RESIDENTS are being urged to turn off the tap on controversial pre-payment water devices.

In a massive drive, council bosses want every householder in the borough to refuse to allow the devices into their homes.

Some 70,000 "health warning" booklets are now being sent to local people asking them to say no to North West Water.

Coun Sylvia Mason, who heads the council's anti-poverty strategy, said these devices were being used to recover debts. She feared they would be targeted at poor people who could least afford to pay.

"We want to see local people protected and their supplies uninterrupted even when they might have financial difficulties," she said.

"We are opposed to pre-payment water devices because they by-pass consumer rights and legal safeguards.

"The supply of clean, wholesome water is essential for public health."

Pre-payment devices differ from meters which measure the volume used.

Residents buy a specific number of credit units on a "smart card" which are transferred to the control box once the card is inserted.

When the time paid for runs out, an emergency supply is provided but if the card is not recharged, a valve automatically cuts off the water supply.

"We have refused to give permission to North West Water to install pre-payment devices in any of our properties," said Coun Mason, "and we are encouraging other housing providers to adopt a similar stance."

The booklet contains a range of contacts who can give further advice, and a freephone number 0800 801778 has also been set up.

As previously reported in the Bury Times, the council has joined other local authorities in mounting a legal challenge to pre-payment devices.

They are worried that public health will suffer if people "disconnect" themselves rather than the water company getting an order through the courts.

"There is a lot of opposition to these devices," added Coun Mason. "Even North West Water, perhaps heeding the huge public outcry, has put a temporary hold on their introduction.

"We want to make that permanent. The aim of our warning leaflet is to do just that, warn local people about these devices and urge them not to be misled in any way."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.