Should we pay to use tap water in our houses?
953087
Obviously we have to pay - water company workers need to be paid, pipes need to be maintained, sewage works need to be built, and so on. The question is only HOW we pay.\n\nWhich way to pay is fairest? That depends on your definition of fair.\n\nMetering means that you pay for what you use: that's the way we pay for most things (you don't pay "petrol rates" and then take as much as you like at the pumps). But it doesn't take into account the ability to pay, and everybody needs water - though in theory we only need:\n3 litres each per day to drink;\n3 litres to cook with;\n1 litre to brush your teeth;\n6 litres to flush the toilet (say 3 times per day);\n3-minute shower - about 60 litres - maybe twice a week;\nA full washing machine load - about 120 litres - say twice a week per person;\nWashing up - 20 litres per day\n\nThat's a total of less than 700 litres of water a week. At 0.2 pence per litre, that's only £1.40's worth of water per person per week, which should be within anyone's reach.\n\nSo why are my water bills so high? I suppose I must waste a lot. I take baths sometimes instead of showers, and I shower more than is necessary for basic hygeine. I have a dishwasher. I water my garden. I let the tap run while I clean my teeth. But I don't NEED to do any of that. So if I do it, I should pay for it.
113532
Most homes have indoor plumbing, electricity, and running water. Cable TV  and internet access are big ones too. I grew up with a LOT of people who didn't have electricity/water and that was in the 80s and 90s! Now, where I am from, about 75% have electricity and water.
98991
no,  if your connected to city sewers you have to pay. check with your city councilman. they probably negotiated a billing delay when they were first installed. even if it was a city oversight. its a service you have to pay for. they charged me xtra sewer when i filled my pool and thats 6000 gal worth, even though it didn't go down the drain. if they can charge you they will. especially if all your neighbors are connected, they don't give you a choice.
808567
pay for one from a house inspector
431187
i think most tap water contains fluoride, something bottled water companies filter out. seems that tap water is actually more regulated than bottled water.
519600
I think it will top out around $3.50/gal  In the dallas area we were paying 2.99.  It has just start dropping to 2.89/2.81 in some places around town.
685080
The S.E of the UK has experienced two years of below average rainfall resulting in falling groundwater levels.\n\nThe population in the S.E has continued to grow and new housing os on the increase.\n\nPlus, we all use much more water. We have power showers, dishwashers, jet washers for the car, expensive but thirsty shrubs in our gardens and more swimming pools.\n\nIn the UK, Direct abstraction from groundwater and non-tidal waters amounted to nearly 9.6 billion cubic metres. The electricity and gas production and fishing industries accounted for the bulk of that with usage of 5.6 billion cubic metres of water. The fishing industry used 2.1 billion cubic metres.\n\nPublic water supply amounted to 7.2 billion cubic metres of which 1.8 million was lost through leakage. Domestic use accounted for nearly 45 per cent of the public water supply with the remainder spread fairly evenly across the manufacturing and services sectors.\n\nSo, although not only does increased domestic usage put strain on the water supply, the increased use of electricity also pushes up the demand for water. So ironically, pumping in extra water will require more electricity which in turn requires more water!\n\nMost of the water infrastructure was designed decades ago so it is little wonder that its beginning to creak at the seams. The leakage figures are alarming, but as a third of domestic water is used in flushing toilets, 2.4 billion cubic metres are being simply flushed away.\n\nWouldn't it be great if all new houses captured rainfall on their rooves and channelled it into header tanks for toilet cisterns? That way we could save a huge proportion of that 2.4 billion cubic metres of water.\n\nAll it would take is some imagination when applying planning regulations. The cost compared to the overall cost for a new home would be minimal.
873270
depends on if you tap water contains chlorine or not.\nif it does than let it sit out for 24 hours before using it on a plant.\n\n\npersonally i use well water.\n\ndistilled water would probably leach minerals from the soil as it drains through.
56347
True and sorta pathetic that water that's free at home s 1$ from a vending machine.
736385
Although I have not read this book, I do understand the importance of water, and how little of it we really get. Also the quality of the water leaves something to be desired. Weather you drink bottled or tap, you really have to drink a lot, because of all the other things that are in it. Most people walk around "drinking from the toilet" (your bowel). Because when you do not drink enough water your body must get it from somewhere. And despite what most think, you CAN NOT get enough water from sodas, tea, and coffee. I found what I believe to be the best water in the world, it is a filtration system and they even have a sports bottle so you can have GOOD water where ever you go. You can check out the link below to see these things, and please drink more water no matter if it is bottle or tap.
435430
The greatest phenomenon that I have come across in my life - 65 years old - is the sale of water, bottled water.  I know that there are places in this world where ordinary tap water is not suitable for drinking for whatever reason, but here in London, tap water is of the highest quality.  Even so, people are willing to pay more for bottled water than they do for petrol.  It must surely go down in history as the best publicity stunt ever (and the most costly).
1023530
Get rid of water surrounding your house.
288332
I'm surprised that whomever tested it didn't also recommend a filtering system.  You're probably looking at buying a reverse-osmosis filtering system with a carbon-block add-on.  You'll spend upwards of $500 but it will allow you to drink your water again.\n\nReverse osmosis works by forcing the water molecules through tiny pores--anything larger than the water molecule is "brushed off".  (That's not a great description but the best I can do w/o coffee.)\n\nYour local home improvement center can walk you through the steps of choosing and installing.  I did mine myself in about 4 hours.  And if *I* can do it, you can.  ;-)
358607
Absolutely.  Water is a great cleanser and waste disposer.  In the tropical countries the heat is so much, drinking 8 glasses of water per day need not be forced.  Probably we are drinking more.  The question is more relevant in the temperate zones where you do not drink water so much.  Water is necessary for healthy skin as well.  Please check out any of the websites on water, plenty of them around.  Half of them say that there is no proof drinking that much water helps.  But we, in the east, tend to believe otherwise.  Water is so much a part of our daily living.  After all there is nothing called water overloading, since excess water is eliminated by the body very easily too, unless you have a reduced kidney function.
549108
if you have dial up and there are other things available (DSL, Cable, etc) you would be a fool not to get it..the difference is just amazing....equate the cost to the other essential utilities of the home (water, gas, food)...I mean, this is ESSENTIAL!....dial up is foolish
421615
It depends on which method you are talking about and the end use of the water.  For drinking water they are strictly monitored.  For industrial reuse, you try to balance cost and quality so you can have problems.
522082
charge depending on the size of the house and if you are using your own products.  A flat rate of around $50 is normally good.  Check out some of your competition, call maid services around your area and ask how much they would charge. Don't tell them your plan tho. Use that information to help you find a good price. It's hard to tell you what to charge, it depends on where you live and what the economic situation in your area is. Good luck tho!