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From: penhi@iprimus.com.au
Subject: re: combined hot water systems
Date: 4 August 2012 6:58:07 AM
Why should I have to wait to be scalded so badly that I need hospitalisation – with maybe surgery needing skin grafts – before someone in authority will act to protect me?
I live in a 9-unit strata scheme with a combined common property hot water system and erratic water pressure. I am constantly scalded in my bath and shower as the boilers are set at 67*C. Hot water reaches my taps at 65*C. When the cold water suddenly drops out, I get a column of scalding water on my head and body…
The churlish EC refuses to install a tempering device so that the water in my unit does not exceed 50*C – the statutory maximum for nursing homes, homes – but NOT strata homes. It will not let me install one/pay for it as it is common property – outside my unit.
In theory we have a choice re installing them – but our EC refuses to let me install one – costing maybe $107 each + installation. It won’t even let me pay for this. The device affects only my unit – but not the rest of the scheme. All the other owners have vacated – having suffered this problem – except the secretary who changed his system. taps, etc. illegally in 2003. Tenants just suffer, and leave. As an owner, I cannot sell, lease, or have house-guests. All units are affected.
On 16.7.12, the CTTT dismissed my case saying that, as I had not yet been hospitalized, I am probably not so much at risk. It also said that the EC/OC needed time to reflect on spending $107 on a tempering device for my unit – even though it had already spent nearly $40,000 on legal costs to avoid having to do so – and had $80,000 in our funds. And I ahd offered to pay.
The EC now has had 5 plumbing/hydraulic consultant’s reports recommending the tempering device for my unit – but the EC just refuses to act/allow it. The tempering device MUST be installed on common property as the hot and cold water pipes are all common property connecting to my unit.
A super-toxic scheme.
I first applied to the OFT/CTTT about this issue on 23.12.09. I got an Order on 1.4.11 that ‘the OC correct the fluctuations to within a reasonable range’ by 1.7.11 – but the CTTT refuses to enforce the order – even though the OC has done nothing to fix the problem. The CTTT is trashing its own Orders.
Any suggestions? The EC also refuses to let me install at my own cost an independent hot water system.
I can only bear 36*C – near blood temperature.
P. L. Hill