It’s a sad day indeed when even advocates of free markets like Raleigh City Councilman Phillip Isley decides to back regressive water restrictions to address Raleigh’s water woes. To be somewhat fair, it was an 8-0 vote, but still. . .
Councilman Phillip Isley acknowledged that “we’re putting people out of
business” as he cast his vote in favor of the tighter restrictions. The increased restrictions ban all pressure-washing and outdoor watering by hand or irrigation systems, among other things. The restrictions are expected to impact businesses from landscapers to
swimming pool operators. Car washes will be closed if they do not meet
city standards for recycling water. . . tightened water restrictions will prevent developers from flushing new water lines to test them
Stage 2 restrictions will also:
- require that leaks be repaired within 24 hours of notice from the city
- ban use of water-cooled air conditioners that do not recycle water
- order businesses to review their water usage and implement conservation plans appropriate for their industry
- require that innkeepers ask guests to use their towels and linens more than once before laundering
- prohibit restaurants from serving water, except by request
- ban all non-essential use of water for commercial or public use
Simply amazing that nobody considered simply raising the price of water to address the shortcomings. Raising price is much simpler, allows businesses to make decisions based on cost like every other industry and would encourage voluntary rather than forced cut backs in usage. I’m wondering how broadly “non-essential use of water” will be interpreted by the water police.
So folks in Raleigh get to look forward to their neighbors reporting them for water violations and political appointees to decide if the water conservation plan of EVERY business in town meets their criteria.
The city doesn’t mind giving away money for incentives to “create jobs” but doesn’t mind using force to eliminate other jobs? Where’s the logic?
