The manner in which collective ownership can often provide cheap
and simple solutions to problems is illustrated by the water
supply systems in the small town in which I live.
The town was settled in stages. At first there were not enough
people to set up a municipal water supply. Settlers as they came
in started co-operatively owned but quite informally structured
water systems. Most did not have enough money for individual
wells so each person chipped in so much money and a well would be
dug with lines running to each
members property...These systems still survive many decades after
they were begun. Since
everyone had their own well or was a member of a coop system no
town water system
developed. I am on what is called the WREN water system (named
after a street, named after a bird) There are 12 households on
the system. At a cost of 60 dollars each a year we get all the
water we want. No meters. No rules. And we have money in the
bank--actually the credit union. There is a municipal sewer
system costing 72 dollars a year. The same type of water sytem
exists in Menzie-the location of the Menzie Token Leftist
Institute as you will recall The population of 7 support a well
over 300 feet deep and much superior to WREN water. The well has
just recently been deepened and upgraded with the help of a grant
from the provincial government. We even have a tap so that free
riders can come and get all the water they want at no cost. And
they do, everyone knows its there and its good water. We don't
intend to shut off the tap or put in a meter machine so that you
can drop in a quarter forso many litres :) We are those nice
Canadians that Michael admires.
Common throughout rural Manitoba are community wells. These
wells are primarily used for water for cattle and non-drinking
uses but many of them have potable water as well. These are
absolutely free. Rural people have successfully lobbied for these
wells. To suggest that these should be metered and based upon a
user pay principle would be worth more in lost votes to any
Conservative govt. than revenue it might generate.
By the way, although the Menzie Token Leftist Institute
is now just a storage house, I hope to have it habitable by
summer, so if any token leftist from abroad needs a flophouse,
feel free to visit..
Cheers, Ken Hanly
