Year-long chlorine protest

A Busselton resident has taken the extreme measure of not paying his water bills in protest to chlorination of the city’s water supply.

Don Pitts has not paid his rates since chlorine entered the pipes in March last year, blaming substandard water.

He has racked up an $800 bill and is calling for others to join his cause.

Mr Pitts said the chlorination of Busselton’s water supply was “totally unnecessary” and it had not only ruined the taste of one of the best supplies in the world, it was also putting residents’ health at risk.

He believed community petitions would not work and had therefore decided to take more aggressive action.

“The petition’s not going to work; they know they have an ulterior motive. I say without prejudice it has been the long-term goal of the water authority to take over Busselton Water,” he said.

Mr Pitts said there had been no antagonism between himself and Busselton Water.

Employees had visited him at his house and given him urgent notices threatening to disconnect his water supply but had not followed through.

“They know the general sentiment in town so they’re trying to do this as diplomatically as possible,” he said.

Busselton Water chief executive Chris Elliot refused to confirm the case this week.

Mr Elliot said Busselton Water customers had an extremely good track record of paying their accounts.

“Our approach is always to work closely with our customers to address any issues raised, to provide assistance in cases where it is needed and if necessary to explore all avenues for complaint resolution,” he said.

“The need for recovery action is rare and in recent times has been considered for about 0.1% of accounts only.”

Last month Mr Pitts had a meeting with the organisation when he was asked to pay his water bill until the outcome of a petition about the reversal of chlorination before the State Government was known.

He refused and was now prepared for Busselton Water to commence debt recovery against him and the possibility he could be taken to court.

“I am prepared to go all the way as far as I have to. I will not back down,” he said.

“I want other people to come on board. Sometimes the only way to effect necessary change is through confrontation.

“Can you imagine if every ratepayer in Busselton says we won’t pay the bill, imagine the impact that would have on Busselton Water?”