Most municipalities have a social water tariff, but many charge high prices

Most municipalities have already adopted the social tariff for water supply , sanitation and urban waste, but many continue to charge prices above the recommended level, warns DECO Proteste, which advocates the automatic allocation of support.

According to the report released this Wednesday by DECO Proteste, the majority of municipalities have already adopted the social water tariff, but many do not guarantee the economic accessibility of services, especially in the water supply.

Among the 231 municipalities with a social tariff for water supply, 149 charge prices above the 1% effort rate recommended by the Water and Waste Service Regulatory Authority and, therefore, even for those who benefit from that support, economic accessibility is not guaranteed.

Adherence to the social water tariff is not mandatory and, according to DECO Proteste, there are still 47 local authorities that do not practice it in their water supply, a failure that the organization says contributes to the “persistence of significant inequalities”.

Although the situation is more worrying in the case of water supply, the problem remains in relation to water sanitation, with 92 of the 237 municipalities that signed up to the social tariff charging prices above the recommended level. On the other hand, in 39 municipalities this support is not even available.

In the case of solid and urban waste, the majority (227) guarantee the economic accessibility of the service, but there are 19 municipalities with a social tariff that do not do so and 30 where it is not available.

“Overcoming these obstacles is essential to ensure that all eligible families can enjoy the benefits of the social tariff”, DECO Proteste highlights in a statement, adding that the lack of information also creates difficulties in access.

Therefore, DECO Proteste advocates the automatic allocation of the social water tariff, similar to what happens in the electricity sector.

On the other hand, it advocates the harmonization of eligibility criteria, which vary between municipalities, and greater transparency in the disclosure of the tariff.

“There are many positive examples of how the social tariff can make a difference and municipalities, by joining and simplifying access to this benefit, will be building a fairer and more inclusive future for everyone”, argues DECO Proteste spokesperson, Mariana Ludovino, quoted in a statement.