Editor:
On May 17, I attended the SCRD Community Dialogues to discuss water metering, which appears unstoppable.
Under a pay-per-use system, the working poor and fixed-income citizens will pay the same rate for water consumption as multi-millionaires, yet not all incomes are the same. Our civilized and open society is a prized feature of our Canadian identity. As such, we must take into consideration the financial ability of our citizens to pay.
SCRD policy is to reduce water demand by 33 per cent from 2010 levels by 2020, yet, once metered, the documented reduction for an average family is 10 to 15 per cent. Studies show that water consumption rates fall only when the price per litre becomes prohibitive. To achieve a 33 per cent reduction, seniors on fixed incomes, the working poor, and young families with high consumption needs will suffer financially.
We already pay for water based on our property values, which is fair. The SCRD justifies charging for water by the litre by comparing water with commodities like electricity and gasoline, commodities that have alternatives: firewood for heat or public transportation instead of a private car. There is no alternative to water.
Kathryn Para, Gibsons
