One of the most important objectives of the “Wastewater and Solid Waste Management in Provincial Centers” program is the support of its partner wastewater companies to operate based on commercial principles and to ensure that revenues from wastewater tariffs cover at least the costs for the operation and maintenance of the wastewater systems in full. The development and introduction of wastewater tariffs serves as a tool for the achievement of this objective. This is also in line with Decree No. 88/2007/ND-CP dated May 28, 2007 on sewerage in urban areas and industrial zones..

With support from the program, the wastewater companies have collected the necessary information for the calculation of the tariffs. The draft wastewater tariff introduction proposals have been completed for Can Tho and Soc Trang and sent to related stakeholders for comments.

To enhance the development and introduction process of the tariffs, a workshop on ‘Challenges in the Implementation of Wastewater Tariffs” will be organized by the Ministry of Construction and the program in Ho Chi Minh City on April, 20-21, 2010. Participants include representatives from the Ministry of Construction, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, Ministry of Planning and Investment, as well as representatives from the wastewater companies in the program provinces as well as other companies in Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Hanoi, Quang Binh, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Dac Lac, and Lam Dong. At the workshop, participants will be able to share experiences, advantages, disadvantages, and discuss solutions for the process of wastewater tariff development and introduction.