Water consumption per capita down, prices to rise next month

The Marine and Water Bureau (DSAMA) has published the 2013/2014 Macau Water Resources Status Report, which showed a drop in daily water consumption per capita among Macau residents.
Meanwhile, the Macau government will adjust the water price calculation mechanism. Some have worried that it will lead to businesses shifting the extra expense to consumers.
According to the report, the total water consumption in 2013 was 78.45 million cubic meters. Residential and commercial water consumption both account for 43 percent of the total water consumption.
Typically, the average Macau resident consumed 151 liters of water per day.  This is a slight decrease by 0.4 of a liter from the 152 liters a year ago, with water usage dropping for the fourth consecutive year. However, commercial consumption of water ceased to grow in 2013.
The report also suggested that Macau’s total water consumption in 2019 will reach between 90 million and 110 million cubic meters. The figure will further surge to 120 cubic meters in 2024.
In other news, the government has announced the new water prices in the Government Gazette, which will see an increase from 0.9 percent to 15 percent starting next month.
Over a period of two months, residential users will be paying MOP4.39 per cubic meter – an increase of 0.9 percent – for the first 28 cubic meters of water consumption. The increase will be between 3.1 percent to MOP4.98 per cubic meter for the next 32 cubic meters a resident consumes. Prices will reach MOP5.59 per cubic meter for those who use more than 60 cubic meters of water in two months. An additional factor is added so that when users reach a water consumption rate of 79 cubic meters or more every two months, the water price will increase to MOP6.26 per cubic meters.
Increases in water prices for those who consume water at a higher volume (mostly businesses) is the most significant of them all, reaching 15 percent to MOP6.68 per cubic meter. The regular non-residential water consumption will also see a six percent increase to MOP5.59 per cubic meter.
The vice-president of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, Fong Kin Fu, told TDM that although the cost of water does not account for a great proportion of the operational costs of businesses, the 15 percent increase for higher volume water consumers may cause businesses to adjust their prices as well. He believes that the water price adjustment will soon be visible in the market. “[The impact of the water price increase] will be more significant for Chinese restaurants and restaurants focusing on beverage services,” he said. JPL