The policy will drop costs for working and middle class users and introduce progressive water metering, making water hogs and owners of large plots pay their fair share.
VANCOUVER, B.C. on the Territories of the Musqueam, Squamish, and Tsleil-Waututh – William Azaroff, Mayoral Candidate for OneCity, today announced Make Waterhogs Pay, a citywide plan to monitor water and stormwater usage to save costs for the average Vancouverite, while making big users of water, like mansion owners, pay their fair share.
“A mansion owner with flower beds, five bathrooms, and leaky faucets uses more water than a Vancouver Special and pays the same amount,“ said William Azaroff. “Water is our most precious resource and both our City and our region have ignored the looming water crisis for decades while letting rich property owners use as much as they want and not pay their fair share.”
Make Waterhogs Pay includes four key commitments:
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Introducing water meters – We can’t manage what we can’t measure. Meters will tell us what areas need more infrastructure and what users are using more than others.
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Introducing changes to storm water fees – Right now, property taxes pay for storm and sewer infrastructure. That’s unfair. We will introduce a fair storm sewer fee based on the size of your lot, so condo owners and renters will pay less, not more. Property taxes that used to go to storm infrastructure will go to our parks and community centres instead.
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Introducing the Vancouver Special Guarantee – For a typical home, on a typical lot, after this policy is enacted, you’ll pay less.
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Invest in water system upgrades – Introducing a fair, progressive water metering system will help us invest in the next generation of water infrastructure, saving us all money over time.
Vancouver is facing a looming water crisis and we need to address it as soon and as seriously as possible, while saving money for the average Vancouverite.
“I voted for water metering in Council because it is a smart solution to one of the major issues our region faces,” said Lucy Maloney. “It’s time that we took our water crisis seriously and City Hall showed leadership in solving these challenges before it’s too late.”
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About OneCity Vancouver
OneCity is a progressive political movement with more than 4,800 members and more than a decade of electoral success in Vancouver politics, championing a city for workers, a city with housing for everyone, and a city that grows small businesses and services so Vancouverites can have a voice, a place, and a future.
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