The Tokyo Metropolitan Government has announced plans to temporarily waive base water fees starting in June or July of this year. The waiver is proposed to last four months.
The idea behind the initiative is that if you're saving money on your water bill, it may encourage you to spend it on other utilities like AC to keep cool. The unprecedented decision is in response to last year's intense summer heat and aims to reduce the amount of heatstroke-related incidents.
Don't let the taps run free though, as the waiver only covers base costs. Those are estimated to be between ¥860 and ¥1,460 per month depending on the size of your water pipes – anything beyond base fees will still be your responsibility to pay.
The exact amount to be covered is yet to be announced, but it's estimated that most Tokyoites can save up to ¥5,000 during the four-month period.
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