MK Yariv Levin (Likud) presented a parliamentary question Wednesday to the Minister for National Infrastructures regarding excess payments by new immigrants (Olim) for water usage.

According to the Law for Economic Efficiency (“the Drought Levy”), consumers are required to inform their water supplier of the number of people in the apartment so that the rate to be paid for the water is calculated accordingly. The law determines that a certain amount of water is deemed as regular usage per person, but any use beyond that amount will be fined as excess use.

MK Levin suspects that many immigrants did not understand these instructions and thus did not inform the authorities of the number of people living in their home. As a result many of them are paying the fine even though they should not be.

MK Levin asked the minister if he intends to direct the water suppliers to talk to the new immigrants and inform them of their rights, and if there is a mechanism in place for refunding the extra payments mistakenly taken from immigrants.

In the Knesset, the Kadima faction scheduled a conference for fighting against the “drought levy.”