common are landscape irrigation

Our association has problem with fees not being paid amount very high +15K. Due to the shortage of funds we are having trouble paying the water bill.The city is threatening to shut the water off. we managed to pay part of it. The manager sugested to shut the landscape irrigation off for quite a while and stop the landscape company for their service temporarily. Now the Trees are very dry ther is dry bushes everywhere we have small hills behind us part of the association and people are complaining that this is a fire hazard, I agree so I took my water hose and watered the area immediately behind me as well as the trees to keep them slightly green, and avoid them drying up I also planted some plants so I can keep the dirt in place from having bare dirt and washing away, my main concern is can they force the issue that water stays off to keep cost down? Does this go against any fire hazard regulation.

Actually we have inquired about sub-meter but the problem is the most of the buildings have 8 units four in front and back to back other four. If I remember correct the person that looked in to it said only a sub meter would do two units being back to back so it would measure two at a time and hard to tell two owners they owe certain amount when one could say the other one uses more water. The other thing was probably re doing the pipes in the walls. This would be very costly I suppose.

Add Xeriscaping, using natives and rocks that require little or no water. The real thing to do is just as you have done. Take your own hose and water the trees. If every owner did this for a short time, then this would lessen the impact on the HOA. I learned in Xeriscaping that mass irrigation wastes almost as much water as it successfully uses. Spot watering is much more beneficial.

Soaker hoses are best. Just cutting back the watering schedule would help, too.

Ask the fire dept. to come in and help you with your fire hazard concern.
They should be able to tell you how to reduce the liklihood of fire-hazardous landscape.

Correct this is what I agree with, but to prohibit of watering at all even my own immediate plants? I think it's going to far.

Ignacio,

In using the term "cost prohibitive" I meant the suggestions given should not be considered as the assn does not have the money required to undertake them. Purchasing new meters and changing the landscaping to xeriscape (although this may be something the board may want to consider in the future) both costs $$$ the assn doesn't have.

Since the assn supplies all the units with water the board has decided to limit your personal use of water also. Just be glad they've only limited that use to watering plants!

I like your responses it has been very helpful, I only signed-up yesterday and you guys are very quick in responses. I will come back with more questions later as I get them, this site is very helpful. Thanks.