Dubai: The sewerage fee for Dubai residents has been doubled to one fils per gallon of water since the start of March as part of a new decree, Dubai Municipality said on Monday.

The Emiri decree has been issued by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as the Ruler of Dubai.

Under the decree, the new fee applies to all buildings connected to the main public sewerage network of Dubai Municipality, a senior official told Gulf News.

Mohammad Julfar, Assistant Director-General, Corporate Support Sector, Dubai Municipality, said residents in buildings not connected to the main municipality system will continue to pay the old 0.5 fils per gallon rate.

Dubai has special free zones that have their own internal sewerage systems, Julfar explained, such as sewage treatment plants. Their networks are nevertheless supervised by the municipality, he added.

The decree brings all such zones under the municipality’s overall ambit. While the municipality will impose the fee, the collection will be handled by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

It replaces the older order issued in December 1995 that regulated the imposition of fees for sewerage operations in the emirate of Dubai.

The new rate means, for example, a monthly sewerage fee on 2,029 gallons of water — Dh10.15 — would double to Dh20.30.

Julfar said rising operational costs would be offset by the new fee. The municipality’s statement on Monday said the change would ensure a balance in the interests of all stakeholders and continuity in providing services in line with highest international standards.

Dubai’s population and built-up area has been increasing for years, putting pressure on sewage treatment plants. New developments in Al Barsha, Al Quoz and New Dubai free zone areas are expected to be linked to the main municipality sewage system in a few months’ time, Julfar said.

He added that the new Dh1.7 billion Jebel Ali plant, which handles 300,000 cubic metres of waste a day, would be expanded to handle 650,000 cubic metres daily by mid-2017.

He added that the older plant in Al Warsan is being increased to handle 320,000 cubic metres a day, up from the current 260,000 cubic metres daily.