Water excess costlier

Press, 27 January 1979, Page 6

Water excess costlier

Christchurch residents, with leaky water pipes or! toilet cisterns may receive al bill for excess water consumption under the new water rates. If they water their gar-! I dens often they may also receive bills for excess use. I Several persons have com-'; plained to “The Press” about! : excess water bills for the: I last 12 months ranging from' $7 to $25. I These are persons who; [live within the first area to; be charged under the new! i water rates. A bill for resi-i dents in the second area will; be sent put at the end of

I this month. Christchurch is; t • divided into six rates areas. ;; ! "Bills have always been J /sent out for excess water ■use,” said a spokesman fori ! the Christchurch City Coun- i !cil’s water rates section. “It ■ ■ is just that more people will f get them now.” In June last year the:; t council decided to increase!! :!water rates, because it wash [ costing more to provide the [service than the council wash iireceiving in rates revenue. !■ >| It increased the price for! 'levery 4500 litres of water!! •i within the rateable allow-!! I lance for each property from]! "20c to 30c, and increased theh

amount payable on excess from 25c to 40c for every 4500 litres. This means that consumers will now exceed their allowance by using less water, and will pay more for excess used. The spokesman said that .an account of $25 was not • unusual. Some were $6O, he said. If any bill was considered [excessive, the rates division I would read the meter again, ! and inspectors would check ! for leaks. People with leaking toilet cisterns would [significantly increase their excess rates bill.