Residents in the outskirts of Juba have raised concerns over unprecedented rise in water prices and called on the government to impose a regulation on charges levied on residents by water bowsers.
Commercial water suppliers—on whom Juba residents rely—have initially pegged a 240-liter drum at SSP300. Amid a deteriorating economy, the price scaled up to 500. But in residential areas at the outskirts of the capital, consumers pay up to SSP 1,000.
Traders and water suppliers alike have taken advantage of the market volatility and its lack of regulation thereof to peg prices of commodities at will. The impact is hugely felt by middle and low-salaried citizens.
“The salary of other employees is only SSP2800. Now the water costs SSP1,000 in far places like Jebel Dinka and Gureyi and you need part of that money to buy food and part of it for school,” Egidio Osvaldo, Head of Public Work and Land Affairs at Juba City Legislative Assembly said.
“But because water is life, you forego others and buy water. Now look at this problem,” he added during a summon of water suppliers by August House Monday over the high price of water in Juba.
Nearly doubled
Betty Mande, a mother of two and resident of Lologo told City Review that she used to buy water at 300 SSP. However, from March this year, the price of water drastically increased to 500 SSP.
Mande says despite the price hike, water tankers do not frequent the area and in case they do, the water comes in short supply.
“We cannot do without water, we know the prices has increased but there is no way, the little money we get we use for buying at least a drum of water because we used it for drinking and cooking. Sometimes the water is not available because the tankers don’t come always,” said Mande.
“We are also appealing to the government to make sure that the prices of water are reduced because everything in the market has very high cost,” she added.
Head Committee for Public Order and Security, George Ben Young waned that water companies and water tankers drivers should consult the city council before raising water prices, dismissing claims by suppliers that price increases were a result of expensive water treatment chemicals.
“What we know is that the price of the chemicals for water treatment they are talking about has not increased, we have the record,” said.
Chairperson of Juba City Legislative Assembly, Peter Paulino Loro, admitted the local order has been issued to reduce the price of water in Juba but the order was not implemented by the water companies, and water tankers despite South Sudanese Pounds gaining weight against the United States Dollars.
“We got the complaint from the water tanker drivers that the increment of the price of water was from the water companies producing clean drinking water. Now, where is the increment coming from?” questioned Paulino.
However, the Chairperson of the Water Companies Union, Peter Yugu Sube, said that increment of the price of water came as a result of dollar exchange rate against South Sudanese Pounds because the chemicals they use for water purification are bought from outside the country.
Alfonse Keny Jele, the Deputy of Water Companies Union, said the population in Juba does not understand how water price increases come about.
“When we increase the price of water we look at the situation and we also don’t want the companies to make loses. We also want to survive [make profit],” said Kenyi.
Like prices of commodities, water prices are not regulated and hence they vary from one residential area to the next.
For residents near the Nile River, bowsers charge SSP 500 for a 240-liter drum. In Munuki, the charges range from SSP 500, 600, to 700.
In Gudele, a resident pays between SSP 600, 700, and 800 for the same drum. In Jebel Yesua, Jebel Dinka, and Gureyi, the price ranges from SSP 800 – 1000.
This volatility is an indication that the prices could drop or rise. But in most cases, it is the former.