A FARMER last night claimed water from Wales costs less in England than this side of the border.
Robert Esmor Jones, from Cilcain, near Mold, said he pays more for water on his Flintshire farms than for land he owns near Chester.
But the water on his farm in Mickle Trafford, Cheshire, is supplied by Dee Valley Water and comes from North Wales.
Dad-of-three Mr Jones keeps sheep and cattle in Mickle Trafford and Cilcain.
He also has a dairy farm in Rhosesmor which is tended by his sons Ifor, 34, and 30-year-old Glyn.
Bills show he pays 109.61p per unit (cubic metre) to Dær Cymru-Welsh Water for his farms in Wales but is charged just 70.9p per unit by Dee Valley.
The 60-year-old farmer, who lives with wife Nora, said: "If I wanted to buy a new car and a firm in Wales wanted 50% more for it than a firm in Chester, I'd go to Chester and buy it.
"But Welsh water have got a captive market. It needs to be brought to light.
"We live in a world where the prices of milk and beef are subject to competition.
"But Welsh Water can just charge what the hell they like because they're insulated from the economics of competition."
Dær Cymru-Welsh Water increased the price of water from 92.6p to 109.61p last year.
Mr Jones called for regulator Ofwat to examine the charges.
He added: "Ten years ago we were getting 25p a litre for milk whereas now we're only getting 17p.
"So the milk's gone down in price by a third but the water's going up."
Fellow Cilcain farmer Brynle Williams AM backed Mr Jones.
He said: "Water from within Wales is being sold just across the border for less than Welsh Water are selling it in Wales. "They say this is to cover infrastructure and yet we have an inadequate sewerage system.
He added: "If Dee Valley Water, which of course comes from Wales, is being sold for less than Welsh Water the question that has to be asked is why?"
A spokeswoman for Dær Cymru-Welsh Water said: "Welsh Water serves a very large geographical region with a relatively small population.
"It therefore has more pipes and equipment to operate and maintain than the majority of other water companies.
She added: "This is reflected in the level of bills charged to customers, the maximum level of which is set by the water industry regulator.
"Dær Cymru-Welsh Water charges the same per unit for all the areas it supplies," she added.
gareth.bicknell@dailypost.co.uk
