Dear Editor:
The other night I happened across a Metro Vancouver page about our water filtration system. I was pleased to learn that my tap water is cleaner than Evian water.
Starting with water from three of the cleanest reservoirs on the planet, we filter out turbidity, run the water through a new twin-tunnel system to an ozone/UV primary disinfection plant, and add trace amounts of chlorine and calcium for secondary treatment and stabilization.
They made it sound so fresh and tasty that the other afternoon, it being such a warm day, I briefly considered drinking some as I hosed gallon after gallon of this invaluable resource into my wheelbarrow to mix up batches of concrete.
Although I know my daughter's generation will judge me harshly for my wastefulness, rest assured that like most North Shore residents, I won't change my habits until I'm given an incentive and an easy way to do it.
Having shown leadership in this area in the past, I am hoping that our municipal council will consider the adoption of the following policies that should motivate and empower residents to make changes to their water usage.
Step 1: Require all developers to install water meters and to run two water lines into all new construction to enable the future delivery of minimally treated water. At the current rate of redevelopment, this should cause the majority of dwellings to be metered and to have two water service lines in the next five to 10 years.
Step 2 : Once a critical mass of residences are metered and dually serviced and as existing main service lines need replacing, run two water main lines into Metro Vancouver's system.
Step 3: Shift property tax from being based on assessed property value to being based on household water use.
Water meters have enabled reductions in water wastage in neighbouring municipalities (for example, a 25 per cent reduction in West Vancouver) and if we use smart-meter technology, we can provide future opportunities to use timeof-use costing, which will encourage us to water gardens at optimal times without the need for bylaw visits.
I hope all North Shore residents will join me in giving their municipalities the mandate to carry out this plan by writing letters, speaking out at council meetings and making voting decisions in the upcoming municipal election based on councillors' support of the concept.
Gordon Trousdell
North Vancouver District resident and perennial water waster
