Opinion
Make the wealthy pay for wasting water resources
By Meng Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-12-17 08:03
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A 72-year-old retired professor believes a user-pays pricing scheme would reduce water consumption in Beijing and ease the cost burden on the poor.
Shen Lenian, who retired from Tsinghua University about six years ago, said 36.7 percent of Beijing families use less than 5 cu m water every month. While 44.1 percent of the families use 5 to 10 cu m water and 19.2 percent use more than 10 cu m of water.
"From what I have learned, most citizens in Beijing seldom waste water. Those who use too much water are usually rich," Shen told the forum.
"Rich people wouldn't be bothered if the price is increased by 0.90 yuan (13 cents), I think we need to come up with an idea to make them feel the pain if they continue wasting water."
Under Shen's plan, people who use less than 2 cu m water per month would continue to be charged the current price of 3.7 yuan per cu m.
For those who use between 2 to 4 cu m water a month, the first 2 cu m water would be charged at 3.7 yuan per cu m, and the additional amount would be charged at 4.0 yuan.
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For those that use more water, the first 2 cu m would remain at 3.7 yuan, but the extra would be asked for 8.1 yuan per cu m.
"The more they use, the more they will be charged. This is for the sake of fairness," Shen said.
The government said the implementation of a staggered pricing was very difficult due to the large population of immigrants in Beijing, a lack of statistical techniques and varied living conditions of some Beijing residents.
