ONEA suspends increased water connection fees in Burkina Faso

The Office national de l’eau et de l’assainissement (ONEA) has suspended the anticipatory application of a new water connection fee of 120,000 FCFA in Burkina Faso. The agency clarified that while the higher rate had been implemented by some services on a transitional basis, no definitive regulatory decision has been made to authorize this increase.

Currently, the applicable fee remains 30,500 FCFA, which serves as a refundable deposit for the establishment of the subscription policy. ONEA emphasized that this amount does not cover the actual cost of connection works; the infrastructure and equipment required for connections continue to be funded by the state through the Ministry in charge of Water.

In response to public concern and the unauthorized application of the higher rate, ONEA has announced that it will establish procedures to refund subscribers who have already paid the excess amount.