Domestic water and sanitation charges in South West France have risen by an average of 7% in the last two years to an average of €3.63m³.

However, there remains a substantial variation between one commune and another, and the charge is considerably lower for those who are not on mains drainage.

Thus, while at Tulle (Corrèze) the charge for water and drainage is an average of €4.35m³ and it is €4.24m³ in Auch (Gers), at Albi (Tarn) it is €2.81m³ and €2.61m³ at Mont-de-Marsan (Landes).

In practice, this can mean a difference of €110 in the cost of the annual water bill for a family of four.

For those not on mains drainage, the price averaged €1.92³, but ranged from €2.29m³ in Agen (Lot et Garonne) to €1.01m³ in Mende (Lozère).

Although those with no mains drainage do not receive a bill for sanitation they are required to pay the periodic (nominally every 4 years) charge for an inspection of their septic tank.

Within the area covered by the survey, 25% of households pay more than €4m³, 60% pay between €3m³ and €4m, and 15% pay less than €3m³.

In general, prices have been increasing faster in rural areas than urban areas, although there is no uniform pattern across the country.

According to Marc Abadie, Director of Agence de l’eau Adour-Garonne the reasons for the variations in the charge are due to reasons of geography, the density of the population, whether there is mains drainage in place, and the approach to management and procurement.

Some local authorities run their water and sanitation services directly, while others contract them out to the private sector. Those services provided by the private sector are on average over 20% more expensive than those run publicly.

A little over half of those communes in the survey had contracted out there water distribution service to a private company, while 27% had done so for mains drainage services.

Water prices in France are one of the lowest in Europe, except when you buy by the bottle, when it is over 100 times the price for what you get through the tap!