Old City Bkk Council Approves Residential Water Conservation Ordinance, Raising Bills for High-Usage Households

The Old City Bkk City Council passed the Residential Water Conservation Ordinance by an 8-3 vote on 7 July, introducing mandatory usage limits for all residential connections in the Rattanakosin and adjacent wards. The measure sets a base allowance of 20 cubic metres per household each month and adds a surcharge of 15 baht for each additional cubic metre above that threshold. City records show the ordinance applies to the 87,000 metered residential accounts managed by the Old City Bkk Municipal Water Authority.

The vote follows a three-month review of reservoir levels at the Chao Phraya intake station, where inflows dropped 18 percent below the five-year average during the 2025 dry season. Council documents cite the need to align local rules with the national Water Resources Act amendments enacted in late 2025, which require municipal governments to adopt demand-management measures before the 2026 wet-season planning cycle begins.

Under the new rules, a typical two-person household using 22 cubic metres will pay an extra 30 baht on its September bill, while larger families averaging 28 cubic metres face an additional 120 baht. Residents who install low-flow fixtures can apply for a one-time 800-baht rebate processed through the district office on Phra Athit Road. The ordinance also requires landlords to disclose average monthly consumption data to new tenants at lease signing.

Budget figures tied to the ordinance

The approved 2026-2027 municipal budget allocates 2.5 million baht specifically for the rebate program and another 1.8 million baht for meter upgrades at 4,200 properties identified as high-usage sites in a 2025 audit. These figures appear in the council's published budget paper dated 28 June. The same document projects that surcharge revenue will reach 4.1 million baht annually if average consumption remains at current levels.

Timeline for rollout and enforcement

The Water Authority will begin printing revised bills on 1 August, with the first surcharge notices mailed to addresses exceeding the cap in the August reading period. Appeals for medical or hardship exemptions must be filed at the municipal office by 15 August, and the ordinance requires the council to review the cap level again in January 2027 based on reservoir data. Property owners who fail to update tenant records risk a 500-baht administrative fine per violation, according to the enforcement section of the bylaw.