WATER

Water is a critical resource.

Plans and agreements are already being made to harness the availability of more water for the future.

The financing for these plans can be seen in the proposed water rate increases.

I propose an emphasis on conservation rather then an expansion of water capture methods. Any water fee increases should emphasize investments in conservation techniques rather then simply promoting more volume and thus, over development. Emphasizing conservation will be less costly, better for our communities and better for our environment.

Why?

The needs that are being projected and planned for are based on projected increases in population. The argument is that if we are to add another 200,000 persons on the peninsula we need to plan for this much more water NOW.

Let’s look at this another way. How much fresh water do we have? Based on this, how much more population growth can we safely absorb?

Let’s not let developments dictate our requirements for water but rather let the reasonable availability of water dictate the pace of development. This is smart growth.

Another area of concern is that we are making financial commitments to support a water project (King William Reservoir) that does not yet have final approval and may never receive that approval. This commitment is being paid for by the citizens today in the form of higher water fees. These higher water fees do nothing to encourage conservation, rather they are to finance a higher rate of consumption of fresh water in the future. 

The projected cost of the reservoir has doubled since originally proposed. More denials and litigation could easily cause the cost to double again. As of today the reservoir is under a construction moratorium until at least 2012.

Lets talk and think carefully about our natural resources. Its time we matched the population to the resources available, rather then force the resources to sustain whatever population we are able to attract.

Terence Wehle

Candidate for Council.