By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

The Association of Table Water Producers (ATWAP) has announced an increase in the price of a bag of sachet water, popularly known as pure water, from N160 to N200.

This is contained in a statement by the Chairman of ATWAP Enugu State Chapter, Pastor Blessed Okonkwo and the Secretary, Mr Ifeanyi Okonkwo, respectively after a meeting of the association held in Enugu on Tuesday.

The statement said that the increase took effect from Thursday, March 17, 2022.

The association said the increment had become necessary due to rising production costs which had negatively impacted on the operations of its members.

It said the price hike became necessary to enable producers to sustain their activities and deliver quality portable water to the doorsteps of consumers.

The price of N160 per bag of 20 small units of sachet water, the statement explained, was no longer feasible with the rising cost of materials for water production especially the cost of diesel.

“We have been making a lot of sacrifices to sustain our businesses and ensure delivery of quality drinking water to the people of Enugu State and its environs believing that water is life.

“But the cost of materials, equipment maintenance, and production costs generally keep going up every day.

“In order to satisfy our numerous customers and ensure they have drinkable water on their table, the only option open to us is to increase the price from the current N160 to N200 per bag,” it said.

The statement said that ATWAP had directed its members to ensure full implementation of the new price from Thursday.

It further noted that procurement of water from borehole operators at 9th Mile Corner near Enugu had become very tasking in view of the “rising cost of transportation”.

The statement also said that the distribution of the product to retailers consumes a lot of our resources more so with the current pump prices of diesel and petrol at N700 and N250 per litre respectively.

“The materials that we use to produce water, especially nylon, which we procured at about N700 per kg last year is now sold at over N1,600 and still rising with many producers thrown out of business.

“We urge our members to adhere strictly to good manufacturing practices just as we call on the consumers to bear with us, the producers, as we are currently operating under difficult economic conditions,” it said.

It will be recalled that the National President of ATWAP, Mrs. Clementina Ative, has earlier explained why there is a hike in prices of sachet water to N200 per bag, blaming it on huge inflation that had impacted negatively on the production costs. (NAN)