Punitive water rates

Sir,

I would like to voice my support for your idea (editorial, Sunday Mail, April 13) that people should face punitive charges for using excessive amounts of water.

Where I live, the only day on which we now receive mains water during daytime hours is Sunday. Yesterday (Sunday) I took a stroll around my neighbourhood and noticed two people were taking advantage of the availability of mains water to use their hosepipes – one to wash down his front drive, the other to wash his car. Despite the cuts, the message has obviously not got through to some quarters that water is currently a precious resource to be used sparingly.

I would prefer not to call such penalty charges a fine. I think it is a market solution to the problem. There should be several bands based on the amount of water used and the price should rise steeply from one band to the next. The message is, “Use as much water as you like, but if you exceed the limits you will pay through the nose for it.” The penalty rate should reflect the true cost of importing the extra water in tankers. If people are prepared to meet this cost, then I think they are entitled use as much as they like.

I have seen this problem coming for about a year and have made a serious effort to reduce consumption. I see from my water bills that I am using 20 per cent less water now than two years ago. When I see such blatant waste going on around me, I wonder why I bother.

Tim Drayton
Ayios Athanasios, Limassol

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