Water use may be free but the water certainly isn't
Saturday, 26 November 2011 17:45
The response by the State Government to criticism of the release of water from Wivenhoe Dam to lift water restrictions should not confuse residents who may think that the water itself is free.
If residents use water above their minimum amounts the cost of excess water is astronomically more than it was a few years ago when the water authorities were operated by the local council.
I have had complaints from local residents of water bills running into thousands of dollars a quarter, in some cases many thousands of dollars a quarter usually because there has been a leak although in some cases the cause of the water use has never been found.
This did not matter so much when one paid a few hundred dollars on an excess water bill but in many cases this is now running to many thousands of dollars.
In a hot Brisbane summer families love the sight of children playing under the hose or on a waterslide and the brief lifting of restrictions will allow this but it is suggested residents watch their water meters to see that this isn't the most expensive childcare that they have ever had.