Regulator to start charging private water cos.

Paraguay's waterworks regulator Erssan will begin a pilot plan next year to charge private water supply companies the equivalent of 2% of invoiced sales, local paper ABC Color quoted regulator head Eduardo González as saying. Erssan will start imposing the charge in the departments of Central and La Cordillera, said González, adding that state water utility Essap is the only company that currently pays the charge. Roughly 500 companies will fall under the new plan.