Incheon Sewage Charges to Increase by an Average of 10% Starting January Next Year

20% Discount for Households with 3 or More Children Under 18

Incheon Seunggi Wastewater Treatment Plant
[Photo by Incheon City]

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] Sewerage fees in the Incheon area will increase by an average of 10% starting January next year.

Incheon City announced on the 28th that it will raise sewerage fees by an average of 10% from the January meter readings (billed in February) next year to reflect the actual cost of treatment, which has been below the current fees.

Accordingly, if a household discharges 10 tons of sewage per month, the fee will increase from 3,200 KRW to 3,500 KRW, and for 20 tons discharged, the fee will rise from 8,300 KRW to 9,100 KRW.

However, a system will be introduced to provide a 20% discount on sewerage fees for multi-child families with three or more children under the age of 18. Applications can be made by visiting the local administrative welfare center starting January next year.

The city plans to use the secured funds from the sewerage fee increase for the maintenance of aging sewer pipelines and improvement projects for public sewage treatment facilities.

Since 2016, sewerage fees in Incheon have been frozen, resulting in an average annual loss of 14.7 billion KRW. The financial status of the Sewerage Business Special Account has deteriorated, causing difficulties in advancing projects such as the modernization of the Seunggi sewage treatment facility and the expansion of the Mansu sewage treatment facility.

The Sewerage Business Special Account operates on an independent accounting basis and must cover sewerage-related project costs through income from sewerage fees and other revenues.

An Incheon city official stated, "To resolve the chronic deficit of the Sewerage Business Special Account and to facilitate smooth sewerage business operations, we have revised the 'Sewerage Usage Ordinance.' We plan to increase sewerage fees by an average of 10% annually over three years from next year through 2023."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.