Federal Office for the Environment FOEN
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Wastewater charges
What does wastewater disposal cost at the communal level? Are the wastewater charges levied justifiable? Is the polluter-pays principle applied to wastewater disposal?
Usage-based charges are a prerequisite for sustainable wastewater management. This means that the costs of constructing, operating, maintaining, upgrading and replacing treatment facilities must be borne by users, through charges or other levies.
Costs and charges
The basis for the calculation of charges must be publicly accessible, as the users of sewer systems and wastewater treatment works seek answers to the following questions:
- What does wastewater disposal cost in the commune?
- What does it cost in neighbouring communes?
- Are the wastewater charges levied justifiable?
- Are the facilities operated cost-effectively?
A nationwide overview of municipal drainage costs and charges - and the main factors influencing these - is provided by the SAEFL guide on wastewater management costs (French/German publication).
The report is addressed primarily to officials responsible for urban drainage and water protection at the communal and cantonal level and within associations. For non-specialists, it offers a general overview of wastewater disposal/treatment costs and charges.
Application of the polluter-pays principle
Under Article 60a Paragraph 1 of the Water Protection Act, the cantons are responsible for ensuring that users bear the costs of wastewater management through an appropriate charging structure. In 2005, charges were based on the polluter-pays principle in 33% of Switzerland's communes, i.e. this principle had yet to be applied in 67% of all communes.
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