Beijing Water Prices to Rise, but Consumers Barely Affected

Steven Schwankert | May 26, 2014 12:00 pm | 3 comments | 2259 reads

Think twice about taking that second shower, even on a 35-degree day. Beijing water prices are set to rise this month, but for once, individual consumers, who also use the smallest amount of water, will pay the least, and commercial users will see the biggest increases.

The price per cubic meter of water will rise from four yuan to five yuan, only a one yuan increase for residential users, whereas businesses like car washes and bath houses will be charged up to RMB 160 per cubic meter, Reuters reported, along with olf courses and ski resorts. The report did not include the rates industrial users such as factories and power plants will pay.

The rates are still comparatively low, considering the scarcity of water available to Beijing. Beijing uses 3.6 billion cubic meters of water per year, the report said, with 100 cubic meters per person available, which is only 10 percent of the United Nations' standard for a "danger threshold," it said. 

Aquifers (underground water supplies) around Beijing are almost 13 meters lower than 1998 levels, the report said, which might explain why Beijing has the occasional sinkhole.

One cubic meter of water contains 1,000 liters (the metric system is so logical that way). An average consumer uses 35 liters of water when taking a shower. 

Photo: Fast Company

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tomarnstein's picture tomarnstein Submitted by Guest on Mon, 05/26/2014 - 16:54

mtnerror, you're undoubtedly correct that in some cases the added price will come at the cost of the consumer so there will be a knock-on effect. In this case, 'consumers' refers to households and individuals ie. not companies.

Also, looking at the original Reuters article, golf courses and ski resorts will also incur the RB 160 fee – the same as car washes and bath houses, not the same as before. Apologies if that was unclear.

Managing Editor, the Beijinger

mtnerror's picture mtnerror Submitted by Guest on Mon, 05/26/2014 - 12:45

Any cost increases on commercial rates will simply be shouldered by their customers, so I'm a bit confused by the title.

There are a lot of elderly who use bath houses and seeing as most of them are on fixed incomes, it is going to affect consumers in that regard, too. Car owners the same.

Why the rates didn't go up for leisure activities such as golf courses and ski resorts is beyond me. Not only are they water intensive recreation, but typically recreation for the few rather than the masses (such as bathing and even car washing, as there are certainly more auto owners than skiiers and golfters in this town).

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