February 13, 2009
Householders would be charged for each flush under a radical new toilet tax designed to help beat the drought.
The scheme would replace the current system, which sees sewage charges based on a home’s value – not its waste water output.
CSIRO Policy and Economic Research Unit member Jim McColl and Adelaide University Water Management Professor Mike Young plan to promote the move to state and federal politicians and experts across the country.
“It would encourage people to reduce their sewage output by taking shorter showers,recycling washing machine water or connecting rainwater tanks to internal plumbingto reduce their charges,”Professor Young said.
“Some people may go as far as not flushing their toilet as often because the less sewage you produce, the less sewage rate you pay.”
Professor Young said sewer pricing needed to be addressed as part of the response to the water crisis.