Water tax puzzle

Having until recently lived abroad and now residing one again in my native Ireland, I am puzzled by the proposed water tax.

Since my arrival on Mar 3, the wet stuff has poured from the sky with a reliability that is — well — almost endearing.

Have the powers that govern managed to present our most familiar and ancient abundance as a scarcity and put a charge on it? Is there some explanation for this financial levy that is eluding me?