Jean-Luc Boujon (in Lyon) / Photo credits: MAGALI COHEN / HANS LUCAS / HANS LUCAS VIA AFP 10:14 a.m., March 7, 2024

In order to encourage sobriety and reduce water consumption by 15% by 2035, the metropolis of Lyon has decided to modify the calculation of the water bill.

This will involve establishing progressive rates based on water consumption. 

The metropolis of Lyon, led by environmentalists, is changing its water pricing: from next year, in Lyon and the surrounding municipalities, the water bill will be calculated based on consumption.

Concretely, the more we consume, the more we will pay.

A mechanism which aims to encourage sobriety and reduce water consumption by 15% by 2035. Good idea or punitive system?

The response of the Lyonnais.

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“It’s a great incentive.”

In the new system, the first 12 cubic meters will be free for everyone.

A second tranche will then come for consumption of between 120 and 180 cubic meters per year, i.e. the majority of residents including large families.

In this case, a standard rate will be applied.

On the other hand, large consumers, i.e. more than 180 cubic meters per year, will pay twice as much for water.

The stated objective is to encourage moderation.

A good thing for Pierre-Yves and Nathalie.

"I find that very good. It will allow people to have a sort of red flag which will tell them 'be careful, from a certain consumption, you will start to pay a lot' and to reason with themselves. C "It's an excellent incentive", judges Pierre-Yves at the microphone of Europe 1. "It will perhaps make people think, to start saving water", continues Nathalie.

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“It’s the easy solution: hitting the rich”

On the other hand, other residents see it as a discriminatory system, this is the case of Yvette and Eric, swimming pool owners.

"It's the easy solution: hitting the rich. It's entirely punitive: it's 4x4s, it's water, it's parking... It's everything that's easy to catch and make you pay!”

he gets carried away.

“In any case, it’s always the middle class that picks up and pays for the others…” slips Yvette.

The metropolis of Lyon responds with a single projection: in 25 years, the Rhône, which supplies most of Lyon's drinking water, will, under the effect of global warming, have reduced its flow by more than 20%.