HOA IRRIGATION REPAIRS SO. CALIF.

Started by JC7 • 6 replies • 1398 views

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JC7
Posts: 31

Posted:

We are an older community approx 400 single family homes located in San Bernardino County Ca. Aside from the water rate increasing over the next 5 years, we are noticing increasly high irrigation repairs. Just a couple questions on the average how much (%)of your budget is allocated to irrigation repairs? We have above ground irrigation and appprox 24 controllers which equates to close to 400 valves. Our system is old, is there any new technology out there? We looked at installing all new controllers but that wouldn't help with the repairs only on water cost. Because our community is so old all of the Landscaping is mature and we should start looking a replacing. Any suggestions of ground cover, shrubs or trees that may help us save money? Right now our landscaping expenses represent over 50% of our monthly dues and will be even more next year.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

JC,

Every Association is different. Therefore, comparing numbers from one Association to another is like comparing apples to oranges.

When was your Associations last reserve study?

Was the irrigation included in the Study (if not, you need to include it).

The reserve study should have prompted your Association to start setting aside a certain amount of money each year to pay for expected maintenance and replacement of things like the valves in your irrigation system. For more information about Reserve Studies see Reserve Studies/Funds 101, a thread in this forum.

Quote:

Posted By JC7 on 10/19/2012 6:41 AM

We looked at installing all new controllers but that wouldn't help with the repairs only on water cost.

Actually, new controllers and valves should help on maintenance.

In general newer equipment doesn't need the same amount of maintenance as the parts are newer and not as worn. Additionally, because of newer materials (and perhaps technology) the life expectancy of the new equipment may be longer allowing less to be set aside in the reserves each year to pay for the future replacement of the valve.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

BTW, our landscaping expense is between 23 and 24% of our budget.

However, if we weren't paying a bookkeeper or had to plow the roads in the winter, the landscape expense would be around 30% of our budget.

SteveM9 (Massachusetts)
Posts: 3,699

Posted:

Water prices are only going to go up. Why not get rid of the sprinklers all together and look at landscaping that doesn't need irrigation? Use native species of grass and flowers that require no irrigation. Etc.

LarryB13 (Arizona)
Posts: 4,099

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By SteveM9 on 10/19/2012 8:13 AM
Water prices are only going to go up. Why not get rid of the sprinklers all together and look at landscaping that doesn't need irrigation? Use native species of grass and flowers that require no irrigation. Etc.

Absolutely! If you planted something that needs to be watered, you planted the wrong stuff.

Every region has native plants that grow well in their environment and that is what you should plant. You are in a desert or near-desert environment. You should rip out those thirsty non-native species and ship them back to Iowa or wherever they came from and plant whatever is native.

My front yard in Phoenix has three trees that I never water. The mesquite and the palo verde are both native plants and grow wild in the desert. The eucalyptus is not truly a native plant but it grows well in the desert environment. All three provide plenty of shade. But we run into the same problem here with homeowners trying to make their Arizona yards look like what they had in Wisconsin. The result is that most of the city's water supply goes to watering foreign landscape.

JC7
Posts: 31

Posted:

We had a physical reserve study last year and then we decided to switch companies so a physical inspection was done this year too. Still waiting for the study. To answer your question yes we reserve for new controllers. Like I said we are a older community so main lines, lateral lines, valves etc. are all started to fail. Our community is in a canyon with lots of slopes and trees. The real problem is the irrigation repairs would normally be a operating expense we don't reserve for lateral and main lines or valves. Good point maybe we should reserve for valves.

JM10 (California)
Posts: 503

Posted:

You might check into what your water company is up to these days. In a lot of areas, people are being encouraged to go waterwise and plant California-friendly gardens. Your HOA might qualify for various programs that have incentives for landscape choices and irrigation improvements.

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