FREE WATER-LEAK AUDITS, P.2

After the Clinton Hill audits were completed, mostly in spring and summer 2008, management fixed the problems at some units by installing proper flappers and faucet heads. The audit also revealed that several ground-floor commercial tenants were using a large amount of water, so the co-op installed separate meters and now has New York Water Management bill them directly for their water use.

Residents won't see a sudden slash in their maintenance charges, where the water bill would be reflected, but they'll still see savings, Greenbaum says. "In the long run, it will keep the maintenance costs level, which is good because pretty soon water is going to be as expensive as electricity." It also, he says, helps to combat the misconception that water is free.

"It's the same theory as it is in buildings where they don't charge separately for electricity," Greenbaum says. "Unless the shareholder gets a bill for it, they don't think they're paying for it." When owners are reminded that water is costly, they'll be more likely to report future problems.

Kit 'n' Kitchen

One thing to consider is whether the building pays for water use with a flat rate or by a meter. At Clinton Hill, the complex switched to meters from a flat rate about five years before the water audit.

If a building does not have a management company in place or the means to fix problems building-wide, individual owners can request the DEP's Water Conservation Kit, says Gunthorpe. The kit contains a new toilet flapper, a low-flow shower head and devices called water aerators for the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Gunthorpe says the water aerators mix air into the water so that the flow remains the same but the faucet uses less water.

This part of the program, however, is limited to individuals. Building owners and managing agents cannot request, say, 100 kits for their units. The DEP estimates it gives out about 1,000 kits per year.

Through Honeywell, the agency performs about 700 water leak audits a year covering about 13,000 co-op, condo and rental units, and estimates that between three and five million gallons per day are being saved citywide. "Wasting water is bad for the environment and it's also wasting money," Greenbaum says. "The program is a win-win."

Adapted from Habitat September 2009. For the complete article and more, join our Archive >>