It's up to Tynwald to change the water rates if members think they are unfair.

That was Water Authority chairman David Cannan's response to a number of questions on the subject in the House of Keys today.

It was suggested that water meters would be a fairer way to charge people for consumption, because as things stood those who used a lot paid the same as those who used very little.

There was also criticism of the eight per cent increase in rates this year, at a time when civil servants were facing a pay freeze.

Mr Cannan said the authority was adhering to the business plan approved by Tynwald in 1999, and therefore only a resolution of the court could change how things were done.

But he warned that since the board was currently self-funding, changing the rates system would undoubtedly have implications: