Eastern Water provider will increase water charges

Eastern Water Resources Development and Management Plc will increase water charges in July to offset its high electricity costs.

Company President and CEO Wanchai Lawatanatrakul said rising oil prices have pushed up costs of electricity used to power water distribution by 10% or about 30 to 40 satang per cubic meter so adjustment of water charges is necessary.

Mr Wanchai, however, said only industrial factories, now being charged 8 baht per cubic meter, will have to pay more.
Home users will still be charged the current rate of 5 baht per cubic meter, he said.

Mr Wanchai guaranteed adequate water supplies for both the agricultural and industrial sectors this year as the La Nina phenomenon was expected to cause a lot of rain in the Southeast Asian region.

Eastern Water now has a combined 270 million cubic meters of water in various reservoirs while demand for this year was estimated to be 210 million cubic meters, he said.