The chairman of the Water and Sewerage Authority insists there is no alternative to the so-called toilet tax.
A petition opposing its planned introduction in April has attracted thousands of signatures since it was launched on Saturday.
John Houghton MHK says the £50 per-household charge may be unwelcome, but is absolutely necessary to cover the cost of sewage disposal.
Mr Houghton says he regrets having to introduce an unpopular additional cost for hard-pressed Island residents:
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