Irschenberg - A huge increase in prices is waiting for the citizens of the municipality of Irschenberg.
In its most recent meeting, the local council increased the fees for water and wastewater significantly.
The price of water has risen by 21.4 percent, and wastewater disposal by as much as 47.4 percent.
As Mayor Klaus Meixner (CSU) explained in the local council, the increase is long overdue.
"We have been behind for three years," he reported.
That means: The fee level has not covered costs for some time.
In general, the fees for water supply and wastewater disposal should be designed in such a way that costs are covered.
With these two compulsory tasks, municipalities should not generate any profits, but neither should they incur losses.
Therefore the fees now have to be corrected.
So far, 1.90 euros have been incurred for disposal per cubic meter of wastewater.
This is increased to 2.80 euros.
This is based on a more complicated calculation, as Meixner explained.
Because actually cost recovery would be achieved at 2.72 euros.
“But experience has shown that the increase means that more attention is paid to the water and savings are made.” The result is less consumption and thus less income and thus no cost recovery.
Therefore, the new fee had to be set a little higher.
"So," emphasized the mayor, "we come out with zero."
In the case of water, the increase is not quite as severe.
Here the price has risen from 1.40 euros gross per cubic meter to 1.70 euros in the future.
The net amount is 1.59 euros.
Elaborate procedures
As the manager Irmgard Dinges explains to our newspaper when asked, the operating costs in the areas of water and wastewater have remained constant for years.
The last change in the wastewater area was made in 2016.
The calculations for cost recovery would have been between 2.40 and three euros in recent years.
"No extraordinary costs are taken into account here," says Dinges, "but we have many pumping stations in use that are complex." In addition, there is an old pipe system and the new development in sewage sludge disposal with drying, pressing and removal.
"That drives up the costs."
Compulsory cost coverage
The requirements and specifications have also increased in the water supply.
"With the general rise in prices, there is no longer any cover to be achieved here", states Dinges.
“The jump to the last increase in 2018 is not that great, but it is urgently needed.
The areas of sewage and water must cover costs. "
The new fees for water and wastewater will only apply from October 1, 2021. “It's a clean step, but we can't get by,” the mayor stated.
In the case of the water, the costs for the refurbishment of the well are not even included, "otherwise we'll end up somewhere completely different".
New sewage treatment plant means next increase
The end of the cost increase has not yet been reached for wastewater either.
Because in the course of the new construction of the sewage treatment plant, which should be estimated at around 6.5 million euros and must be passed on to the consumer, the fee will also increase.
But this is a different topic, said Meixner: "The current increase has absolutely nothing to do with the new sewage treatment plant."
There was no need for discussion on the part of the council members.
They unanimously approved both fee increases.
ddy