Lower prices for poorer people

The new tariffs will make clean water more affordable to those on lower incomes.

Credit: WaterAid / Suzanne Porter

Burkina Faso's Public Water Utility (ONEA), responsible for the provision of safe mains water to urban and semi-urban areas, has adopted a new pricing policy for the period of 2008 to 2012.

The pricing has changed to benefit those on a lower income, moving from three price blocks to four. Those on social price blocks will feel the benefit most as an extra 2m³ of water has been included in their tariff.

The General Director of ONEA stated the new pricing aims at "improving the access of consumers from a modest socio-economic condition to safe water at a rate compatible with their income."

This measure, which took effect in July, was requested by the workers' unions of Burkina Faso. The consumers will feel the first effects on their water bills in early September.

This initiative is a first step toward providing safe drinking water to the poorest urban and semi-urban areas in Burkina Faso.