Huron-Kinloss council

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Despite an offer of funding from the province, the installation of water meters in Huron-Kinloss is still too expensive.

That was the word from township staff at the general committee meeting Dec. 20.

Treasurer Jodi MacArthur and public works director Hugh Nichol presented a report, recommending the township not pursue funding under the Ontario Small Waterworks Assistance Program.

Under this program, municipalities that own residential drinking water or wastewater systems providing services to 5,000 and fewer residents, are eligible to apply for two-thirds funding for related projects.

The current phase of the funding focuses on projects that improve water conservation and efficiency in existing water and wastewater systems, such as installing water meters.

Without provincial funding, the cost to install water meters in the township would be $1.4 million, the report states. That cost is too high to even consider implementing.

If the township were to receive two-thirds funding,  the project would still cost the municipality about $450,000.

The other major concern, states the report, is the ongoing costs involved with reading the meters, billing and collection services, and meter replacements and maintenance. These costs are permanent and not eligible for funding.

"While it is true that water meters encourage conservation, we have been able to encourage conservation in a variety of ways and believe that most of our residents are conscientious about their water consumption," states the report. "Based on the service rates we are currently charging, it is highly unlikely that we could promise residents cost-savings by metering their water consumption."

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Wednesday, December 29, 2010