| Calgarians now have 12 years before they will be forced to install a water meter in their homes, an initiative that has been in the works since the 1950s.
A new bylaw approved by city council on March 18 will see flat-rate water bills phased out over the next 10 years and universal metering in place by 2014. For the next 10 years, meters will be automatically installed in all new homes, and in existing homes when an new owner takes occupancy. In 2012, all remaining flat rate account holders will be informed they have until 2014 to install a meter.
"We’ve got to be concerned about the quantity as well as the quality of water," says Ald. Barry Erskine.
Mandatory water meters have been shot down in three plebiscites dating back to the late 1950s, but council decided the city’s growth was putting too much pressure on the water system to maintain the flat—rate option.
City administrators say the time frame allows an efficient change-over with the least amount of impact on customers.
The last plebiscite was in 1989 – under municipal law, an issue killed in a plebiscite can be revisited after 10 years.
The city estimates flat-rate water customers use up to 50 per cent more water than metered customers. Water meters track water usage and charge based on consumption.
Under the new bylaw, the city’s old Water Meter Incentive Program will also be scrapped, although current subscribers will be allowed to complete it. The program encouraged people to switch to meters with the option of returning to a flat rate within a set time frame. |
