Dear readers,
The poll results are in. We had a total of 13 votes (not bad for the first poll). Chris and I will be posting poll questions more regularly now to provoke thought and some debate. Our first poll question was "How much would you be willing to pay for water?". This question was based on paying for water on a monthly basis:
$1.00= 0 votes
$5.00= 2 votes (15%)
$20.00= 5 votes (38%)
$50.00= 0 votes
Nothing. It should be free= 6 votes (46%)
Total votes = 13
While the sample is small it still speaks to some variation in the results. Every household in Peterborough pays roughly $18-$45 a month for water. I pay $18 a month but a house on a larger lot with more "rooms" might pay a lot more than me. As mentioned in the past, the water rate for Peterborough operates on a fixed amount i.e. you pay the same amount for water every month so consuming 10,000 litres or 15,000 litres of water will not make a difference to the amount you pay because you are not metered.
Enviroboys recognizes the fundamental importance of water. Some people think we shouldn't pay anything for water (because Canada has so much of it). That's true in theory, but it all depends on where you are getting your water from. The other side to that argument is that water is a human right and everyone should be entitled to it. Also a valid point but how realistic is this in a future where water supplies are dwindling and people are fighting over it?
For those who responded to the poll and are water metered, I envy you. Because ultimately, both you and I can be consuming the exact same amount of water monthly but I pay $18 and you pay $10 (based on whatever the price is on units consumed). Because I pay a flat rate, I am not rewarded for using less water (in fact I could use as much as I want).
Sooner or later, everyone in Canada is going to start paying for how much water they consume i.e. water metering. This can allow for sustainability and the conservation of Canada's most precious natural resource.
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