Bloomfield Town Council Resolution Against High Volume Discounts Passes Unanimously

Council Agrees With Resident Opposition to Inequitable Rate Structure

On Tuesday November 13, 2018 the Bloomfield Town Council unanimously adopted a resolution instructing its MDC Commissioner to vote against the proposed ordinances which would provide a 20% water rate discount and a potentially 80-90% Clean Water Project Charge discount to large water users  for volumes of water that exceed 600,000 gallons/day measured through a single meter.

"NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Town of Bloomfield hereby states its opposition to any discounting or reduced rate schemes for large volume users of our water..."

Multiple residents spoke before a packed town hall to voice opposition to what they perceive as a repeated attempt by the MDC to offer discounted rates for Niagara Bottling in return for increased water usage. Similar discounts were rescinded after a public outcry two years ago.

"What don't you understand about the word 'NO'?" asked one resident.

The proposed discounts have reappeared just as Niagara filed permits with the Town of Bloomfield to expand the number of bottling lines and just as a larger water main necessary for the increased water draw is nearing installation.

The discounts are the antithesis of a water conservation ethic and viewed by many as a very specific corporate giveaway.  What other industry uses massive amounts of water through a single meter? And  since much of the water is shipped away in bottles, up to 80% will not be discharged to the sewers. That will result in a Clean Water Project Charge discount of up to 80%. No other category of MDC consumer is treated in this way.

See the full text of the resolution below.