Flow-on effect muddies mood
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A property owner in Woorree is at loggerheads with the Water Corporation over its decision to make her install a back flow prevention device.
The owner, who did not want to be named, said she was forced to install the device 10 months after the Corporation approved her application to put a shed on the property.
She received an email in January last year saying if she did not have a device fitted in the next 10 days she would be fined $5000.
She said she had friends nearby who did not have to to install a device.
She described this as double standards, labelling it a “joke”, and said it should be “all or none”.
“They can’t make one person have it, without making everybody have it," she said.
“It’s just ridiculous, absolutely ridiculous.”
She said the water corporation had been unfair, especially given it had contacted her 10 months after it had given approval for the shed to be built.
She felt it was too short a time frame and resulted in her being unexpectedly out of pocket by about $700.
“If you’re going to make a rule, you can’t single out people who are building new houses or having new developments. You’ve got to do it to existing ones as well.”
However, the shock did not stop there for the owner, who received a letter a fortnight ago saying she was due to have the device tested.
"We would’ve taken it a bit further had we known that every year you’ve got to get a licensed plumber to come and test it, ” she said.
Water Corporation Mid-West regional manager Steve Greeve said the device was needed because the building application for the water service stipulated the land use for the property as shed/stables.
“This is assessed as a high risk to water services due to the presence of livestock, Mr Greeve said.
He said the customer was provided with an information sheet which listed all back flow requirements, including for annual testing of the device.
Any customers with questions about back flow prevention devices should email backflow@watercorporation.com.au or call 131 395.
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