Water Sub Meter Systems

Started by BobS10 • 12 replies • 2857 views

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BobS10 (Connecticut)
Posts: 39

Posted:

We recently got hit with a huge increase in our water utility costs.
We are a 92 unit townhouse community and our residents do not pay their own water bills.

Has anyone implemented a Water Sub Meter system to try to recoup the rising cost of water?

EllenS1 (Florida)
Posts: 1,148

Posted:

Are you certain the rates have increased or perhaps more water being used? Our HOA had a leak that added over $1,000 to our bill. A check of that particular meter showed us where the leak was and we had it fixed and may now get a credit for that amount if we show repairs have been made. It's always a good idea to check water usage month to month to see if there is a huge increase.

SusanW1 (Michigan)
Posts: 5,202

Posted:

How have water costs been calculated in the past?

Is there a new measuring system, increase in the rate per unit of measurement?

You will need to find out WHY the big increase.

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

Bob,

I don't know what a sub meter is; however b/4 you change anything I would first check with the city to find out if there has been a rate increase and also thoroughly check out the irrigation system for leaks. When I was treas of my former assn, one month the water bill was about double the normal. When I reviewed the meter readings I found the ending reading for the previous month didn't match the beginning reading for the current month. There was an error made by the meter reader and we were being billed for another account!

BobS10 (Connecticut)
Posts: 39

Posted:

We are part of what is called the Metropolitan District Commission, the rate increase is significant and very much in the news. They recently implemented something called the Clean Water Act, technically the water itself didnt go up significantly, the sewage charge did. They base your sewer use as a percent of all the water you consume.
The revenues go towards overdue improvements to all the towns in the MDC's sewage treatment plants.
We have plenty of company in getting whacked with this increase but that doesnt make it any more palatable.

GlenL (Ohio)
Posts: 5,491

Posted:

Bob do your CC&R's allow for sub-metering or would you have to change them to allow it? Who would pay for the installation and maintenance of the meters? If they were HOA owned could you then shut them off for non-payment? Before undertaking something like this make sure to run it past the HOA's attorney to make sure you're in the right. While most H/O would probably see a decrease, expect the ones who use massive amounts of water to squawk.

Studies show that 5 out of 4 people have problems with fractions

MaryA1 (Arizona)
Posts: 7,043

Posted:

OK, now I understand sub-metering means a meter for each unit, right? I agree with Glen, your declaration may state the HOA pays the water for all units. If that's the case you would have to amend and I doubt you would get the required % as those who use a lot of water won't want to be paying their own bill! Perhaps an assessment increase is due.

MiltonB (California)
Posts: 5

Posted:

Hi, our HOA installed sub-meters about three years ago and still have them. It has worked great. There are those that are against it, usually the one with a lot of members living in the same unit. It makes sense for them not to have these meters since they are the ones using most of the water.

I would recommend you install it. Make sure you have your gardener change the faucet to a special key to open and close on all common-area links.

Let me know if you have any questions. I'd be glad to answer any questions.

Milton

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BobS10 on 12/11/2008 1:54 PM
We recently got hit with a huge increase in our water utility costs.
We are a 92 unit townhouse community and our residents do not pay their own water bills.

Has anyone implemented a Water Sub Meter system to try to recoup the rising cost of water?

Bob,

Connecticut HOA law (Chapter 828, Section 47-257) specifies how assessments are to be determined. I don't know if you can sub meter. You may not be able to. Check with your lawyer.

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By BruceF1 on 12/13/2008 11:05 AM

Bob,

Connecticut HOA law (Chapter 828, Section 47-257) specifies how assessments are to be determined. I don't know if you can sub meter. You may not be able to. Check with your lawyer.

What you might have to do is have the water company split the system and install meters on each unit. Then the HOA would no longer "supply" water and the water company would bill each unit directly.

KirkW1 (Texas)
Posts: 1,665

Posted:

I would be a nig proponent of submeters regardless of the impact on myself. I think it is the only fair way to go. As a note, the year after I moved to a house the apartment complex I was in started charging a water surcharge based on the size of unit. It is just as well I was moving out because I just wouldn't have gone along with it. The idea that the amount of water used is tied to the size of the unit is a fallacy.

But as others have pointed out, you will need to check your governing documents before embarking on this process. It may need some sort of change to the wording.

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By KirkW1 on 12/13/2008 4:46 PM
I would be a nig proponent of submeters regardless of the impact on myself. I think it is the only fair way to go. As a note, the year after I moved to a house the apartment complex I was in started charging a water surcharge based on the size of unit. It is just as well I was moving out because I just wouldn't have gone along with it. The idea that the amount of water used is tied to the size of the unit is a fallacy.

But as others have pointed out, you will need to check your governing documents before embarking on this process. It may need some sort of change to the wording.

Kirk,

I agree, billing/paying according to use is the fairest way.

But, being from CT and familiar with Chapter 828 which governs HOAs, I'm not sure Bob's HOA can sub-meter regardless of what the HOA documents say. My understanding is that in CT all assessments have to be equal. I believe Section 47-257 requires assessments to be apportioned among the units in the same manner the "allocated interests" (and votes) are, so for the assessments to be unequal, the votes would have to be unequal. I think it best to have the HOA lawyer look at this one.

We faced a similar issue with regard to trash collection. The HOA pays for trash collection, but the residents who are away in the winter (the "snowbirds") believe they should not have to pay for trash collection while they are away because they are paying for a service they aren't using. We've been told the only way to do that is for the HOA to no longer provide trash collection as an HOA provided service and have each unit owner contract separately for trash collection. However, the unit owners overwhelmingly do not want to do that, so here we are.

One way around it I see is to have the water company split the system and make the HOA no longer the "middleman" and have the water company bill each unit directly. Then water service becomes just like any other utility; electric, gas, telephone, whatever.

BruceF1 (Connecticut)
Posts: 2,535

Posted:

And having the water company bill each unit directly is probably a decision that the board can make on it's own without a change to any HOA documents (unless the HOA documents state that the HOA will supply the water).

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