Abstract
In 2005, the Brussels-Capital Region switched from linear pricing to progressive pricing per person because the latter was supposed to be social and ecological. We show that poor households do not consume less water per person than rich households in Belgium and Brussels. Tiered pricing therefore does not benefit poor households and is not social. We also point out that there is no evidence that progressive pricing has encouraged Brussels residents to reduce their already low water consumption. It would therefore not be environmentally friendly either. On the other hand, progressive pricing has a number of disadvantages and leads to serious problems of equity. We therefore advocate a return to linear water pricing for all in Brussels.
Highlights
On 1 January 2005, a tiered pricing scale known as “solidarity pricing” was introduced. It is based on the principle of an increase in the price of water according to the total volume consumed per person, in four bands
We propose some considerations for the implementation of a new pricing scheme by 1 January 2022
Payment is made on the basis of a deposit or a flat rate established by the person responsible for the water meter
Summary
Waarom geen einde maken aan de progressieve tarifering voor water in Brussel? Pourquoi ne pas en finir avec la tarification progressive de l'eau à Bruxelles ?. Electronic reference Xavier May, Pauline Bacquaert, Jean-Michel Decroly, Léa de Guiran, Chloé Deligne, Pierre Lannoy and Valentina Marziali, “Why not do away with tiered water pricing in Brussels? ”, Brussels Studies [Online], General collection, no 156, Online since 09 May 2021, connection on 16 September 2021. This text was automatically generated on 16 September 2021
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