Plan isn’t very green

To the editor:

Our current water rates have contributed to a decline in consumption of 23 per cent. That’s the good news. That means we are spewing 23 per cent less chlorine into our Great Lake, using 23 per cent less energy to pump wasted water and probably have somewhat less water to treat at our sewage plant.

The bad news is our city water folks are still in bed with the 1960s model of waste-not-have-not.

Anything you see about the green economy carps about municipal water supplies that use flat rates or too low a water consumption rate thus encouraging waste. So, what is being proposed: jack up the flat fee by 64 per cent and drop the consumption fee by 44 per cent or more, opposite to what is being suggested by environmentalists and economists. Why would anyone waste their money buying water-saving plumbing fixtures and appliances?

If the water department needs more revenue it should increase the consumption rate and lower the flat rate. And just as $1.50 per litre for fuel tempered our need for horsepower, more costly water will slake our thirst with lower volumes. We can all have some control over how much our water bill will be and since the overall consumption will trend down, the water department can plan the operation for a more environmental and efficient operation..

Doug Pantry,
Thunder Bay