The tiered water billing system introduced in Parksville last year has been so successful for resident customers the city is delaying the next step in the planned rate increase.
But while residential use dropped an impressive 23 per cent in the first year of the planned three-year, phased increase, commercial use only dropped by one per cent, so council decided to go ahead with a scheduled commercial increase.
The new tiered system was meant to encourage conservation but remain revenue neutral, but the lack of a drop in commercial use meant the city collected $100,000 more than expected.
As a result, residential customers will remain at their current water rates, while commercial rates will go up three per cent.
“Water is a finite resource and our consumption is much too high,” said councillor Marc Lefebvre.
Councillor Al Greir said he didn’t understand why people are so paranoid about water, considering Parksville is located in a rain-forest surrounded by water.
The city is in the early stages of developing a new water intake from the Arrowsmith Water Service Dam and has been promoting its Aquastar water awareness program.
Director of planning Gayle Jackson has said it’s true Parksville isn’t facing imminent water shortages, but used the analogy that just because someone is rich doesn’t mean they don’t manage their money.
Coun. Sue Powell supported the conservation measures but worried about putting undue financial stress on local businesses that require a lot of water to operate such as car washes.
She asked for more details on why the commercial use didn’t drop. Under the tiered system, customers pay a higher rate for heavy use and are rewarded with a lower rate for low consumption.
Council approved maintaining residential rates and increasing commercial rates. Councillors Powell and Teresa Patterson voted against the proposal.