水的短缺日益成为世界性难题。而特定的国情决定了中国必将是率先遭遇这一严峻挑战的国家。为促进节水,缓解供水不足,各大城市相继有上调水价的政策出台。在多年宣扬稳定价格的社会背景下,这一举措格外触目,且引起了媒体与社会的广泛争议。清人赵藩云:不审势,即宽严皆误。不涨价未必符合大家的利益,涨价未必背离大家的利益,明智的选择应当来自对水的形势、水的价格、人们消费心理的全面审视。水价之比较目前我国城市的水价是贵是贱?贵贱首先应该从比较中判断。这种比较可以从几方面进行。第一,可能同其他商品,特别是水制品或与水关系较大的商品相比较。比如,一瓶600毫升的饮用水的价格是2至3元,一根冰棍的价格是1至3元。其二,历史的比较。以北京为例(广州的情形大致与之相仿),1967年时居民、机关和工商业的水价均为0.12元/吨,1999 Water shortages are increasingly becoming global problems. The specific national conditions determine that China will definitely be the first country to meet this harsh challenge. To promote water conservation and alleviate the shortage of water supply, major cities have successively introduced the policy of raising water prices. Under the social background of many years promoting the stability of prices, this move has been particularly striking and has caused widespread media and social controversy. Qing Zhao Fan cloud: no trial situation, that is, leniency are wrong. Not raising prices may not be in everyone’s interest, price increases may not deviate from the interests of everyone, the wise choice should come from the water situation, water prices, people’s psychology of a comprehensive look. Comparison of water prices At present, the price of water in our city is expensive? Cheap first judgment should be from the comparison. This comparison can be carried out in several ways. First, it may be compared to other commodities, especially water products or commodities related to water. For example, a bottle of 600 ml of drinking water is priced at 2 to 3 yuan, a popsicle price is 1-3 yuan. Second, the history of the comparison. Taking Beijing as an example (the situation in Guangzhou is roughly the same), the water prices of residents, institutions and commerce and industry in 1967 were both 0.12 yuan / tonne, 1999