We have finally returned to peak water demands that were common before the introduction of water metering. Over this 15 year period thousands of new houses and families have been added to the Tauranga consumer base. Those new houses have been levied for plant capacity increases and those levies should have been applied to installing more filtration units at existing plants, or the construction of the new Waiari Treatment plant.

Council and staff gambled on not proceeding with capacity upgrades and have now lost that gamble. Ratepayers should be venting their frustration at council and demanding an immediate start to this work. It should be given priority over any ‘nice-to-haves' such as the museum.

B Richardson, Parkvale.