2
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1979
+ BUT IF THIS THEME IS SIMPLY A DISGUISED FORM OF CRITICISM OF THE NEW PRICE STRUCTURE ITSELF AND AN ATTEMPT TO ARGUE THAT HIGHER WATER CHARGES WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE ON PRICES GENERALLY, I SIMPLY DO NOT ACCEPT IT.
+AS I HAVE SAID BEFORE IN THIS COUNCIL, THE INCREASE IN THE FREE ALLOWANCE ON POTABLE WATER SUPPLIES, WHEN TAKEN TOGETHER WITH THE PROPOSALS FOR FLUSHING SUPPLIES, WILL MEAN THAT AS MANY AS 55 PER CENT OF ALL DOMESTIC CONSUMERS WILL CONTINUE TO PAY NOTHING OR TO PAY LESS THAN AT PRESENT.+
J
MR. HADDON-CAVE SAID THAT IN THE CASE OF DOMESTIC DWELLINGS SHARING A COMMUNAL METER THE BILL IS ADJUSTED SO AS TO GIVE EACH SEPARATE DWELLING THE FULL FRE ALLOWANCE, AND METHOD OF CHARGING FOR CONSUMPTION WILL CONTINUE UNDER THE NEW PRICE STRUCTURE.
HOWEVER, HE ADMITTED THAT IN THE CASE OF A DOMESTIC DWELLING WITH A LARGE NUMBER OF OCCUPANTS AND SHARING A COMMUNAL METER, THE NEW PRICE MAY RESULT IN LARGER BILLS.
+FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE, EXISTING ARRANGEMENTS ALREADY PROVIDE PAYMENTS TO ASSIST TOWARDS WATER CHARGES AND THE GOVERNMENT INTENDS TO REVIEW THE EXISTING LEVELS OF THESE PAYMENTS.+
EARLIER. THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SPOKE ON MR. S.L. CHEN'S REQUEST FOR GOVERNMENT'S ASSURANCE THAT THE WATER UNDERTAKING +IS OPERATING EFFICIENTLY AND ECONOMICALLY.+
+THIS ASSURANCE CAN BE GIVEN BY BROAD REFERENCE TO THE TOTAL OPERATION OF THE WATERWORKS.
FIRST, IN THE PROVISION OF RESOURCES TO MEET FUTURE DEMAND WITHIN STIPULATED SUPPLY CRITERIA, PROPOSALS ARE FORMULATED BY THE DIRECTOR OF WATER SUPPLIES HAVING REGARD TO KNOWN FACTORS AND VARIOUS ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE.
+THE SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF SUCH PROPOSALS ARE ALSO CONSIDERED BY THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE, AND, SUBJECT TO THE IR ADVICE AND ENDORSEMENT, THESE PROPOSALS ARE SUBMITTED TO YOUR EXCELLENCY IN COUNCIL FOR DECISION.
+SECONDLY, THE INTEGRITY OF PLANT, EQUIPMENT AND CIVIL ENGINEER ING STRUCTURES USED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF ALL NEW RESOURCES IS ASSURED BY THE APPLICATION OF INTERNATIONALLY ACCEPTED STANDARDS.
+THIRDLY, THE MANNER IN WHICH THE WATERWORKS RESOURCES ARE OPERATED PROVIDES FOR TAKING WATER FROM THE CHEAPEST SOURCE, WHERE ALTERNATIVES EXIST.
+THE SOURCE WATER IS REGULARLY MONITORED TO CHECK ITS QUALITY AND TO ENABLE REMEDIAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN WHERE THIS
IS INDICATED.
+FOURTHLY, AS A MEASURE OF THE EFFICIENCY OF THE WATER UNDERTAKING, A VIEW IS REQUIRED AS TO UNRECORDED CONSUMPTION.
/+UNR CORDED