Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Common House Water Usage

[Joel Bartlett (altairecovillage]

Katie,
Thanks for your response.  You are answering a decidedly different question
from what I asked, but very interesting.  Our water company is probably not
going to allow a single meter.  We would love a single meter so we can have
a single water filter. Ann Arbor's Sunward Cohousing had to start
metering each house when there was an unknown water leak driving up
everyone's shared water bill they needed to identify.

No, I am asking for the actual water usage in the Common House - how many
gallons/month?

Yours, Joel

On Fri, Nov 29, 2024 at 3:41 PM Katie Henry <katie-henry [at] att.net> wrote:

> In the two cohousing communities I'm familiar with, there's a single water
> meter for the whole project that covers all residences and common spaces.
> The water bill is divided among households based on the number of units,
> the size of the units, and/or the number of occupants. The exact formula is
> something to discuss prior to moving in.
>
> Total usage for the year is estimated for the annual budget. Each
> household's share is included in their monthly HOA dues.
>
> This is pretty standard practice in regular condos and apartment complexes
> as well. They may not have cohousing amenities, but they often have a pool
> with dressing rooms and showers, and extensive sprinkler systems, so lots
> of water usage. The cost is divided among the occupants. It is rarely
> cost-effective or worth the trouble to submeter water and track specific
> uses (unlike electricity).
>
> Katie Henry
> Heartwood Commons - Tulsa
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