The National Directorate for Water Services (DNSA) in 2014 collected $129,049.83 in tariffs from the supply of clean water services to the community to be used by the State towards national development.
DNSA Director Gustavo da Cruz said the government has started applying a clean water tariff in nine villages in the District of Dili, comprising 2.808 families but this tariff system excludes the majority of the residents of Dili because water distribution in the capital is still limited.
Tariffs applied by DNSA consist of .20 cents per 1000 cubic litres of clear water but tariff will increase depending on water usage.
“In 2015 we will try making improvements to the system so all communities can get access to clean water and so we can apply the water tariff,” said Director da Cruz, in Caicoli, Dili.
The Director said the revenue for clean water services that DNSA has collected is not only from the supply of clean water but also from laboratory costs and water systems installation in the community.
Director da Cruz acknowledges some suburbs in Dili still do not have access to clean water but those that are paying water tariffs are guaranteed access to clean water 24 hours a day.
Meanwhile Member of Parliament MP Natalino do Nascimento said much more can be done to improve contributions towards domestic revenue but that government’s policies towards the collection of taxes from electricity and water supply services are still not strong enough.
He added despite substantial investment from the government every year in both the electricity and water sectors, revenue generated by these two sectors is still relatively small.
Meanwhile Comoro resident Jeremias da Silva said a good citizen is obliged to contribute to the nation’s development through paying taxes for electricity and water usage but the system has to be improved to avoid any conflicts emerging in the community.
“Many people pay the water tariff but many people still aren’t paying,” he said.
“I think the system needs to be improved so that everyone has to pay the tariff because at the moment only some pay and others use water for free,” he added.
