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The State could choose to increase the price of water to finance the renovation of the water distribution network, presented as "obsolete". An average increase of 3.30 euros per month for a family is mentioned by the actors of the sector
Is a rise in water prices to be feared for the coming months? In any case, this is one of the ideas put forward by the government in the first phase of the Assises de l'eau.
Last November, Emmanuel Macron had himself pointed out, in front of the mayors of France, the need to release means to put an end to "the dilapidated networks" and "mbadive leaks" on some of them.
One liter out of five is lost in the networks
Indeed, according to an badessment of the Ministry of ecological and solidarity transition, one liter out of five is currently lost in the networks. This despite important differences between the municipalities. In question ? The underinvestment of some communities to renew their infrastructure (pipes, connections, …).
Result: The replacement rate of the pipes is about 0.6% per year, which means that it often takes more than 100 years to renew all the pipes of a municipality, whose duration of life is much lower.
To finance these investments, "it would be necessary to invest 1.5 to 2 billion additional euros per year", which would be added to the 6 billion currently spent, estimates the president of the Federation of the companies of water (FP2E), Frédéric Van Heems. A diagnosis shared by almost all the actors in the sector.
The Federation puts forward the idea of an increase of 10% on average on the bill, emphasizing in particular that the French are among the Europeans who pay the least for access to water. A percentage that would represent according to her 3.30 euros extra per month for a family. The president of the basin committee (sort of local parliament of the water management) Loire-Brittany, Thierry Burlot, speaks him on his side of a rise of one euro per cubic meter.
To " a price floor of water "
" We are moving towards the introduction of a price floor of water, "he told AFP Jean Launay, coordinator of these Assises. A system sometimes used, but it would be generalize. "A low price is often the sign that the price only finances the daily management but not the renewal", explains Patricia Blanc, general director of the Seine-Normandy Water Agency.
This price floor could be apply on the share drinking water of the bill, according to Jean Launay, and differ from one territory to another. Currently the French pay on average about 2 euros per m3 in France (and nearly 4 euros by adding the share corresponding to sanitation), a price however very variable from one municipality to another.
An unpopular measure
Remains to accept this new price increase to the French. "The budget constraints lead us to make difficult choices: the first phase of the Assises de l'eau showed that the bulk of infrastructure funding should come from the water bill," confirmed last week the Minister Nicolas Hulot in front of the deputies.
"To increase in a minor way the price of the water is not a problem" provided to "explain this rise to the consumer" and to help the precarious households, estimates Adrien Morenas, deputy LREM and chairman of a parliamentary information mission on water resources. Initially planned this Tuesday, July 17, the conclusions of the first part of the Assises will not be made before the end of August beginning of September.
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