Your Property’s Water Budget and Why You May Want to Give it Your Attention!

By Sheila Horton

As of January 1, 2008 all properties in Boulder were assigned a water budget. Water budgets included assigned water usage into 5 categories. The first two categories this year had water rates assigned at somewhat less than last year. The upper two categories included water at a high cost – in fact the fifth category has water billed at $12.50/1000 gallons making it the most expensive water in the nation. If you exceed your allocated budget, the “extra” water used becomes more and more expensive.

The water budgets were created based upon different sources. For multi-family properties, the budgets were based upon a flat 4,000 gallons allocation for each unit regardless of the size of that unit. In other words, a four bedroom with 8 occupants was allocated the same 4,000 gallons as a one bedroom with one occupant.

Single-family properties were given a budget based upon aerial photographs of the property including measurements of irrigable square footage. Each single family home was allocated about 7,000 gallons (some went up to 8,000) plus a bit more for outdoor watering in the growing months.

Many people got their bills and saw that the budgets and related square footage of irrigable land numbers looked inaccurate, but didn’t see huge increases in their bills or no increases at all and so ignored the matter.

I would suggest that all owners pay more attention. Just because one’s bills did not increase TOO much this year or maybe not at all; one should still take the time to consider the budget. The reason I make this recommendation is that it is likely in future years that the cost of all water, especially the first two least expensive categories may be increased. It may be that in future years the city may say that since an owner did not appeal their budget this year when they had the chance to do so, their budget is LOCKED in for the future.

Morale of this story: it is probably worth the time to analyze your bill and appeal for an adjustment if you find justifiable reasons for doing so.

We have provided our members with information that will be a great help to them in analyzing their bills and appealing for an adjustment to their budgets. We also have made available links to all the important website locations that are useful in looking into these new budgets and knowing the basis upon which the city created your property’s budget and also the contact sites needed for appealing the bill. Happy to provide you with this specific info when you are a member too. We hope you decide to join now!