After Walkerton, Ontario municipalities were tasked with ensuring their populations had access to clean, safe drinking water systems in a way that was financially sustainable. This meant that in order to protect people, they’d also be responsible for enforcing a program of increased costs for water usage—a trickle-down effect, that some feel is not only warranted, but absolutely necessary in order to combat critical repair deferrals and ensure well-monitored water distribution, while others feel this unfairly targets vulnerable community members. With inflation seemingly on an endless rise, supply chain shortages, and a lack of skilled labour, how can municipalities ensure safe, equitable water delivery and treatment through a utility rate structure that is fair, but also provides the necessary funds for ongoing maintenance and operations?
Originally posted on Water Canada
