While many focus on bringing in “renewables” to solve our ills, water is one of those resources where it is difficult to renew.

We can reduce our consumption or we can run out.

Pretty simple equation, but one that is made difficult when the resource is improperly priced and the “average consumer” consumes not as if the resource is scarce, but as if it is cheap and plentiful.

Well, as we have highlighted on numerous occasions, water is a scarce resource in China. Very Scarce.

To address this, the issue of pricing has always been one of those issues that was recognized as an important issue in the context of China’s overall water management strategy, but until now little has been done.

Although, it should be said that increasing prices at any level has been a no no for the last 18 months.

Perhaps that is about to change

The Shanghai Development and Reform Commission made two proposals on water pricing earlier this month.

In one, prices would be raised to 2.8 yuan (US$41 cents) per cubic meter. In the other, a graduated system would be introduced under which residents would pay 2.61 yuan per cubic meter for the first 15 cubic meters used in a month. The charge would rise to 3.92 yuan for amounts over 15 cubic meters and to 5.22 yuan for more than 25 cubic meters.

It is made all the more interesting as these proposals were put forward in the presence of the public, and their opinions were a part of the overall process:

A total of 20 residents expressed views about water prices yesterday. Most preferred the first proposal, as they believed it was easy to operate, and more reasonable.

So, while not locked in stone yet, I am going to take this as a step closer to seeing a higher water bill.