Most readers won't know that, nor will they make the distinction

I agree. It’s a great article but people just reading the headline will exactly the wrong picture.

The problem was Labour’s adoption of it to be fair. It was always going to muddy the waters (pun intended) regardless of how things went. Because most people have never heard of the term, they just think of their water systems and bills.

I don’t really know what media are to do when referring to all three in the context of council policies AND govt policy, because 3 Waters works as a term unless an article refers to only one type of water.

That’s 100% their intention

It's certainly got me a bit confused. Damn good article otherwise

You're right, it is a good article and I feel churlish my only response was to criticise the use of that term. However, I see faded 'Stop Three Waters' signs all over whenever I leave the city. They haven't been removed out of embarrassment so clearly many people don't get it *even now*.

It is confusing, Charlie.

Make no mistake, they chose to phrase it like this on purpose

Yep, the term “three waters” as shorthand for a cluster of LG activities predates by decades the reform processes of the last few years.