Business · Economy · 8 hrs ago
Orthez water use and household bills rose in 2025
Orthez's water use rose slightly in 2025, according to the municipality's final review of its water services.
The town's water network served 5,427 customers, and nearly one-fifth of the water entering the network was unaccounted for.
For a typical annual use of 120 cubic metres, the drinking-water bill rose from €275.36 to €290.66, while wastewater charges stayed at €280.60.
Tests found full compliance for chemical water-quality measures and 98.6% compliance for microbiological measures; a single failed test at one property was not repeated the next day.
Wastewater collection and treatment remain a concern, although the reported drop in treatment performance is being challenged in a process with state officials over how temperature and pH were declared.
The town has planned €4.67 million in wastewater work from 2025 to 2030, including a project to remove unwanted water from pipes on Boulevard Charles-de-Gaulle.
Responsibility for water services passed to the SIEBO on 1 January 2026, after the municipal review period ended.
Orthez’s average water use per subscriber rose slightly in 2025, reaching 108.57 cubic metres.
The drinking-water bill for a reference household using 120 cubic metres increased from €275.36 at the start of 2025 to €290.66 on 1 January 2026.
The municipal water service served 5,427 subscribers at the end of 2025, or about 9,600 people, excluding Sainte-Suzanne.
The water network’s efficiency remained close to 81%, meaning nearly one-fifth of water introduced was not recorded as used or sold.
A €4.67 million programme of sewerage works is planned for 2025 to 2030.
- Who
- Orthez’s municipal water service and its subscribers.
- What
- Average water use and the drinking-water bill rose in 2025. Sewerage works worth €4.67 million are planned.
- When
- Water use and bills were reported for 2025; the drinking-water bill figure compares the start of 2025 with 1 January 2026.
- Where
- Orthez, France.
- Why
- The drinking-water bill rose because taxes and charges changed, despite the municipal rate remaining at €1.40 excluding tax per cubic metre.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Orthez’s municipal service managed water and sewerage before those responsibilities transferred to SIEBO.
Water and sewerage responsibilities transferred to the Syndicat intercommunal des eaux du bassin d’Orthez.
A €4.67 million programme of sewerage works is planned.
- Average water use
- 108.57 m³ per subscriber in 2025
- Municipal water subscribers
- 5,427 at the end of 2025
- Drinking-water bill
- €290.66 for 120 m³ on 1 January 2026
- Network efficiency
- Close to 81%
- Planned sewerage works
- €4.67 million over 2025–2030