146
7 Water Pricing
administration, with the support of the urban water supply administrative department. Additionally, the public hearings and noticings are required in tariff regulation
(NDRC, Ministry of Construction 2004).
7.1.4 Wastewater Collection and Treatment Tariff
The wastewater collection and treatment tariff is another service charge that is
levied by the wastewater treatment company for collection and treatment services.
According to the Urban Water Supply Management Methods, the wastewater treatment tariff is included in the urban water supply tariff and charged according to water
usage and water supply scope. The wastewater tariff is formulated according to the
operational and maintenance costs of the urban drainage network and wastewater
treatment plants (NDRC, Ministry of Construction 2004). It is stipulated that the
collection standard for the wastewater tariff should not be lower than the normal
operation costs of the urban wastewater treatment facility (Article 33, 2013 Urban
Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Regulation) (State Council 2013). The wastewater tariff follows the same management procedures as those for the urban water
supply tariff.
7.1.5 Pollutant Discharge Fee/Tax
The pollutant discharge fee is an environmental charge. This regulation stipulates
that any polluter who discharges pollutants directly into the environment shall pay a
discharge fee, but exempts those individuals or organizations discharging wastewater
to urban wastewater treatment facilities and paying the wastewater treatment tariff
from paying the pollutant discharge fee (State Council 2003). The fee is calculated
based on the concentration and volume of the key pollutants. A unified unit fee
system is applied across the country, and an overcharge is levied on those exceeding
the discharge standard. The concentration and volume are decided based on observations reported by the polluter and the verification of the environmental protection
agency. The fee is incorporated into governmental budgeting and used specifically
for pollution control.
The national collection standard is formulated by the pricing department, financial
department, environmental protection department, and commercial administrative
department of the State Council, according to requirements for pollution control
sector development, pollution control, economic development and technology, and
the affordability of the pollutant dischargers. The provincial government is permitted
to formulate any local discharge standard not specified in national standards (State
Council 2003).
In 2018, with the implementation of the 2016 Environmental Protection Tax Law,
the pollution discharge fee was reformed as the pollution discharge tax. The tax
7 Water Pricing
administration, with the support of the urban water supply administrative department. Additionally, the public hearings and noticings are required in tariff regulation
(NDRC, Ministry of Construction 2004).
7.1.4 Wastewater Collection and Treatment Tariff
The wastewater collection and treatment tariff is another service charge that is
levied by the wastewater treatment company for collection and treatment services.
According to the Urban Water Supply Management Methods, the wastewater treatment tariff is included in the urban water supply tariff and charged according to water
usage and water supply scope. The wastewater tariff is formulated according to the
operational and maintenance costs of the urban drainage network and wastewater
treatment plants (NDRC, Ministry of Construction 2004). It is stipulated that the
collection standard for the wastewater tariff should not be lower than the normal
operation costs of the urban wastewater treatment facility (Article 33, 2013 Urban
Drainage and Wastewater Treatment Regulation) (State Council 2013). The wastewater tariff follows the same management procedures as those for the urban water
supply tariff.
7.1.5 Pollutant Discharge Fee/Tax
The pollutant discharge fee is an environmental charge. This regulation stipulates
that any polluter who discharges pollutants directly into the environment shall pay a
discharge fee, but exempts those individuals or organizations discharging wastewater
to urban wastewater treatment facilities and paying the wastewater treatment tariff
from paying the pollutant discharge fee (State Council 2003). The fee is calculated
based on the concentration and volume of the key pollutants. A unified unit fee
system is applied across the country, and an overcharge is levied on those exceeding
the discharge standard. The concentration and volume are decided based on observations reported by the polluter and the verification of the environmental protection
agency. The fee is incorporated into governmental budgeting and used specifically
for pollution control.
The national collection standard is formulated by the pricing department, financial
department, environmental protection department, and commercial administrative
department of the State Council, according to requirements for pollution control
sector development, pollution control, economic development and technology, and
the affordability of the pollutant dischargers. The provincial government is permitted
to formulate any local discharge standard not specified in national standards (State
Council 2003).
In 2018, with the implementation of the 2016 Environmental Protection Tax Law,
the pollution discharge fee was reformed as the pollution discharge tax. The tax