Dear Editor
Re: Water meters pondered, the Record, Feb. 6.
Water meters? Really?
Someone needs to explain why we need water metering in a rain forest. Did anyone actually think, last August, that we wouldn’t be up to our clavicles in water come November?
The summer drought notwithstanding, we had slightly more rainfall in 2015 than normal, and this year we seem to be on track for our usual metre-plus. At its very worst, last summer, we were down to something like 65 per cent capacity. Sixty-five per cent! We had lots of water left.
As well, most climate change prognosticators reckon areas like ours will likely get more rain as opposed to less as the climate warms up.
Studies in other areas (that the New Westminster Enviromental Partners didn’t quote) suggest that people with meters do use less water for the first year or so, then revert back to their former habits.
The net result? More money collected for the municipalities that have mandated metering than they would have collected in the flat rate model.
If New West needs more money to upgrade infrastructure, tell us that, then raise the flat rate.
So, please. Let’s hear a reasonable rationale for why we need to meter water before we go, our knees jerking, into metering.
Chris Petty, by email
