NPA's Anton Says Water Metering is Expensive Greenwashing
Posted: Jul 14, 2011
NPA mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton says the water metering proposal coming in front of council is another example of greenwashing that wastes taxpayers money.
"There is no case for water meters," says Anton. "This is being done for optics only, to look green."
Anton points out that virtually the entire cost of the water system is a fixed cost--pipes, stations, etc--and the cost of the water is very low, so there is no incentive to use less through pricing. "You have to flush your toilet three times to use one cent of water at current rates, so how will metering make any difference?" asks Anton.
The meters will trigger an additional $555,000 in annual costs for taxpayers. "Water meters will be a waste of money to install and a waste of money to monitor," says Anton. "This is more than half a million dollars per year of taxpayers money to buff Gregor's green image."
Anton says we are only short of water during the summer months, and other strategies to conserve water are cheaper and more effective. She points out that it is Metro Vancouver's job to promote conservation, and the city doesn't need to duplicate services.
Anton adds: "Adding insult to injury, Vision Vancouver is trying to tell us the taxpayer funded meter readers driving around the city are green jobs."
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