Istanbul Municipality raises city water prices by 15 percent
The Istanbul Municipality has bumped water unit prices by 15 percent, which will immediately come into effect.
Ferhat Yaşar / Gazete Duvar
The opposition-run Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality on Nov. 22 decided to increase city water prices by 15 percent in the megacity.
The decision was approved by the municipal council, which will immediately come into effect.
Accordingly, the unit price of the first stage between 0-15 cubic meters in residences increased from 20.62 liras to 23.72 liras, the second stage between 15-30 cubic meters from 29.68 liras to 34.15 liras, and the third stage of 30 cubic meters and above from 40.42 liras to 46.49 liras.
Experts and officials have been warning about potential drought and lack of water supply in the megacity due to low levels of occupancy rate in Istanbul's dam reservoirs and not adequate rainfall compared to previous years.
In October, the government-run Turkish Statistical Institute (TÜİK) reported an annual inflation rate of 61.36 percent, whereas the independent inflation group ENAG put the figure at 126.18 percent.
(English version by Alperen Şen)