Castanet Omits the $1.2 million GVW Revenue Surplus

...imagine a public utility gaining $1.2 million more than had been projected...AFTER a requested 10 per cent reduction in water consumption!
But nobody even mentions it.


Here's Castanet's story, posted October 9th, 2015, by Kate Bouey (story 149391)

"Turning Off the Taps:
Greater Vernon water users heeded the call this past summer when asked to reduce water consumption.
Figures from the North Okanagan Regional District show a dramatic drop in water usage in early July, coinciding with a request to turn off those taps.
Daily demand for water in the first part of July (1-9) averaged 129 megalitres per day.
The regional district imposed Stage 1 water restrictions July 7.
Water usage dropped almost immediately.
Between July 10 and Aug. 12, water use fell to 102 megalitres per day, a 21 per cent drop.
The August average was 91 megalitres per day, eight per cent lower than in 2014.
District staff point to droughts in California and in Vancouver this summer, as well as at home, that may have contributed to the public effort to conserve.
It may also have to do with water bills. North Okanagan residents pay the highest water rates of the valley's three major cities.
The more water used by a household in Greater Vernon, the higher the price.
“The tiered rate has been effective in reducing excessive outdoor watering and for water conservation,” reads a district report."

Four comments were received from the public by Castanet on the story:

Ty Rich • 18 hours ago

Funny that I'm driving home on this October morning and see sprinklers operating on city land on the same day it rained. They need to check themselves before telling others how to use the water.

Darren • a day ago

"The tiered rate has been effective in reducing excessive outdoor watering and for water conservation,” reads a district report"
It has also been effective in preventing a family with 5 kids from playing in the sprinkler in the backyard, or having a garden to grow your own vegetables to try to reduce the sky-rocketing grocery bills, or even having grass soft enough to play in bare feet outside.
Congratulations to those responsible for our massive water plan failure that results in us paying more than double the cities nearby... "Rural living at its best" What an absolute embarrassment.

Raven Darren • 20 hours ago

Exactly

pjy Raven • 15 hours ago

ALSO……GOOD LUCK when you come looking (next referendum) for more funding !

"Yup, we North Okanaganers pay the highest water rates of the valley's three major cities," avows Kia, "even when we use less and less water."

 
And politicians will soon be scratching their heads wondering why fewer people than expected are moving to Vernon and Coldstream.

They should scratch hard.
Very hard.