Price of water per cubic meter in France
How is the price determined?
The price of m3 of water in France is determined by several factors, including treatment, distribution, and maintenance costs of the water network.
Consumers do not pay directly for water, which is a natural resource, but compensate the municipal water services for their work.
Price variation across the country
The pricing of water varies significantly from one municipality to another. In 2022, the average price of water per cubic meter in France was 4.30 euros. This price is divided into 2 with the price for drinking water (2.11 euros) and the price for sanitation (2.19 euros).
However, it is worth noting that each municipality sets its own rates, which can lead to significant differences in the price of water.
Example of water price per m3 in large cities
To illustrate the variation of rates, let’s consider the price of m3 of water in the largest cities of France on January 1, 2022.
- Paris: €3.68
- Marseille: €3.97
- Lyon: €3.21
- Toulouse: €3.01
- Nice : 3.94 €
- Nantes: €3.58
- Strasbourg: €2.88
One might wonder how we arrive at an average of €4.3 when seeing the price in large cities.
A few examples where the price of water per m3 is much higher, but in municipalities this time:
- next to Paris in Vélizy-Villacoublay the cost of m3 of water is €5.45!
- Next to Lyon, in Bessenay the cost of the m3 of water is €6.3!
All these figures clearly demonstrate that the price of water can vary significantly from one city to another.
Price of water per cubic meter in my city / municipality
How to find the price in your municipality?
There are several ways to find out the price of water per cubic meter in your municipality. You can check your water bill, contact the town hall, or consult online resources.
For example, the price of water in Paris is managed by the local public establishment of an industrial and commercial nature (EPIC) (EAU DE PARIS: https://www.eaudeparis.fr/).
Online resources available to find out the price
There are several online tools that can help you find the price of water in your municipality. The best resource we found is the National Observatory of Water and Sanitation Services. It offers an interactive map that can help you find this information: https://services.eaufrance.fr/carte-interactive. Moreover, the previous images were taken from their map.
Different price managers depending on their locality
As with large cities, the price of water also varies from one municipality to another. In Pessac, a municipality in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, it is Suez Eau Bordeaux that is responsible for water distribution. And in Boucau, still in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, water management is handled by the Communauté d’Agglomération Pays Basque sector Côte Basque-Adour.
Also read: Average water consumption of French households – Some data
Small comparison with the price of bottled water
Let’s do a calculation compared to the price of plastic water bottles:
So let’s take:
- the average price of m3 of water including tax in France in 2022: €4.30
- the average price of a liter of water sold in bottles, plastic no less (!) : 0.46€ (https://www.combien-coute.net/bouteille-eau/france/) .
1m3 being equal to 1000 liters, this amounts to 460€, which is 107 times more expensive than tap water per m3!!
It is therefore obviously smart to use tap water and purify it to give it the same taste, or even make it better than bottled water!
The factors that influence the price of m3 of spring water
Community Size
The size of the community has an impact on the price of water. For example, in a large city, the water distribution network can be more complex and costly to maintain, which can increase the price of water.
On the other hand, a small municipality may have lower operating costs, but it may also have fewer resources to invest in infrastructure, which can also influence the price.
Below, 2 neighboring municipalities around Nantes with a difference of 1.44€ per m3:
Water Quality
The quality of water can also affect the price. If the water requires more intensive treatment to be potable, this can increase costs.
Moreover, efforts to protect water sources from pollution (due to the presence of pesticides, for example) can also be expensive, which is reflected in the price of water.
Also read: Water hardness: What is hard water and how to measure it at home?
Quality of Water Treatment Equipment
Water treatment equipment, such as treatment plants, pumps, and pipelines, requires regular maintenance and sometimes repairs or replacements. These costs are typically passed on to consumers in the form of higher rates.
Reduce your water bill
Understanding Your Water Consumption
It is important to understand your water consumption in order to manage it. The water bill is mainly divided into two parts: a fixed part, which covers service costs, and a variable part, which depends on the amount of water consumed.
Tips for Saving Water
There are many ways to reduce your water consumption and thus your bill. Here are some tips:
- Reduce water waste by repairing leaks promptly.
- Install water-saving devices, such as aerators for faucets or dual-flush toilets.
- Use rainwater for watering the garden or washing the car.
- Take a shower instead of a bath.
- Avoid letting water run unnecessarily, for example while brushing your teeth.
Conclusion
As we have seen, the price of water per cubic meter varies considerably in France, depending on the municipality and the costs associated with the treatment and distribution of water.
To reduce your water bill, it is important to understand your consumption and take measures to save water.
On the other hand, it remains much cheaper than bottled water and with even better quality when purified (notably with our tap water purifier and its unique, patented, award-winning UV-A system! :))
