City eyes rain water tax

Hamilton is looking to tax rain water — but it won’t be Mother Nature getting the bill.

Instead, the city wants to target expansive parking lots and big box stores that send storm water rushing into the sewers without helping to pay for treatment costs.

“It’s all about fairness,” explains Jim Harnum, head of the city’s water and waste water department.

“We’re trying to shift responsibility.”

For several years homeowners have seen their water consumption decline, largely because of increased rain, but their bills continue to rise.