The cost of supplying clean, safe drinking water to Saint Johnners has escalated to 259 million dollars. That message will be delivered tonight to Common Council. An unanswered question is how will a cost that high affect water rates in the city. Common Council still hasn't decided yet whether everyone will be metered. Brent McGovern of Saint John Water says the people using water meters now have reduced their consumption. McGovern concedes the more people in your family, the greater the liklihood is you will be paying more for water than if you were on a flat rate. That's what concerns Deputy Mayor Stephen Chase who isn't entirely sold on the idea of metering. The head of Municipal Operations for the city, Paul Groody argues the use of meters will encourage people to conserve and not waste water.
