This Sunday June begins and also a new stage for the water bill in the Community of Madrid. The regional government council has this week definitively approved the update of Canal de Isabel II’s rates, which will mean an immediate rise of 3%, according to the newspaper 20 Minutos.
That 3% is just the beginning. The modification approved this Wednesday is part of an already closed schedule of six increases of the same percentage that will be applied every January 1, starting in 2026 and repeating annually until 2030. In other words, in six years the price of water in Madrid will be almost 20% higher than it is now.
The latest tariff change
The previous revision was in 2024, although then the increase affected only customers with high consumption, mostly homes with a pool or garden. According to the regional executive, that adjustment sought to encourage more efficient water use and penalize waste. Also, and this is not hidden, to increase revenue.
Canal de Isabel II and the Community of Madrid justify the increase with the aim of financing the works foreseen in the public company’s investment plan. The regional government itself has estimated that, with this new tariff scheme, Canal will earn an additional 598 million euros up to 2030. This figure represents 29.5% of the total budget of 2,026 million that has been foreseen to improve infrastructures.
How is the water tariff in Madrid calculated?
The water tariff in Madrid is not fixed or flat. It is bimonthly, progressive (the more you consume, the more you pay), seasonal (more expensive in times of high demand), bimonthly (it includes a fixed and a variable fee) and subsidized for those who can prove situations of need. This structure seeks to reward responsible consumption and contain spending in vulnerable situations.