Alsancak - new water charges ?

treemancyprus


Joined: 13/08/2008
Posts: 82

Message Posted:
20/01/2011 18:56

Last month, the sayaç kira, (the rental of the water meter), went up from 1 tl to 5 tl. I used 2 tonnes of water, and was charged 1 tl for tüketim tutarı (consumption total).



No one at the belediye office seemed to be able to explain what had caused the increase - does anyone know ? - Alsancak has always had what I consider to be a fair water charging system, charging 1 tl per month for meter rental, then charging for each tonne as used. I understand Lapta, for example, charge 10 tl per month, to cover the first 10 tonnes of water used, whether it is used or not, making no allowance for reduced consumption. Lapta locals I have spoken to have commented 'I am paying for 10 tonnes of water per month, so I will make sure I use it' - this would seem to encourage people to wash their cars/patios/gardens to 'use up' their 10 tonne allowance. Surely very shortsighted, when water conservation will surely become a critical issue in the near future in TRNC.

Anyone know the Alsancak polic

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 08:07

Has anyone else experienced this or is it just a mistake made by the belediye ?

batgirl


Joined: 04/02/2009
Posts: 676

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 08:17

Our friend has been charged as per msg 1

Geoff


Joined: 25/06/2008
Posts: 1370

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 08:43

You don't have a swimming pool by any chance??

Geoff

treemancyprus


Joined: 13/08/2008
Posts: 82

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 13:05

Yes, I do have a pool Geoff, but I have lived here for nearly 4 years, and this new water meter charge only started this month. I don't think having a pool or not affects your normal belediye bills - but will be reflected when you pay 'emlak vergisi' (real estate tax). This tax is not part of the monthly bill, and you must visit the belediye offices to pay it. Many people don't pay (often because they don't realise about this tax, and the belediye in Alsancak do not send out any form of notification that is is due for payment)

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 13:18

Please don't take this the wrong way, but if you have been lucky enough to pay a very low flat charge for your water up to now, then Alsancak Belediye have not been charging like the norm.

I have lived in Catalkoy since 2002 & we have always paid a flat rate for our first 10 tonnes of water. This is currently 7TL a month, but hasn't increased for several years. I fully expect this to increase every year & maybe it will this April. Unfortunately when they do increase the water charges they go up by enormous percentages, then stay stable for several years, unlike the situation in the UK.

I know that Girne Belidiye make a similar charge for the 1st 10 tonnes & we know Lapta do now.

I don't think 'I'm paying for 10 tonnes so I will use it'. Maybe some TCs do. Last February in fact we managed to use less than 1 ton. This is the only time this has ever happened. We rarely use more than 3 tons a mth in the winter, usually less & often don't exceed 10 tons in the summer now.

ctd.

scruff


Joined: 15/07/2008
Posts: 1070

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 13:24

In fact I have just checked back & we only exceeded the 10 tons twice in 2010. In June (11) & August (12).

If you grow the right plants & trees, established gardens need minimal water, even in summer. They may look a bit dry in the summer but come back in winter. Roses are the only thing that suffer & I have given up with them & do not replace then as they die. They have a relatively short life here anyway, compared to the UK.

Having said that, I still have some roses which have survived since they were planted in 2001.

Compare what you pay here for water to what you would pay in the UK. & thanks your lucky stars, is the way I would look at it.

treemancyprus


Joined: 13/08/2008
Posts: 82

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 13:36

Scruff, I agree with you 100%, and if everyone shared you prudence perhaps the water problem would be somewhat alleviated. It would appear, though, that quite a few people people don't care, judging from the amount of cars washed in driveways, terraces hosed down every day and hosepipes used on gardens. Unfortunately, I still see this every day in the hottest summer months.

valarius


Joined: 04/11/2008
Posts: 356

Message Posted:
21/01/2011 17:25

In Lapta. we pay 15tl one month and 35tl the next month. the 35tl takes into count Lighting. (Non exsistant, Bins emptied. Mosey Sprays in Summer) so the rest of the island is doing ok with water rates.

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 09:13

What's the latest news on this please? are people in Alsancak still being charged 5tl meter rental or not.

Pipie


Joined: 05/01/2008
Posts: 5499

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 09:18

Tatlisu council charge 12.5 ytl per month standing charge !!

matula


Joined: 07/07/2008
Posts: 647

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 09:19

A friend of ours who lives in Alsancak and was always bragging about the water charges compared to Lapta is not so full of it now! About time I say. Why is nothing standard in TRNC?

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 09:26

What's the latest news on this please? are people in Alsancak still being charged 5tl meter rental or not.



I dont wish to know about your personal gripes just about the water rates in Alsancak.

petra


Joined: 09/10/2009
Posts: 11

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 10:02

Yes, we still pay the 5TL rental

treemancyprus


Joined: 13/08/2008
Posts: 82

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 10:15

Hi, Cooper

Yes, this months bill also has 5tl for 'sayaç kira' - which is meter rental (standing charge). I used only 1 tonne of water, which was charged at 0.5 tl - it would appear that the standing charge has gone up from 1 tl to 5 tl, but the actual water cost is the same as last year. We pay 0.5 tl for each of the first 5 tonnes, 1 tl for each of the next 5, etc. etc. until you get to 21 tonnes or more - then the price escalates very steeply. Anyone who records 50 or more tonnes per month pays 30 tl per tonne, anyone 'using' 60 tonnes or more pays 40 tl per tonne. I suspect that maybe some forum members who have received exceptionally high water bills must have a serious leak, have a supply fault such as air in the pipes (air passing through makes the meter spin just as fast as water !!) or else have decided to go into the water tanker business. (Only joking).

In 2008 you could obtain a list of water charges from the beladiye office, but I've not seen them for the last two years.

cooper


Joined: 23/10/2007
Posts: 3386

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 10:25

Msg,s 14&15 thank you for your replies.

pollymarples


Joined: 08/08/2010
Posts: 1778

Message Posted:
08/03/2011 10:25

Well I have just been to apply for water from Girne Beledeysi and the charge to connect including meter is

1,622 lire, the water pipe is up to gate already. I have no idea what the monthly charge will be per tonne. In Karsiyaka, now under Lapta the charge was 10 lire for the first 10 tonnes and you paid 10 lire whether you used 1 tonne or 10 tonnes but no meter charge.