Photo: PAKUTASO
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City in Aichi reduces water and sewage bills for four months, easing residents’ financial strain

20 Comments
By Dale Roll, SoraNews24

With many people losing their jobs due to business closures in response to the spread of coronavirus, finances are likely becoming tough for many throughout the world. At the same time, being holed-in at home likely means that people are using more electricity, gas, and water, which will ultimately result in higher bills. As these costs mount to the point of financial strain, many people are likely wondering how they’re going to make ends meet for the next few months.

Luckily for citizens of Kariya City in Aichi Prefecture, water bills, at least, won’t cause any more stress. In order to relieve some of the financial strain on their residents, the city has decided to reduce charges for water and sewer services for all residents and businesses in the city for four months.

Depending on the area of Kariya City in which they live, residents will have reduced water bills for either the period of March to June, or April to July. Different areas get billed differently, but essentially that means that everyone who receives water and sewage bills between May and August will pay less. Depending on their usage, residents could pay as little as 1,078 yen for two months of water, and everyone will pay a flat rate of 1,540 yen for two months of sewer service.

After Twitter user @seiz0671 tweeted about it while watching the news on TV, the new policy became a hot topic on Twitter. The screenshot says, “The average household will see a reduction of 6,400 yen from their bill.”

Screen Shot 2020-04-27 at 10.43.26.png

There is no procedure to sign up for the discounts; payees will automatically receive the reductions in their bills starting in May. Twitter users who saw the news on TV and Twitter were really grateful, and praised the city for its thoughtful action:

”Kariya City did it!!! Water bill reductions for four months!!!!! Wow!!!!!!!”

“The mayor really loves his people! The head of the waterworks bureau must be very generous. This is politics that helps people in times of trouble.”

“This is what the government is supposed to do. Their ability to save the people when they’re in trouble will be tested, I think.”

“The government wouldn’t be able to do this if we had privatized water.”

“That’s it! There must be tons of other ways like this to directly assist people’s lives. This will make people’s worries disappear way faster than Abe’s wasteful mask idea.”

“Let’s expand it to the whole country.”

Though some people might be against the government using its funds to provide public assistance, in times of crisis everyone benefits from and appreciates proactive government action like this. Hopefully this helps ease a lot of residents’ worries, because every little bit helps in these stressful times!

Source: Twitter/@zeiz0671 via Hachima KikoKariya City Homepage

Read more stories from SoraNews24.

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© SoraNews24

©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.

20 Comments
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Starpunk:

Many Americans say every child should have public (free at point of service) k-12 education, but those same people will cry socialism when it goes to 13th grade and up (college).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

In America 'conservative' cretins would beat their chests and howl over this, calling it that 'S-word', 'socialism'.

Well, if you pay the city your taxes you should get something from it, right? And when times get tough the city's residents should get a break. It's only natural, 'socialistic' or not.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

In Japan there are high fixed charges for water supply.

There are pipe fees for the periodic maintenance and upkeep, extending to purification and dam construction etc.

The point is, without taking a drop of water from the system, my bill will be payable every two months.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

OK, Tokyo you are next, where is your plans for helping common folks

i don't need those government issue masks, i rather wear my scarf. It's cleaner.

Electricity , Gas, Water, or something?

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Bugle Boy of Company BApr. 27 04:19 pm JST

“The government wouldn’t be able to do this if we had privatized water.”

Privatized water sounds like a really stupid idea

Agreed. Reminds me of Spaceballs and their privatising and bottling purified air (perriair).

0 ( +0 / -0 )

How about abolishing or at least suspending property tax?

2 ( +2 / -0 )

Though some people might be against the government using its funds to provide public assistance

Really? Who? I can't think of anyone

Capitalists.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

This is great!

Seems like Okazaki city (also in Aichi) will reduce these bills by 80% for half a year as well as giving free school lunch for kindergarten & elementary school kids from the re-opening of schools until September.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Good for them! Should be more of this.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

Though some people might be against the government using its funds to provide public assistance

Really? Who? I can't think of anyone

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Noriajohn, haha get real. No way Nagoya would ever cut the rates, perhaps only for those over 60, they get all the discounts here anyway.

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Water and sewage costs us less than 2000 yen a month. I can find more on the street if I look carefully. Now if electric and gas did this, that would be nice.

1 ( +2 / -1 )

More of the same please, let’s think outside the box!

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A sensible, necessary response to the need of individuals and whole economy. But I thought it's Toyoda-city or Nagoya in Aichi Prefecture. The former must have big revenues from locally operated Toyota Co.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

A lesson that all prefectures should follow even for a short time.

3 ( +3 / -0 )

It's definitely a step in the right direction. Finally, a city making moves to help ease the situation out there.

5 ( +5 / -0 )

Kudos to Kariya City for showing an initiative!

6 ( +6 / -0 )

“The government wouldn’t be able to do this if we had privatized water.”

Privatized water sounds like a really stupid idea.

2 ( +4 / -2 )

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