Cene usluga iz delatnosti JKP Vodovod i kanalizacija Subotica - za fizička lica	Preuzimanje
Cene usluga za fizička lica (ćirilica)
Cene usluga za fizička lica (latinica)

Components of the Price-Tariff

The price of potable water, waste water collection and treatment is not always a market category. Water has not yet become a merchandise which is paid in advance. You pay it after consumption!

Firstly, the origin of the water: Water originates from the nature and is generated by the erosion of the massive mountains of the Alps and the Carpathians. A drop of raw water generated by rain and the springs of these massive mountains travels to 180 meter deep underground aquifers about 4 to 6 thousand years.

Secondly, the production of raw water and its treatment to potable water: Drawing water from aquifers requires drilling wells 180 meters deep in average and their equipping for the territory of both Subotica and most part of Vojvodina, Hungary and Croatia, where we all draw water from a common so to say „underground tank“. This water, as a raw water, contains certain hazardous ingredients of natural origin like iron, arsenic and ammonia in quantities, which deviate from the normative criteria of the European Union, WHO and domestic legislation. For this reason, a special technology is applied in the treatment of raw water. Quality control is implemented by an internal, specially equipped laboratory and the Republic Health Institute’s Laboratory.

Thirdly, the supply of potable water: In Subotica, the water supply of over 30,000 consumers is organised similarly to the circulation of blood. Consumers are grouped in the categories of households, councils of residential houses, the industry, SMEs and crafts and institutions (schools, preschool institutions, hospital etc.) Their consumption is measured by water meters, which are read and billed monthly or periodically during the year. Water meter quality control is implemented by an internal, specially equipped laboratory and the Republic Calibration Institute’s Laboratory.

Fourthly, waste water collection: Waste water collection also functions on the principle of blood circulation through collectors and street sewerage, and the collected waste water is transported to the city’s Waste Water Treatment Plant. These waters are communal and stormwater, but also waste waters of those industries, which fail to have primary treatment, therefore the permanent measuring of the type and the level of pollution of these water at their outlet to the city sewerage is needed. The quality control of these waste waters is made by a specially equipped internal lab and the communal and environmental supervision bodies.

Fiftly, waste water treatment: By applying special technologies, the WWTP treats the waste water mechanically and biologically, and in the future perspective (from 2008) also chemically, and after these treatments the water is discharged into its natural recipient, Lake Palic. The ecological balance of this recipient is vital for the natural environment, and bearing in mind that Lake Palic and the settlement are the “pearls” of Subotica, that they are significant tourist and health-spa destinations in Subotica, Vojvodina and Serbia, the importance of the lake is even more significant. The quality control of the treated waters, prior to its discharge in Lake Palic, is made by a specially equipped internal lab and the communal and environmental supervision bodies.

Sixthly, the system’s organisation and operation: Most consumers consider potable water as a „gift from heaven“, or as something which naturally flows from the tap in adequate quantities, pressure and quality, when you turn it on. The technological process described above under 1 to 5 is operated by 240 employees, organised in a management, departments and organisational units, 28 experts and 5 intervention teams for consumer relations, two stationary and several field laboratories, a number of information systems equipped with modern IT and communication technologies, with the aim to satisfy the end users with the quantity and quality of the provided services. This volume and quality of the services make the price for a cubic litre of water, i.e. 1000 litres of treated, potable water and this price amounts to 24 dinars, which is below the price of a litre of mineral water.

The Legal Framework for Tariff Setting

Tariffs are not set haphazardly. There are legal grounds and controls from state to municipal levels, which lay down the criteria and methodology for setting and changing the tariffs for water: