Azerbaijan, Baku / Trend corr I. Khalilova / The Azersu JSC expects collection of payments for consumed water in Azerbaijan will gradually rise (collection comprised 60% within the 10 months of 2007), the chair of Azersu Nizamaddin Rzayev said on 11 December.
"In order to increase the collection level we should work with the population and in 2008 the collection level may increase to about 80-90%," he said.
That requires expansion of installation of water meters. According to Rzayev, water meters have been installed for 30% of subscribers, but total installation in Baku is planned to be completed in 2008.
Azersu has over 893,000 subscribers, with over 877,000 of them among the population.
In Baku Azersu has 441,000 subscribers, with 430,000 of them among the population.
In multi-storey buildings water meters are installed free of charge through the funds allocated from the public budget. According to the legislation, in private houses meters must be installed at the expense of the owners. If the regulation is not fulfilled, water supply must be suspended.