Iqaluit's 'Waterless Wednesdays' saved more like $62K in 7 months

Cutting water delivery one day a week delivered significant savings, says the city's John Mabberi-Mudonyi, if you factor in savings on fuel and maintenance.

• Iqaluit's 'Waterless Wednesdays' won't return anytime soon, says committee

The city's director of corporate services attempted to provide a fuller picture of the savings generated through "Waterless Wednesdays" at a city council meeting Tuesday.

In all, Mabberi-Mudonyisaidthe city spent about $61,964less during the seven months of waterless Wednesdays than it did during the same period of time the previous year.

About $38,039of that came from fuel and maintenance costs; about $23,923was saved on casual salaries and overtime.

A CBC story last week noted that the city had saved about $10,000 in salaries in the same time frame.

In his presentation Tuesday, Mabberi-Mudonyi told councillorswhythat figureincluded costs itshouldn't have.

"In the previous table we had permanent salaries, but permanent salariesare really irrelevant," he said. "You are going to pay permanent salaries whether you deliver water on Wednesdays or not."

Regardless of the savings, city council is not planning to bring back waterless Wednesdays.

The program was suspended on April 27, and the city's public works committee has said it won't be back anytime soon.