A minister or some high official of the Water Board interviewed on Tv recently stated that 100 litres of water per day, per person and a five-member household was the basis of the current rates charged for water. Any consumption beyond 15 units per month was considered waste.

Though this arbitrary limit of 100 litres is not beyond dispute, let that pass and let us examine justification of the current rates and the untenable assumption of a five- member household.

1 . Water supply is a service and not a profit-making business. To keep the rates within reason, the inefficiency and consequent waste must be eliminated. The current waste is over 50% due to leaks, unauthorized tapping, supply to illegal squatters etc. If this waste is eliminated, the cost and consequently the selling rates could be drastically reduced.

The legal consumer is made to pay for the waste and inefficiency of the Board!

2. Many affluent families have no more than two or three occupants per house and on the 100 litre basis, they would use nine or ten units per month. The consumption beyond this limit is used to water their gardens.

This excess is subsidized for the rich.

3. Large houses with extended families may have 10 to 15 occupants. These are not rich people who could opt to live more comfortably.

When these people pay their water bill at Rupees 82/50 per unit, they will have to die of starvation!

Fair billing has to be on a flat rate or on a per capita basis.

Lincoln Wijesinghe