New water meters have some residents upset with the city over potential damages or health issues.

Image Credit: SOURCE/City of Kamloops

Update: 5:45 p.m. April 23, 2013

Kamloops city council agreed to accept the letter of Jacques Desjardins as information Tuesday afternoon, but would not agree to enter in to an agreement with the Brocklehurst resident that would see the city take full responsibility for any damages resulting from a recently installed water meter.

Desjardins stood before council and pled his case, noting he did not ask for anyone to come on to his property to install any equipment.

"I can't hire a plumber to come do work on your property without you knowing about it," Desjardins told council, "I don't know if private property has a different meaning in B.C. than where I come from."

He admitted his concern over health, "might be pushing it a little bit," but after reading an article about a lady who got sick and puts some blame on water meters it has had him thinking of the potential problems.

Several councillors talked about insurance and how insurance plans are meant to help cover many of the issues Desjardins is concerned about and Mayor Peter Milobar summed up many of the concerns.

"We have an insurance company, most people have insurance, and as cold hearted as it may sound, that's how it works – the agencies get together and decide who pays – it's not a city council decision. I think the spirit of what's he's (Desjardins) concerned with is covered off by insurance companies. We do have a process in place, we don't want people to have the assumption that if you have a problem you can come to the city and the city can pay for it."

10:24 a.m. April 22, 2013

Kamloops resident feels hosed by water meters

A Kamloops man is demanding the City of Kamloops take responsibility for any future water leaks on his property after the city installed a water meter in his home.

Jacques Desjardins has tried for several months to get the city to agree to assume liability for work done and this week he is to appear before council still seeking answers.

“Presumably, the city finds the failure risks too high to take any type of responsibility in the matter and I (as an owner) find the risks even higher and cannot assume any risks associated with the potential installation of equipment done by a third party,” Desjardins stated on his delegation request.

The Brocklehurst resident has also asked for any remedial costs associated with any water damage.

Kristen Meersman, streets and capital projects manager for the city, has already told Desjardins the city is responsible for damages due to negligence or if the city is considered legally liable for the loss.

Desjardins remains skeptical because the city hired a third party to install the new water meters. His understanding was installation would be done on city property and not involve any “intrusion in to any private residential dwelling.”

Desjardins will appear before council pleading his case at a regular council meeting Tuesday, April 22.

To contact a reporter for this story, email jstahn@infotelnews.ca or call (250) 819-3723.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013