The Knesset approved today a law bill sponsored by Zionist Union MK Itzik Shmuli reshaping the Israeli water and sewage market.
Noting that the goal of reducing the number of water service companies operating in the market to 15 had not been achieved despite a previous 2001 law and that the cost of water in Israel increased by 44% between 2005-2013 [with only a 9.8% increase in OECD countries] the Knesset passed the new law that wull limit the number of local water companies to 30, to obligate water companies to install readers that will present water consumption in real time and to charge lesser rates in case of a water leakage.
"Ever since water companies came into being someone is paying the cost of all these bloated structures," Shmuli said, "the consumers and the public."
Minister of Economy and Industry Eli Cohen said that "we have a moral obligation to the citizens when such a basic product [like water] is the issue."
He also said that water, which is provided by the state, should not be used by local municipalities to make money.