On October 19, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Unitary enterprise "Vitebskvodokanal" is confident that the transition to differentiated payment for water supply and sanitation services for residents of the regional center will be painless, reports a BELTA correspondent. According to the water sales department, the average water consumption per resident in Vitebsk is 3-4 cubic meters of hot and cold water combined per month, while 4.2 cubic meters will be paid at the preferential tariff from October 1. Thus, most citizens will not feel the changes in the calculation scheme. Changes in the water supply payment system will not affect residents of other districts and cities of the region. An analysis conducted in the first half of the year showed that in district centers, people consume an average of 2.5-3 cubic meters of water per month per person, in Novopolotsk - 3.6 cubic meters, in Orsha they also stay within the norm, only in Polotsk do citizens consume more than 5 cubic meters of water per month. The cost of water for the population is not comparable to the costs of extraction, purification, supply, and disposal. It is a very resource-intensive cycle; only electricity for supplying Vitebsk with water costs Br2.5 billion per month, and the cost of 1 cubic meter of water in the regional center is Br1680. In the districts, this amount is several times higher. Savings will benefit both residents and the housing and communal services. According to specialists, saving water in everyday life is not difficult. It is necessary to turn off the taps, do not turn on the water at full pressure, and instead of a bath, take a shower: water consumption when washing in the shower is half that when taking a bath. From October 1, by resolution of the Council of Ministers of Belarus, charges for water supply and sanitation services are levied on citizens residing in apartments equipped with individual water consumption meters, at tariffs established by the legislation of Belarus, within the water consumption volumes per resident of 140 liters per day. Payment for water supply and sanitation services consumed in excess of the established volume is charged at tariffs that ensure full reimbursement of economically justified costs for their provision. -0-

BELTA