So - You Think Water Meters Are A Bad Idea for Lake Cowichan ?

That was the question. Here is some of the dialog I entered into with someone who knows far more about the negative affects of water metering than I do.

1) Water is essential to life and should be a fundamental right, not a commodity. Shall we try metering air next!
2) Water metering has more to do with “revenue generation” than water conservation (and very much so in Lillooet). The whole “revenue” premise implies, it’s OK to waste water, as long as you can pay - regardless of your neighbours need.
3) Education is a more effective route to water conservation than taxation is. For example - high costs for fuel and parking has not stopped Vancouverites from driving SUV’s, nor has it increased the use of public transit. Al Gores “Inconvenient Truth” has made more of an impact on peoples’ awareness of global warming than high fuel costs have.
4) Water metering costs money (lots of money) to install, maintain and monitor (billing), money that could be much more effectively spent on infrastructure, fixing leaks, conservation education and enforcement.
5) Metering does pave the way to privatization, there are lots of examples out there to see, if you look.

“Forced” water metering - a good idea or a bad idea? Consider the cost, the benefit, the planning and growth. Consider what really helps the environment, the people and the town. Consider what is really behind the governments whole concept of metering water. Whether it be Lake Cowichan or Lillooet - forced water metering is not a good idea.

C. Kjarsgaard