Spanish
Santo Domingo.- The Santo Domingo Aqueduct and Sewerage Corporation (Caasd) approved a new tariff scheme for the drinking water service, which establishes the charge per cubic meter (m³) and applies progressive increases according to the level of consumption, both for residential, commercial and industrial users.
The measure, contained in a resolution of the Board of Directors of the Caasd, redefines the billing conditions for network water, well water, and sanitary sewage, marking a structural change by moving from mostly fixed or estimated rates to a model based on the actual volume consumed.
For residential users with metered service, the rate was set at RD$6 per cubic meter up to a monthly consumption of 32 m³. From that limit, the price increases to RD$8 per m³ for additional consumption.
In the case of businesses, the Caasd established a rate of RD$21 per m³ within basic consumption and RD$24 per m³ for the excess. While for industrial users, the cost will be RD$25 per m³ up to the basic quota and RD$28 per m³ for additional consumption, both for industries that use water as a raw material and for those that do not.
The resolution also introduces differences depending on the water source. In the case of well water, the measured residential rate will be RD$1 per m³, while for commercial, official, and industrial users it was set at RD$10 per m³, without distinction between basic and excess consumption.
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Furthermore, a sanitation sewerage charge is established, equivalent to 30% of the amount billed for the water service for residential users and 50% for non-residential users, provided that a network is available in the area. The new tariff framework also includes a 2% monthly late fee for invoices over 60 days past due, as well as charges for service disconnection and reconnection, which will vary depending on the diameter of the connection and the existence or not of a meter.Although the Caasd has not published an official assessment of the global impact of the measure, significant increases in bills are already being reported in different sectors of the Santo Domingo province. In Herrera, a resident indicated that their bill went from RD$144 to RD$536, while a company in San Isidro reported an increase of approximately RD$5,000 to more than RD$26,000 monthly.
So far, the corporation has not reported whether a transition period or adjustments will be applied for users, while households and businesses begin to request clarifications on the measurement methodology, consumption ranges, and complaint mechanisms for possible billing discrepancies.
