In a number of weeks, all mosdos Torah in Bnei Brak will have to begin paying for water; including shuls and yeshivos. The fee will be paid to the local water company, Mei Barak.

This is reportedly a precedent as in past years they were never required to pay water. The new financial burden will add a significant concern to the mosdos.

It appears recent news reports have lead water officials to the realization the mosdos are not charged for water. The water company has instructed City Hall to bill the institutions for water as required, threatening if it does not, the water company will charge City Hall directly.

Kikar Shabbos adds it has learned the billing for water is retroactive and some mosdos owe hundreds of thousands of shekels while others have been contacted about a lien on their bank accounts as the water debt runs in the millions of shekels.

City secretary and spokesman Moshe Tannenbaum explains that Mei Barak now expects Bnei Brak City Hall to bill mosdos for water usage retroactively. “Unfortunately, instead of checking information they turn to the media without first checking, as no City Hall has the authority to levy bills against a shul or yeshiva for water, and not even private citizens as the law today which places this authority exclusively in the hands of the water companies operating around the country. Truth be said, if they would have inquired they would have learned that Mayor Chanoch Zeibert reports the city will undertake a portion of the water bills for mosdos” adds Tannenbaum.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)