For fiscal year 2009-2010 the Association spent close to $630,000 in water and sewer fees alone. Water and sewer fees for the 2010-2011 fiscal year are projected to be near $710,000. In fact, water and sewer costs are one of the main contributors to the residential cost center’s maintenance fee increase for the 2010-2011 fiscal year. The best way to combat these rising costs is to use less water.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the average household spends as much as $500 per year on its water and sewer bill, but could save about $170 per year by retrofitting with water-efficient fixtures and incorporating water saving practices.
For Kukui Plaza, if we were to multiply the potential savings by the number of residential units, the Association could save as much as $154,360 per year. This amount could equate to roughly $15 per month per unit in maintenance fees.
Here are some facts and ways for residents to help conserve water:
Toilets
Toilets are the single largest water user in a home. A leaky/running toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water per day, which would equate to approximately $2.40 per day in water and sewer costs. It is estimated that nearly 20 percent of all toilets leak.
The EPA’s new WaterSense labeled toilets use under 1.3 gallons per flush, 20 percent less than the current federal standard of 3.5 gallons and 60 percent less than toilets made before 1992.
Compared to a 3.5 gallon per flush toilet the WaterSense toilet could save a family of four more than $90 annually on their water bill.
Faucets
Installing a simple aerator is one of the most cost effective ways to save water. You can double the faucet’s efficiency without sacrificing performance.
Repairing your dripping faucets and showerheads is a must. A drip rate of one drip every second can waste more than 3,000 gallons per year.
Other Facts and Ways to Conserve:
• A full bathtub can require up to 70 gallons of water, while taking a five minute shower
uses only 10 to 25 gallons.
• Turn off the water while you brush your teeth or shave.
• Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes or lower the water settings for smaller loads.
• Replace your old washing machine with a high-efficiency model.
Free Plumbing Inspections
Take advantage of the free water saving devices that can be installed at the same time as a free plumbing inspection. The devices consist of water saving aerators, which can be installed on the kitchen and bathroom faucets; a water restrictor, which will be installed on your shower head; and a toilet tank bladder installed in your toilet tank to displace approximately one gallon of water.
When calling to schedule the plumbing inspection, just indicate that you would like to have the free devices installed. In addition to water saving devices, a plumbing inspection can help detect leaks within your unit and help decrease the likelihood of plumbing problems that could cause serious damage. In the past, many owners have had to deal with damaging water leaks that could have been prevented. Damage to residential units has occurred from such basic plumbing issues as:
• Toilet seals
• Aged or defective shutoff valves
• Aged or defective fixtures
• Clogged or improperly maintained plumbing lines
Understanding potential plumbing problems and taking a proactive approach to solving them can definitely be worth your while. Starting at the end of February, the Association will again be offering free plumbing inspections to all residential units. We strongly recommend that you take advantage of this worthwhile service.
The inspection service will be offered to several floors at a time and will be conducted by Association personnel. A flyer will be distributed notifying residents when plumbing inspections will be offered on their floor. The flyer will direct residents to call the management office to schedule a date and time. The inspections will be conducted in the kitchen and bathroom(s) of each unit.
If you wish to have your apartment inspected but will not be available during the scheduled times, you may arrange to allow staff entry with a permission slip. The $2.00 permission slip fee is waived for this service; however, it must be filled out with either the management office or security prior to the scheduled inspection.