新政策：滑铁卢地区拖延水费的住户可面临断水。

WCCA

滑铁卢市政府通过了一项新政策用以追回迟迟拖延不付的水费。到今年9月30日，政府一共有$338,000 （33.8万加元）逾期未付的水费。新政策将采用逐步升级的办法：对过期未付的欠款征收1.5%利息 － 然后通过信件，电话和电子邮件催款，如果以上方法均不奏效，政府将派人切断水源，并将欠款转入屋主的房地产税里。政府人士说断水是最后一招，不会轻易使用。

WATERLOO — Waterloo city council has approved an official policy for tracking down late payments from residents for stormwater, water and sanitary sewer payments. Council voted Monday to formalize collection of late utility bills, which can result in a property's water being shut off.

"We have a lot of communication along the way (before water would be shut off)," Coun. Karen Scian said. "Every one of those steps is accompanied by a lot of City of Waterloo-to-constituent communication." As of Sept. 30, there was $338,000 outstanding for more than 90 days on residential properties.

The city uses an escalating process. It starts with a penalty of 1.5 per cent on overdue bills, then proceeds to mail notices, phone or email contact and, if those measures don't work, leads to water supply being shut off for tenants, or unpaid fees being transferred to the property tax bill for property owners.

Staff said shutting off services is always a last resort. "That would be our least preferred option," Scian said. Before reaching that point, staff attempt to set up a payment plan with the homeowner or tenant.