PETALING JAYA: The new water tariffs for Selangor have been announced, and consumers will see their water bills go up by a minimum of 50sen starting Feb 1.

       Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari said the minimum charge for domestic users would be adjusted from RM6 currently to RM6.50.

       In a statement on Thursday (Jan 18), he said households using up to 20 cubic metres of water a month would be charged 65 sen per cubic metre instead of 57 sen currently, an increase of eight sen.

       ALSO READ: New water tariff rates from Feb 1

       Those using between 20 and 35 cubic metres every month would pay RM1.32 per cubic metre instead of RM1.03 currently.

       Meanwhile, those who use more than 35 cubic metres a month would pay RM2.63 per cubic metre instead of RM2 currently.

       Amirudin said that Malaysian citizens residing in Selangor with household income of RM5,000 a month or less can apply for free water by visiting the Air Selangor website.

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       He said the Selangor government will would bear the cost increase for 285,673 accounts that are recipients of the state's free water scheme (Sade). This means that the current yearly cost of RM31.8mil will now rise to RM37.3mil.

       However, he assured that the tariff adjustment would enable Air Selangor to double its replacement of broken and leaky pipes from 150km a year to 300km a year.

       In addition to maintenance and improvement works as well as new water pipes for areas experiencing low water pressure, the new rates will also enable the construction of a new water treatment plant to increase the water reserve margin to 20% by 2030.

       Amirudin further said that the new rates will be instrumental in ensuring that the level of water quality delivered is maintained at 99%, with the addition of an online analyser in accordance with the standards set by the Health Ministry.