What is the cost of water and sewerage services in France?
According to the latest report from the Office français de la biodiversité (OFB),the average annual charge for domestic drinking water and mains sewerage is €542 a year (2022).
The figure assumes an average annual consumption of 120 m³ per household.
The average price, including taxes, works out at €4.52/m³ (€2.21/m³ for drinking water and €2.31/m³ for collective sanitation), compared to €4.34 euros/m³ in 2021. 12% of the total charge is fixed, with the remainder variable, depending on consumption.
"Over the period 2012-2022, the average annual increase in the total price of water was 1.6%, quite close to inflation (1.3%)," states the OFB.
The increase was driven by the price of collective sanitation (+2.2% per year), compared to +1% per year for drinking water. Much of the increased cost is attributed to the significant energy price rises.
For around 5 million households not connected to main sewers, there is no sewerage charge, although such households pay for maintenance of the septic tank and the statutory inspections that are carried out on a triennial basis.
Not surprisingly there are variations across the country. "Intermediate-sized communes (between 1,000 and 50,000 inhabitants) have the highest prices on average (between €4.88/m³ and €4.95/m³)," according to the report.
On average, the prices in communes with less than 1,000 inhabitants and with more than 50,000 inhabitants are respectively €4.45/m³ and €4.25/m³.
Around 80% of the population benefits from drinking water costing between €1.67/m³ and €2.83/m³ and collective sanitation costing between €1.49/m³ and €3.22/m³.
The overall price of water is higher in the North, especially in the Northwest. Brittany (€5.04/m³) and Hauts-de-France (€5.01/m³) have the highest average prices and, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (€3.91/m³), Occitanie and the Grand-Est region (€4.12/m³) have the lowest average prices.
"A large number of factors influencing the price are linked to the local context (technical complexity of the service, water origin, sensitivity of the receiving environment, dispersion of housing, tourist pressure, etc.), but also political choices in terms of investment, management and quality of service, contribute to explaining the price differences," note the authors.
The indications are that for 2023 there was a more significant increase in the price of water, in the order of 5%. The detailed figures will be available next year.
Water and drainage services in France are provided locally, either through the local commune or through an inter-communal body, by direct management or through a private contractor.
