officials agree with the fee collections," said Kamron Komolsupakit, who chairs a panel considering the draft regulation.
It divides city residents into three groups, including private homes and commercial businesses. The regulation determines a range of fees from two to eight baht a cubic metre.
Normal households will be required to pay two baht per cubic metre, estimated to result in a bill of 50 baht at most, Mr Kamron said.
The rate increases to four baht for commercial buildings and eight baht for factories, he said.
"The city will charge people in 21 districts first," Mr Kamron said, referring to districts which are using wastewater treatment service provided by eight treatment facilities run by City Hall. There are 50 districts in Bangkok.
Once the regulation takes effect, City Hall expects to earn additional revenue of about 500 million baht a year from the fees.