The drinking-water component rose only slightly, while wastewater collection and treatment in the city area increased much more. Customers not connected to the sewer network follow a different calculation and may qualify for free emptying under certain conditions.
The bill has several components
Vodovod Zadar implemented a new pricing decision on 1 July. Bills cover more than the cubic metres consumed: they include fixed and variable water-supply charges and, depending on the connection and area, wastewater collection and treatment.
The change therefore cannot be explained by one percentage for every household. Consumption, connection type, municipality and the services shown determine the final amount.
Drinking water became slightly more expensive
Under the published decision, the fixed public water-supply charge rose from €4.67 to €4.69. The variable charge increased from €1.00 to €1.02 per cubic metre.
Those two changes are small. Anyone in the City of Zadar area seeing a much larger increase is more likely to find the main reason in the new wastewater collection and treatment components.
The wastewater increase is larger
For customers in the city area, the fixed public wastewater collection and treatment charge rose from €0.61 to €0.89. The variable charge increased from €0.51 to €0.92 per cubic metre.
These figures describe tariff components, not automatically the entire gross bill for a particular household. Levies, different customer groups and the actual volume billed must be checked on the individual statement.
A different calculation applies without a sewer connection
According to the provider, customers not connected to the public sewer network no longer pay the collection and treatment components. Instead, free emptying of the holding tank is available under the published conditions.
That does not mean unlimited free visits or a service provided without arranging it. Responsibility, eligibility and procedure must be clarified with the provider for the specific connection.
How to check a higher bill
First compare the billing period and meter reading, then examine fixed and variable items separately. It also matters whether the bill covers time before and after 1 July.
For an unexplained discrepancy, a meter photograph, customer number and the bill itself will help when contacting the provider. Suspicions of a leak, estimate or incorrect connection category should become assertions only after this check.
Evidence
Sources & date
Sources support the facts. Planning notes and recommendations are Golden Beach editorial assessments.
- Notice of the decision on water-service pricesVodovod Zadar · tariff in force since 1 July 2026effective date, old and new tariff components, and the provision for unconnected customers
- PricesVodovod Zadar · checked on 4 September 2026current price overview and customer categories
- New decision on water-service prices for 2026Vodovod Zadar · 2026background to the tariff decision and billing
