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A comment on How can England possibly be running out of water?. Parent comment

Re:How can England possibly be running out of water? by arethuza on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @06:58AM (#45180316)
It's not free - there are explicit charges for it attached to our council taxes?
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Re:How can England possibly be running out of water? by teamonkey on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @08:10AM (#45180830)
I literally said “I.e. paid for by taxes” :)

But it’s unmetered, unlike most of the UK, and, as the other poster mentioned, cheaper.

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Re:How can England possibly be running out of water? by arethuza on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @09:10AM (#45181468)
Nitpick: "Water and waste water charges are set by Scottish Water and billed alongside council tax." They aren't a tax themselves.

https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/housing/council-tax...

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Re:How can England possibly be running out of water? by graemep on Tuesday September 09, 2025 @09:23AM (#45181594)
Unmetered water is still common in the rest of the UK. There is a gradual move to metering.

I think there is a good argument for metering water - it provides an incentive not to waste it, and potable water is expensive to supply and has a significant environmental impact.

It does need to be affordable even to people on the lowest incomes though.

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