Economy
Foul smelling and tasting town water. RESIDENTS AGAINST WATER meters
I am a resident of Grindlewald. Recently we noticed foul smelling and tasting town water. Grindelwald is on Ben Lomond Water.
I took a water sample from the kitchen sink tap and had it analyzed by a NATA certified laboratory.
The results came back at 59.1 coliforms and 56 E coli according to the microbiologist.
The Australian Standard for E coli is to be less than 1.0.
The lab by law notified the Health Department and I made contact with Environmental Health when I had heard nothing from them.
They acknowledged they were aware of the results.
Environmental Health has tried to dismiss the results but the sampling was performed using an acceptable method to the lab. I checked with them first.
We are now drinking bottled water and boiling any other water.
It serves no purpose just me knowing this. It wouldn’t be too good if people became ill.
RESIDENTS AGAINST WATER meters (RAWm)
Alderman Jeff Briscoe MR
New Group believes people power will overturn decision to install water meters in Hobart.
Hobart residents that oppose the introduction of water meters in Hobart have formed a new group (RAWm) . Southern Water has announced that the roll out of water meters will commence in early 2011. The group will be lobbying politicians and the Board of Southern Water for an overturning of the policy.
Alderman Jeff Briscoe, spokesperson for the group said the lobbying the deputy Premier, the Treasurer Ms Lara Giddiings seemed the only way to overturn the policy decision of Government. The owners of Southern Water, local councils have no effective way to influence policy, Alderman Briscoe said today
Alderman Jeff Briscoe, said the 30 million roll out of the water meters was not warranted in urban Hobart.
“Indeed the result of the expensive roll out of water meters would mean deferring upgrades of infrastructure to all parts of southern Tasmania. “
“So effectively if Hobart residents get these meters they don’t want, it will be at the expense of new infrastructure that is vitally needed in rural southern Tasmania.” Said Alderman Briscoe
“There are no details available on the pricing of water when these meters go in”
“So RAWm urges any resident with concerns to raise the water meter issue with their local politicians and lobby those decision makers to reverse this clearly absurd policy decision”
Cost benefit analysis done by the local Councils when water was under their control demonstrated no net benefit. The group has called for a scraping of the rollout.
“The justification for water meters is flawed and appears to be simply the result of a policy decision to raise money. “ said Alderman Jeff Briscoe. The group believes that Hobart is unique compared with the mainland capitals as water is abundant and this should be out competitive advantage.
In summary the group’s initial requests are
1. A moratorium on the roll out of meters in Hobart ( as there is a small window of opportunity before the tender is determined.)
2. The Cost Benefit analysis (if any has been done) and the business case are made publically available
3. The Upper House Select Committee investigating water matters has released its report.
The group can be contacted ph 62310749. A facebook group page will be shortly be available
Southern Water: The latest bungle:
BILL woes continue for Southern Water customers with revelations some customers have been waiting months for usage bills and pensioners have been wrongly overcharged.
The government-owned business apologised yesterday for delays in sending bills to customers with water meters.
The apology comes after a pre-Christmas billing bungle in which thousands of customers were wrongly sent overdue notices.