The regional Minister of the Economy, Willy Borsus, has indeed responded favorably to the request made to this effect in mid-June by the Walloon water company (SWDE), he indicated, Tuesday evening, in committee of the Walloon parliament, when he was questioned on the subject by Marie-Martine Schyns (Les Engagés), Philippe Dodrimont (MR) and Jori Dupont (PTB). The “true distribution cost” (CVD) – i.e. the costs borne by the water distribution company to capture water, treat it, store it and distribute it to each consumer – will thus drop from 2.62 to 2.80 euros. This will result, for average consumption, in an increase in the bill of 16 euros per year, or 1.33 euros per month.
“My water price policy has always been clear: to be accepted, increases must not exceed the inflation rate noted by the Planning Office and be justified,” defended the minister. In the case of SWDE, the price had not changed since 2014 and since that date, “the company has pursued a proactive policy of reducing its operating costs – by 24 million euros per year – in order in particular to maintain an investment capacity”, continued Willy Borsus.
“The requested increase was necessary to guarantee the modernization of equipment and the supply of water to the population,” he assured.