Some of the largest residential lots in Kamloops can be found in Dallas, Westsyde and Brocklehurst.

So it wouldn’t be surprising if people living in those areas were against the water meters that City council has voted to install.

But an unscientific, random survey by The Daily News turned up a few surprises Thursday.

Like Shirley Nitchie, who was working in her garden on her three-quarters of an acre lot in Dallas. Not only does she favour water meters, she voluntarily put one into her home in October.

She figured that as the only person living in her home and as someone who is careful about her water use, she will save money.

She hasn’t spent a summer with it yet, so she hasn’t seen whether she’ll benefit. But she has seen other people in the neighbourhood not watering by the rules. She figured those are the most vocal opponents of meters.

“You know who’s going to squeak? The people who abuse the system,” she said.

She doesn’t think yards will go brown.

“People will have to pay attention. But if you have any pride in your property, you’ll still want it to look nice.”

A few blocks away, Betty McKimmon was pruning trees. She welcomed the meters and said she’ll be putting more gravel areas on her front yard to reduce her watering.

“It’s good. We need to conserve water,” she said. “Hopefully, we’ll be paying less.”

Nearby, Ken Bergman wasn’t quite as enthusiastic. He questioned why the City picked the southeast (and downtown) areas as the first to get meters.

He had a water meter when he lived in Chilliwack, but didn’t need to sprinkle his yard as often. But he, too, has seen people who use more water than they should.

Former mayor Cliff Branchflower, who has a large property with fruit trees in Brocklehurst, remains opposed to meters.

“I can’t say I’m really pleased. I think (City) staff has been trying for meters for more than 20 years,” he said.

“I have a large lot, I use a lot of water, but I also pay extra because of the size of the lot.”

While he was mayor in 1999 when City council voted 5-4 in favour of meters, there was never the financial approval to get things going, he noted. It got overturned by the following council, who put it to referendum in 2001.

This time around, the funds are ready to go, so there’s no going back, said Branchflower.

“They made the decision, they’ll have to suffer the consequences at the next election,” he said. “I know who I’m going to vote for and not vote for.”

In Valleyview, Tom Wallace has spoken against meters in the past. Although it’s just him and his wife in their home, they live on a large property with a swimming pool, a luxurious lawn and a big garden.

Yet even he was happy with the City staff proposal because instead of paying for three watering units (because of his large lot), he’ll pay the same base rate as everyone else.

“I was concerned I’d be paying the basic rate for three units, which would be expensive,” he said.

“Like everybody else, we’ll be trying to cut back as much as possible.”

Wallace said he does think he can cut down on his watering. He liked the water allotments the City is including for each household — 500 litres per day in fall and winter, 1,000 litres per day in spring and summer.

“I guess this will be fair enough.”

In Westsyde, Robert Kelly was glad to see meters coming in.

He has worked in civic government on Vancouver Island and in the Okanagan. He’s seen the difference meters can make.

“You save an awful lot of money,” he said. “I could tell you about unmetered water users who took advantage of the system.”

There were no referenda held on water meters in the other communities where he’s worked.

“For some reason in Kamloops, it’s been made a political issue. It’s an administrative issue,” he said.

“If you don’t do it now, you’re going to have a bigger cost later on. I know what the capital costs of water system expansions are. They’re in the millions of dollars.”

The Canadian Home Builders Association for the Central Interior also supports meters.

Executive director Patsy Bourassa said all new homes built in Kamloops since before 2000 have had to include the devices. It makes no sense to have done that for nothing.

The fact that meters can defer or avert some infrastructure projects will save taxpayers money, she said.

Her association’s only objection was that the City asked if development-cost charges would be used to fund part of meters. The group voted no.

“Nobody’s opposed to them that I’ve heard. They just didn’t want DCCs used to support it,” she said.

myoung@kamloopsnews.ca