BBC: Call for widespread water meters I really don't get this. How is charging people for what they use unfair? Surely if you're really poor, you don't have a dishwasher, a bath or a garden to water, so you would use less water than other people? Am I wrong if I say that the fact that some bills may increase means that those households are paying too little at the moment and should be glad of the saving they've been given?
It could place further pressure on the poor if they were struggling to survive already. That's if the bills increased. I wouldn't like to be facing the dilemma of whether I had to change my washing habits etc because of increased cost. If it turned out that there would be people who were better off, without having to change basic hygeine habits, then I would see no problem with it. I think it all depends on whether the prices would rise for the less well off.
Don't see the problem to be honest. Already done here, and you don't hear too much complaining about it. And realistically, the costs are minimal.
We pay for water as part of council tax, but it's flat rate. IMO I've nothing against metering per say, but with things like this it can cause a backlash of problems, with things becoming more about the revenue than the service to the public. Best left alone I reckon, it's not like anyone really abuses it and in droughts people tend to be sensible anyway.
I think the biggest objection would be paying for the (relatively) tiny amount of water a household uses whilst much more is lost to leaks due to shoddy maintenance. As long as its restricted to high demand/low supply areas i don't see a problem, with the proviso that the leaks are fixed quickly. I'd be fairly miffed at paying for water beyond what i do but then Edinburgh is well served with drinking water lakes, and more than enough water to fill the buggers, as is the rest of Scotland the North of England and Wales. Lets face it when they say stressed areas they mean the SE and London.
Plenty of water and infrastructure for it up here with Keilder the Tyne, Wear, Tees and resevoirs on the North York Moors all linked together to provide water for the whole north east. Metering isnt paticularly necessary
You can't privatize water supply, hell they can't even cut you off if you fail to pay your water bill Water is a basic human need/right.
Not legal in any state afaik. The Geneva Convention has something about it somewhere I'm pretty sure. No one or organized group of persons can deprive or restrict the basic human needs of another.
Actually, while a basic need, it's not a right. It's the most valuable resource we have, and it's shrinking everyday. Most defense researchers are saying now that any future larger regional/global conflict will be over water rather then oil. Water needs to be metered and conserved. Even the poor need to get that message. Being poor does not mean you get to fritter away something so valuable. Metering it will be a huge economic incentive for them to conserve like everyone else. And, seriously, the fact that they even have access to clean, safe water should be something they should be happy about. There are plenty of places where that isn't the case. The Geneva Conventions covers the treatment of civilians, wounded and POWs in times of war. And, tell me, who exactly follows the Convention?
Well it's some kind of Human rights act anyway can't think what it is exactly if not the Geneva Convention, but I know for certain that in the UK at least they can't shut off water for reason given previously..
It's might be covered by a European Human rights charter or something of the like. More likely its just a political thing the water companies had to sign up to when they were awarded there contracts, much like gas and leccy who also have real trouble disconnecting people, it makes very poor political points when the tabloids get wind of a poor person/ old person dieing of cold, hunger or dehydration.
Are you sure our water supply's shrinking? That kind of goes against common sense. Particularly since this applies to England. And I'm sure I've read what Lorquis said somewhere before, IIRC all they can do is cut the supply down to a trickle in the UK.
Water supply is shrinking dramatically in the south east of England but mainly becuase of over population coupled with a couple of hot summers and mild winters. There was a bbc article on it last year but i can't find it now, bloody bbc site is hopeless for archive stuff.
You don't pay for what you use? Here in Belgium we have the meter system in place for ages, and it's the fairest system around. If I choose to water the garden with drinking water, I have to pay more... TBH, it's the only way you can make John Doe see they need to cut back on their usage, by making them pay for it...
I am. It's shrinking globally. Over use, evaporation, and pollution. 5 quarts of motor oil can contaminate 1 million gallons of fresh water, making it non-potable. Imagine what runs off annually from the roads, in drips and from the tarmac.
