Kim Tae-gyun, the head of the Seoul Waterworks Authority. (Photos: Seoul Waterworks Authority)

Effective July, tap water charges imposed on Seoulites will increase for the first time in nine years. The Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG) announced the application of tap water fee increases and an overhaul of the fee system starting from July in accordance with the revision of SMG’s ordinances, approved by Seoul City Council on May 4.

The move means tap water will be more expensive and the progressive charging system will be abolished. SMG decided to raise tap water charges by an average 73 won per ton of water for three years starting in July until 2023, based on investment amounts, to be poured into tap water production facilities for the next five years.

As a result, tap water unit prices will rise from current 565 won per ton to 590 won this year, to 688 won next year and to 786 won in 2023.

The step will allow the water charge rationalization rate to surge from 80 percent compared to its production unit prices in 2019 to 93.4 percent in 2023, sufficing to more than 90 percent, the levels recommended by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety (MOIS).

Household tap water charges will rise to 390 won per ton in 2021, 480 won in 2022 and 580 won in 2023.

The progressive charging system has been revoked. Calculated at the average per capita tap water consumption standing at 6 ton, a one-person family will be charged an additional 180 won per month on average.

A household with two members and a family with three persons will face an additional 360 won and 720 won annually, respectively.

Currently, there are four water supply categories – household use, public sector use, general public use and bathhouse use.

The general public use and public sector use categories will be integrated, so the water supply categories will be simplified to three.

Tap water charges for public organizations, schools and hospital are determined according to a public entity charging category in consideration of their public interests, lower than the general public use category.

There are many public entities, which are accommodated at commercial buildings, not worth having a separate charging category, so they are unified into the general public use category, SMG officials said.

The progressive charging system in which tap water charges are imposed in three stages according to each business will be gradually phased out. The progressive charging system will be revoked for household tap water from July and other users will have the system abolished over two years until next year.

Small businesses will have their tap water charges reduced on a temporarily basis. According to the amendment to SMG’s ordinances, small businesses have charges for half of tap water consumption for six months between July and December discounted. Specifics, including the scope and application standards, are to be finalized soon.

A whole view of the Ttukdo Tap Water Purification Center of the Seoul Waterworks Authority.

Seoul Waterworks Authority Considers Reducing Tap Water Charges for the Handicapped

SMG and Seoul Waterworks Authority are considering a reduction in tap water charges for the handicapped starting next Jan. 1 following the raising of tap water charges, effective July 1.

According to SMG and Seoul Waterworks Authority, a process of revising SMG’s ordinances gets under way.

Officials with Seoul Waterworks Authority said Seoul Waterworks Authority is considering lowering tap water charges for the handicapped, as Mayor Oh Se-hoon pledged to do so during his campaigning.