Dear Editor
With an exceptionally active and dangerous fire season predictably following a winter with no snow accumulation in the Lower Mainland, perhaps it’s time to reopen the discussion of water conservation and water metering. Vancouver finally mandated water meters in new residential construction and major renovations over three years ago: Burnaby still does not require water meters in residential construction.
Not metering water makes about as much sense as having a fixed fee for any fill up at the gas pump, whether you drive a smart car, motor bike, or a Hummer. The argument that meters, where there is no water shortage, do not justify their cost is specious; particularly for a municipality that was just recently “surprised” by a $150-million surplus, which might have covered much of the capital cost of water meters.
Thomas Hasek, Burnaby
