Madam, – The sole purpose of a water charge is to heighten our awareness of water consumption and to minimise usage and reduce waste. As water meters won’t now be installed in time, we are being forced to pay a higher price for our water. An option for households to install their own meters should be offered and a fixed cost per cubic metre should be determined. If a flat rate is to be considered without metering, it should be based on occupancy levels based on the most recent census data and not per dwelling unit.
Over the “boom years” levies where charged to all new and most larger refurbishment developments; these levies were to improve the country’s services and infrastructure. Given that the new charge will in theory be to provide an upgraded water system network, what did the levies provide for? Will an effluent discharge licence requirement be next? – Yours, etc,