A liter of water costs the Dutch consumer 0.00072 cents. Far too little, according to Hans Middendorp of the General Water Company. He would like us all to pay a little more for our water in order to be more aware of it.
“It’s too crazy for words. We have the cleanest drinking water in the Netherlands and we just let it run away. Many people are sleeping in the shower,” he tells EditieNL. “Perhaps if the water costs five euros per shower, you would be more inclined to stand under it for a little less time.”
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What does water cost?
On average, we consume 130 liters of water per day. Flushing the toilet costs 0.0043 cents each time. Filling an average children’s pool costs 0.17 cents and watering the garden for fifteen minutes costs 0.036 cents.
Source: Vitens
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But the price of water cannot just go up. “Water is so cheap because, according to the United Nations, everyone has the right to affordable drinking water,” explains Jan Peter van der Hoek, professor of drinking water supply. “You shouldn’t make it more expensive to make it a scarce commodity and reduce its use. Because the production costs are not high.”
The price won’t stop people from using water. “If you look at what you pay for internet and your phone, water is a lot cheaper.”
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The General Water Board Party argues in favor of making water levies variable. So that, just like with gas and electricity, you pay more if you use more.
Nevertheless, consumer psychologist Patrick Wessels does not think that this will ensure that we use water more economically. “People don’t really care what it costs because you don’t pay for it when you consume it,” he explains. “People don’t feel it immediately in their wallets. Some people may complain a little bit about a price increase and others may use less water in the beginning. But when the bill comes, a year later, that effect will be gone.”
Little effect
“You also have that later bill with gas, of course, but the increase is so high that people can get into trouble at the end of the month.” Water should not become so expensive because it is a basic necessity of life. “So those few extra euros will have little effect.”
It is better to let shower sleepers use an hourglass or shower timer in the bathroom. “Then you are reminded of it at the moment itself. That works a lot better than afterwards.”
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