I have always tried to save water for economic and environmental reasons. I put water in a cup to brush my teeth, collect the cold water before the hot comes out for my plants, etc. During one six month period when I was very active in the community and coming home late and leaving early I averaged 125 cu ft of water a month. Now the water authority is increasing the water bills so that they can build huge storage tunnels so water does not overflow in storms and dump sewage into river. I have to pay over $16 even if I use no water in a month. At the same time the city government is using water use as proof of residency, and if you don’t use enough you may get a huge increase in your property tax bill. The tax people tried to say I was not living in my home for those 6 months because I did not use enough water. Once I was at a city office where a resident was complaining about getting dinged for not using enough water. The helpful employee whispered, “just leave a faucet dripping so your bill is big enough.” Government insanity at work.
Developers are colluding with the government to drive poor people who conserve their water out of their homes. I once saw a poor elderly woman practically in tears at a govt. office. She owned a 2 story duplex, and her son who lived in one half had lost his job. He was keeping the heat low and coming to her side to bathe and do laundry, and the city was trying to say that half was unoccupied and she owed $15,000 in taxes. That was 10 years ago. This was in a gentrifying neighborhood.
Thank you
Government “thoughta’ sure is convoluted isnt it.
The Department Of Equalization..once did a drive by assessment on my office.
second story office/
they drove by on the street...