Quality, reliable and sustainable service is National Water and Sewerage Corporation’s highest priority and governs every decision the corporation makes. From the supply chain to implementation of innovative technologies, procurement of essential chemicals, maintenance of machinery and daily operations. The corporation’s employees are always dedicated to deliver on the promise of reliable water supply and quality service. However, liquidity is a necessity for the NWSC to operate effectively and that is where the tariff comes in. Bringing potable water close to a homestead requires a combination of operating expenditure and capital expenditure.
NWSC has therefore over the years adopted different tariff structure changes characterized by the reduction of the connection and reconnection fees, the indexation of the tariff, the re-balancing of the tariff and the introduction of new connection policies. The corporation has a uniform tariff across all its towns of operation and said tariff structure is skewed with the less privileged communities paying less than the middle and well-to do customers. The tariff therefore has an implied cross-backing across towns and within customer categories. In here, you get to see the mantra, water for all, come to life.
Being able to know and select the right tariff is paramount in order for one to obtain the right and best value from water and sewerage services. Now before we dive into understanding the tariff, it is imperative to note that the cost of water is computed by the number of units consumed in a given period, say a month.
Starting off with the Public Stand Pipe tariff, designed strictly for individuals who sell water to the community or rather the public, this tariff is mostly embraced by low income communities and stands at UGX1,060 per m3 setting a 20 liter jerrican at UGX25.
The Domestic tariff on the other hand is a fixed annual charge which applies to residential properties and blocks basically, homes. This tariff is at UGX3,516 per m3 which means a 20liter jerrican costs UGX83
Institutions like hospitals, schools and government establishments are provided for under the Institution tariff which is at UGX3,558m3 and a 20liter jerican at UGX84.
My friends in the apartments, student hostels, hotels, supermarkets, arcades and, malls you have your water at UGX4,220m3, and a jerican is UGX99 under the Commercial tariff. Note that even those customers engaged in construction be it a home, are categorized under the commercial tariff. There is a rather interesting catch to this tariff. If you consume more than 1,500m3 a month, you get to enjoy a discount of UGX20, setting your 20liter jerican cost at UGX79.
The industrial tariff is applicable to consumers who predominantly process raw materials into finished products. Simply put, factories and is priced at UGX4,220 thus UGX99 per 20 liter jerrican. This tariff also appreciates consumers who consume more than 1000ms with a UGX40 discount resulting into a UGX59 pricing per 20liter jerrican.
In comparison to daily commodities at a modest market, a mineral water bottle is at UGX1000 at the public tap this is 40 jericans, and 12 jericans at the domestic tariff, a beer is averagely UGX3500, that is 140 jericans at the public tap and 42 jericans at the domestic. As for plantain, a common delicacy in Kampala, a bunch is averagely UGX20,000 on a fair day and if I were at the public tap this would translate into 800 jericans and 240, at the domestic tariff.
Particularly, NWSC Water and Sewerage rates are subject to annual indexation effective 1st July of every year, to protect it against the domestic Price Index, exchange rate, foreign price Index and electricity tariff (Energy charges).
Written by: Mark Kimbugwe
