this post was submitted on 24 May 2024
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I would argue that doesn't apply. This post and whatever you call lemmy subr's is specific to the idiocy in the USA. In Europe like Canada to the best of my knowledge the public utility maintains the infrastructure up to your main. If it leaks before where you get charged, it's their problem and their pipes.
In most of the USA, their responsibility ends at your property line. Utility companies are already all privatized, electric, gas, water, and sewer. If you have an issue with a leak or distribution, they will shut you off at the property line and let you figure it out.
The added infrastructure cost for supplying water through 1 extra valve or not is paid for by the homeowner when the house was built. The labour to turn your water on and off is paid for at the time through fines and fees for disconnection and connection. There is literally no cost that they bear for your lack of water.
Not to mention the cost of maintaining a utility like that could easily be socialized. There is no reason why we need to distribute the cost of maintain a public utility to individuals when it's something everyone benefits from (and should be a basic human right, anyway)
And so you did.
I find myself divided between idiocy and a complete lack of sense of humanity. Maybe it's the sum of both.
Where do you think the funds for that come from?
Yes and no. The money expended to install, maintain and repair those systems are raised either through indirect taxation, to then be transfered via a municipal or some other publi entity budget (which is a very bad practice), or by charging complementary fees directly added to the service, which are then directly managed by a publicly held company, that manages such services and is under public scrutiny.
Here, likewise. The service providers are required to make sure whatever is to be dispensed reaches the meter.
I am sadly aware of that.
In your house? Your problem. But shutting your service with no reason? That's rich.
You forget the cost to maintain the main lines. Whatever it is to be provided requires a way to reach the destination.
The labour costs are already calculates for the salaries. The extra fees and fines are extra income.
The main lines need to be kept in working condition, even if unused. That costs money.
You're missing the point that the meter is not the property line in the USA. At least I hope that's the only thing your rambling is missing. And arguing semantics about taxation on a public service is stupid. It costs more money to staff the hotline to answer calls than the cost to maintain a shutoff valve to your property because all the costs are born to the homeowner and service subscriber already.
Incase it wasn't clear, this is NOT true in almost everywhere else in the world. My properties outside the USA the utility must maintain to high standards all the way through my meter which is located on my property, but usually in my dwelling. All the subterranean pipe, the pipe through the foundation, the pressure regulator, the backflow valves, that's all owned by the city and I can't touch it. But I also don't pay for it when it breaks. And when it leaks they dig the ground up and fix. That's NOT how it works in the USA.
Apparently, we both suffer from a lack of understanding for the others words.
As I lack the will to continue this exchange, I wish a good day.