Gochang-gun, Jeollabuk-do has decided to freeze water supply fees for the first half of this year to alleviate the financial burden on its residents.
According to the county on the 15th, due to the recent increase in heating costs and the growing living expenses of residents, the water supply fees will not be raised for the time being.
The county receives its entire metropolitan water supply from Buan Dam. Since the water supply fee was raised by 12.5% in 2017, it has been frozen until now.
However, it is not possible to postpone the fee increase to secure financial soundness. The rising production costs of water supply, demands from the Gochang County Council to establish a plan for realistic water supply fees, and the continuous increase in net losses over the past three years (a deficit of 1.7 billion KRW in 2021) have been ongoing issues.
Last year, the county conducted a "Service for Enhancing Realistic Water Supply Fees," which revealed that the production cost per ton of tap water was 2,030 KRW, while the supply price was only 652 KRW. The fee increase factor was as high as 211.2%.
The county's water supply fee realization rate is also 32.1%, which is extremely low compared to the Jeollabuk-do average of 72.9% and the national average of 73.6%.
The county plans to review whether to raise fees after the second half of the year by accurately assessing its assets through a "revaluation of assets" in the special account for water supply public enterprises.
A county official said, "We hope this water supply fee freeze will help residents struggling with rapidly rising living costs," and added, "Since water supply fees are usage fees paid according to consumption, not taxes, we ask for the active participation of all residents in saving tap water."
Gochang = Kim Jaegil, Honam Reporting Headquarters, Asia Economy baekok@asiae.co.kr
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
