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Feb
24, 2003
HOW TO FIX HAMILTON'S ROTTING PIPES THIS YEAR
Another
Major Watermain Break (Locke and Aberdeen)
Nearly
25% of Hamilton’s water and sewer pipes are more than
75 years old. That’s over 700 kilometres of pipes that
are "past the point of replacement". This winter
they are breaking in record numbers and causing record damage.
This situation must be corrected as soon as possible, but
the City is having a budget crisis.
How
can we pay for it?
The
2003 budget includes $19.6 million for the Red Hill Valley
Expressway, and $8.1 million to build a brand new water
pipe to the airport. All that money should go toward fixing
Hamilton’s rotting pipes.
The
provincial government has promised an additional $75 million
for the Red Hill Expressway project. The City Council should
immediately ask the province to provide that money for emergency
repairs to our water and sewer system. The provincial government
should agree to this request without delay.
Together
this will provide over $100 million that can be spent immediately
on fixing existing pipes. If this is not enough, the City
plans to borrow $75 million for the expressway project.
Instead, that money could also be used to replace unsafe
pipes.
If
that’s still not enough, the City says it can find
over $70 million for the 2010 Commonwealth Games. By that
time, the only event we will be capable of hosting is whitewater
canoe races — down our major streets.
We
need serious action now! Council must get its priorities
straight! Every councillor who fails to act now to fix our
collapsing water and sewer system should be voted out of
office in the city elections on November 10. Call your councillor
now at (905) 546-2730.
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