The decision by the Regional Municipality of Durham to transfer the liability of sewer and water pipes on private properties to residents, is being criticized as being arbitrary, unfair and discriminatory.
There are growing calls on local social media to repeal the decision, which comes up for a review by the Regional Council today. This is election year.
The region says it is now the responsibility of property owners to repair leaks and damage on their property. It recommended a private insurer, who has been sending out direct mail to residents and conducting social media marketing campaigns playing on the possibility that such damage could cost $2,661 to replace water service line, and $5,054 to replace sewer/septic line.
Both the municipality and the private insurer, Service Line Warranties (which has been using the Durham Region logo on its mailers), have said the insurance is optional.
The decision is being called arbitrary as there was no public consultation on the issue. It is also unfair as it is a potential hidden charge on residents.
“It is discriminatory because the new policy discriminates against the older neighbourhoods of Durham. Newer subdivisions with pipes just installed are not likely to see major pipe breaks, and if they do, many are still under builder’s warranty,” pointed out Brian Nicholson, an Oshawa councillor.
He said older and more traditional neighbourhoods – some with water and sewer systems approaching 100 years old – are more likely to see breaks and need for repairs and upgrades. “These areas include southern and central Oshawa, southern and central Whitby, southern Ajax and Pickering, Bowmanville and our traditional rural communities”.
He said it is bad enough that residents in older neighbourhoods are paying a large portion of their water and sewer bills to support growth in newer subdivisions and communities. “Now we are being abandoned and forced to pay out of our pockets for what is really Durham Region infrastructure,” he pointed out.
“This is unacceptable and I will be voting for the entire repeal of the previous changes and a return to the previous system where Durham Region is responsible for any repairs and upgrades,” Nicholson said.
On Friday, Durham Region issued a notice suspending the implementation “until the completion of the public education program in 2023”.
The report said Durham Region staff will request that SLWC “not accept any new clients in Durham”, until the completion of the public education program.
Nicholson said why should the region carry out an “expensive” education program.
He said when the report was presented to council, staff stated that it would be a non-event for water and sewer customers. This is has proven to be not the case. It is my view that had the true impact of this change been communicated to Regional Council, this change in policy would have been soundly defeated.
“What is need now is not a suspension and an expensive marketing and communication campaign but the absolute repeal of the changes to the bylaw and a full return to the policy that was in place previously. There should be no place for hidden taxation in any level of government”.
He urged residents to call their home insurers and check if such damage is covered or not.