To the Editor:
It seems to me that there are some people in Thompson with - like former Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau once phrased it - "bleeding hearts" regarding the installation of water meters in Thompson.
Here is a true fact. There is no such thing as free water in Thompson as Harold Kemp seems to think. He likes to mention names in his Sept. 15 letter to the editor. Inco, now Vale, is responsible for treating the water and maintaining the water treatment plant. The city is responsible for maintaining the necessary upgrades to deliver the water to his home and also responsible for maintaining all the water lines. That costs money. No free ride. People should get all the facts before stating their options, not picking and choosing. There is a procedure to follow in order to set the water rates, which is through the Public Utilities Board. If Mr. Kemp wants to change that procedure maybe he should be a candidate for the next provincial election and try to change that procedure by installing the water meters Thompson taxpayers will save $2 million dollars toward the replacement of the sewage treatment plant. For the few people that aren't conserving water, here are a couple of suggestions. When it is raining during the summer maybe now you will have the incentive to shut off the water sprinklers. If you have a leaking household faucet maybe think about replacing it. The only free water we get is through nature - when it rains or when the snow melts.
Gordon Bork
Thompson
