|
Some years ago, during a
particularly long drought that caused bans on watering the lawn, car
washing, etc., we pitched a brick. Literally. Acting
on pleas from our elected gummint, we placed a brick in each of our
four toilet tanks to reduce the volume of flush water. We let the
lawn die. We let the flowers wilt. Cars were dirty. No
cheating. We were good citizens. Eventually the summer rains
came, heavy rains, as though it was a make-up call by Mother Nature,
and the problem was quickly alleviated, and nary a peep from
Algore.. Guess what? Early next year we were socked with a
water bill surcharge to cover the lost revenue our compliance
caused. We were annoyed. We learned a lesson, too.
Canucks are just finding out, which is odd, what with them living under
communist rule, and all.
| “ | Bud
Harris, 78, and grandson David Moreira, 27, obeyed the message to
conserve but it will soon mean higher water rates at their Mississauga
home.
For years the message drummed into Bud Harris, 78, and his grandson David Moreira, 27, was conserve, conserve.
And conserve they did, along with thousands of others across the GTA,
watering their lawn less, replacing old toilets and installing
water-efficient showerheads.
"We are trying to be economical and trying to do it to preserve the
Earth as well," said Moreira, a locksmith who lives with his retired
grandfather in a 1950s-era subdivision in Mississauga.
They've done all the right things, he says, 70 per cent for economic reasons and 30 per cent for environmental reasons.
But that win-win sentiment belies an inconvenient truth – one that came
out in a recent unguarded comment from Durham Region's works czar,
Cliff Curtis. Asked about declining water consumption, he told the Star:
"Conservation is killing us." (Taxes will have to be raised to cover repairs to the infrastructure.)
Bud unearthed his M-80 grenade launcher from it's hiding place.
He went to the headquarters of the Royal Mounted Water Police, and blew
them all up.
I made the last sentence up. I think. [Article]
| ” |
|
