As from January 2011, residents in Vélez-Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Algarrobo and Torrox will see a 36% increase in the water treatment rate charged by the water company Axaragua.
The Commonwealth of the Axarquia approved an increase in the water rate from the current €0.2344 per cubic metre to €0.3197. The measure was approved with the votes of the PSOE and IU, the PP and PA voting against the increase.
According Axaragua, the increase is due to the significant losses accumulated by the service. According to the company, the losses amounted to €712,677 euros in 2007, €750,013 in 2008 and €767,244 in 2009. So far in 2010 the losses from the wastewater service amount to €605,000.
The increase affects municipalities where Axaragua operate the water treatment plants, namely Vélez-Málaga, Rincón de la Victoria, Algarrobo and Torrox.
The PA voted against the increase because, in their view, if Axaragua did not have to pay around €1 million a year to the Commonwealth to finance ‘positions of trust’ of the government team within the company, the increase would not be necessary.