Some North Westside residents are boiling over proposed changes to their water bills.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan board will decide Monday if it’s going to reduce the base amount of water a customer receives from 235 cubic metres per quarter to 90 metres.
“They are cutting back to get extra money from people,” said Harry Pospolita, a resident who had initiated a petition campaign against the district’s plan.
Pospolita’s primary concern is customers will be receiving access to less water but the rate for the water will remain the same, meaning they will actually pay more.
“Everyone is opposed to this. People who have a garden or fruit trees won’t have enough water,” he said, adding that the average water bill is about $800 a year.
Pospolita is encouraging residents to attend the district board meeting in Kelowna Monday.
“If we show some force, maybe the regional district will decide to do more studies first,” he said.
Pospolita also wants pressure placed on North Westside director Jim Edgson to support the residents.
“Mr. Edgson, before he was a director, would have fought this,” said Pospolita.
Edgson says he will support the change in the base amount of water received because it will generate between $3,500 to $5,000 a year among all high-end water users in the entire regional district.
“The Killiney Beach and Westshore Estate water systems need upgrades and we have a plan to get things fixed,” said Edgson, adding the plan requires funding.
“It’s not a tax grab but we set the (base) threshold too high. This is a conservation effort.”
Edgson insists the change will only impact 14 to 15 per cent of customers who use more water than necessary.
After the 90-metre base is surpassed, the consumption charge will be 35 cents per metre.
“Next time you buy a bottle of water in the store, think about it,” said Edgson.
RDCO says a 90-cubic-metre quarterly threshold (360 cubic metres a year) is close to Environment Canada’s average household water consumption estimate for B.C. of 325 cubic metres annually.
“Many RDCO customers have been demanding that the consumption fee threshold be significantly reduced to encourage water conservation and ensure that heavy water users are paying the extra costs associated with heavy water use, such as electricity and treatment,” said Peter Rotheisler, environmental services manager.
