I want to comment on water rates that Vernon and area (Coldstream, BX, etc.) are charged. The water rates are very high.
Compare rates to Kelowna or Salmon Arm and they pay far, far less. There is no way the Greater Vernon Water Utility has to be nor should be allowed to charge as high as 2.15 per cubic metre, never mind a basic rate of $100 per quarter just for the right to have water available!
Never mind the high consumption charges on top of the basic $100 quarterly charges.
Now they are talking $70 million in expansion fees over the next few years. One can only imagine the rates then.
Just to show how expensive GVWA rates are:
If one has say nine zones of underground water sprinklers and sets each zone for 45 minutes you will consume about 24 cubic metres and if you are at the 80,000-plus rate, you are paying the maximum rate that’s set. You pay $51.60 just to water your lawn once.
It’s outrageous to say the least. This year I had to just let the lawn go brown in hot weather as it’s just not affordable.
Another thing that is totally wrong is if a person has five acres, they’re excluded from these outrageous consumer rates and are on a allocation setting where they pay far less to water the same lawn as you or I. Very unfair to say the least. I will vote no for the $70 million referendum.
Paul Dunbar
Vernon
