The Editor,
This is a call for council to re-balance sewer charges for single-family dwellings, townhouses and apartments.
Currently, sewer taxes are paid on metered water usage at 90 per cent of the water meter reading (there is no sewer meter).
A Mr. Symons presented this matter to council on Dec. 10. Council and staff listened but council provided no direction.
Apparently, our council and staff are unaware that this issue has already been addressed successfully by the District of West Vancouver.
Their metered sewer rate is based on the volume of your sewer use.
It is charged by cubic metres and is based on your metered water consumption.
The single-family sewer volume is based on winter water use (first and fourth quarter) then annualized and charged in quarterly payments; this is because single-family properties tend to have much higher outdoor water use in the summer, and water used outdoors does not flow through the sewer system.
Multi-family and commercial sewer volume is based directly on water used during the quarter.
Surely, the City of Richmond can provide this West Vancouver type of billing solution for single-family homes rather than over-billing us for our sewers?
Don Flintoff
RICHMOND
