One resident has commented that our water rates  support the cliché that water is blue gold.  I think that is a huge exaggeration but I do understand why the comment would be made as water and waste water rates are increasing at a rate well beyond inflation. Annual customer water and waste water bills will increase 5.3% and 5.5% respectively in 2013 (vs 2012).

There are two very positive points about the water and waste water budgets which result in the rates charged.  1^st, we are planning ahead; we are contributing to capital reserves so that when the pipes need maintenance and eventual replacement, there will be money available.  2^nd, the water rates promote conservation; higher consumption pushes one into a higher priced volume tier.   (King continues to be one of the few municipalities who have volume pricing but apparently more are finally starting to do so.)

I am a great believer that conservation of anything is greatly improved when you have timely feedback of consumption/usage.  Hence I was pleased to hear that down the road water meters will enable a resident to get daily readings; but..unfortunately it will be 3-4 years.  In the interim the installation of new meters across all the villages needs to be completed and we need to save the money!  But in the absence of daily data I found this statistic quite enlightening:  today about 42% of water consumption is for outside purposes (i.e. landscaping, washing the car & driveways).

It was also good to hear also that we have identified a source of loss in our water i.e. the difference between what York Region sells to us and what we bill out to our customers (i.e. residents and businesses).  Across the 3 largest villages the water loss ranges from 13 to 18%; a good portion of that is believed to be water used during construction/development.  Staff have determined how to meter that volume and a developer bulk rate has been established which will recover costs.

Over and above costs of water, there is the assurance of having safe drinking water.  The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) makes the responsibility of Council very very clear.  As Section 11 of the SDWA becomes effective January 1, 2013 I, along with other Council members are receiving training on the audit methodology.