The Town Hall has put the new water by-law, which will replace the prices in force since 2014, out for public consultation; residents have 30 working days to submit objections and stop its automatic approval.
The Boletín Oficial de la Provincia (BOP) of Málaga (the Official Provincial Gazette) has published the notice of initial approval of the new by-law regulating the charges for the drinking water supply and sewerage service in Manilva (file 6591/2026).
The proposal, processed by the governing team made up of Compromiso Manilva and the former councillors of Con Andalucía (with the votes against of VOX, PP and PSOE), provides for a general increase in supply costs compared with the rates approved in July 2014.
The file is currently in a public consultation period of 30 working days from its official publication, and during this period the submission of objections by residents is the only legal mechanism that prevents the provisional agreement from automatically becoming final without a new debate at a council meeting.
Rises of 75% before the tap is even turned on
A comparison between the rate table in force since 2014 and the new file shows that the biggest percentage impact falls on the fixed charge for availability of the service, an amount that every customer must pay periodically regardless of the water consumed.
- 15 mm meters (standard households): The monthly fixed charge rises from €1.9151/month to €3.36/month, an increase of +75.4%
- 20 mm meters: They go from €3.1896/month to €5.62/month (+76.2%)
- 25 mm meters: They increase from €4.4707/month to €7.89/month (+76.5%)
Basic household consumption up by as much as 50%
The variable charge per cubic metre consumed for domestic use also rises notably in all its bands:
- First band (0 to 2 m³/month): Rises from €0.3203/m³ to €0.48/m³, an increase of +49.8%
- Second band (over 2 to 10 m³/month): Goes from €0.4705/m³ to €0.65/m³ (+38.1%)
- Third band (over 10 to 18 m³/month): Rises from €0.6530/m³ to €0.85/m³ (+30.2%)
- Fourth band (more than 18 m³/month): Increases from €1.0010/m³ to €1.507/m³ (+50.5%)On top of these figures comes the sewerage charge, whose annual fixed charge for domestic use rises from €39.15/year (€3.2627/month) to €49.56/year (+26.7%), while the variable discharge volume increases from €0.3263/m³ to €0.4134/m³ (+26.7%).
Meanwhile, connection fees for 15 mm meters go up from €22.06 to €26.41 (+19.7%).
Lack of transparency and limits on social protection
The administrative file includes background documents such as the submission registered on 28 May 2026 by the concession company HIDRALIA Gestión Integral de Aguas de Andalucía (reg. 2026-E-RE-4592), but the details of the economic study and its direct bearing on the final rate calculations have not been made public with sufficient publicity for the public.
On the other hand, the by-law provides for a Social Fund for vulnerable households with incomes below twice the IPREM (the public indicator of income). However, the text requires applicants to be «up to date with payments» of their bills as an essential condition, a contradiction that may exclude precisely those families hit by accumulated debts due to their financial difficulties, and this assistance is limited to a maximum of four bills.
Deadline to object and stop the increase
Any user or contract holder in Manilva can examine the file at the municipal Secretary’s office and submit objections during the 30 working days of public exposure.
If objections are submitted, the regulations require the council meeting of the Town Hall to study and resolve them explicitly before giving final approval to the rates or sending them to the Junta de Andalucía for authorisation, so residents can play an important role in delaying the entry into force of these new rates.
