LeakBird

If you’re a landlord or property manager, there are certain things you shouldn’t be doing when it comes to water conservation in your buildings.  We’ve compiled the top seven “Worst Practices” here:

 
1. Not Monitoring Your Tenants’ Running Toilets: The toilet is the single biggest culprit when it comes to in-building water waste.  There are lots of monitoring options, from tenant education and leak detection dye tablets to acoustic running toilet leak detection to ultrasonic and paddlewheel submetering spliced into your rough plumbing. There are also a variety of things you can install after you’ve implemented one of these, such as the Fluidmaster “Leak Sentry” and the H20 Guard “Fill-O-Meter”.  You’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again: A running toilet can easily add $500.00 to your water bill.  And we’ve found that the cost to pinpoint it, repair it, et cetera is always equal to the excessive consumption on your water bill, which means…$1,000.00!!!  Your wallet will run away from you.
   

 

2. Not Developing A Relationship With Your Public Water Utility: Let’s admit it, in business, everything is about relationships.  There are landlords who don’t even know the name of anyone on the Board of or at their water utility.  When you get a sudden surprise 4-digit water bill, it’d be nice to have someone you can chat with about it, and this can greatly grease the speed at which you you receive your partial refund, if your municipality or city does any kind of refund.  It can also motivate you to prepare for avoidng high water bills from catching you off guard in the future.  Get out a bit and get to know your water utility, as David Zetland of Aguanomics advises.
   

 

3. Not Installing Water Efficient Washer And Dryers, Low-Flow Toilets, Aerating Faucet and Low-Flow Showerheads: Trust us, you’re utility is practically giving them away via 30% to 60% subsidies, and even at certain times of the year, if you’re paying attention, as in Austin, THEY ARE GIVING THEM AWAY!  So what are you waiting for?  There are some great products out there.  Get out and purchase them and get them installed ASAP!
   

 

4. Not Developing A Relationship With Your Tenants Regarding Their Water Consumption: Of course, if your tenants pay for their own water, much of this post will uninterest you.  However, if you pay for your tenants’ water, I’m sure you’re listening.  You can educate your tenants.  Send them or drop off water conservation fact sheets and tips.  Show them how much you care, how green you are…they might just be impressed!  Of course, given the 80/20 rule, there’s an 80% chance they won’t be.

 

5. Not Monitoring How Much Water Your Gardeners And Landscapers Use: And this does include sprinkler systems!  If you live in an especially dry or arid region, perhaps drought-ridden, or if you live in a busy, bustling city where water rates are fairly high, such as Atlanta or Chicago, you just might want to know exactly how much you’re spending here.  We know it’s just another expense, but it is worth educating yourself about water efficient sprinkler systems, as well as outside faucets, hoses and such.
   

 

6. Not Knowing Your Overall Water Footprint: This translates directly into knowing your bottomline, because water consumption hits us directly in the pocketbook.  If you have a handle on all of the areas where water is being used on and in your properties, as well as by whom and in what way, then you can budget and control your expenses.  It’s also good to have auditing and monitoring so that you’re notified of something before it’s too late.  The ad hoc, wait-and-see attitude, which is legion, doesn’t pay off here.  In fact, it’s expensive, and happens time and time again.  Claim back your peace of mind, and help your water utility while you’re at it.  Guess what, they’ll reward you by reducing your water bill!

 

7. Not Auditing Your Boiler Room, Water Heaters And Plumbing Infrastructure: Here’s another area where leaks and inefficiencies in tenuous infrastructure and plumbing may be costing you big-time.  We don’t recommend changing it out or anything.  It’s just good to have a-hold over how much your using and how old your equipment is.  You may be surprised by what you discover.  And further education only strengthens your business position for when you invest in already existently owned buildings or new properties altogether.  Conserve water and save money!

 
If you are interested in How You Can Increase Your Cash Flows by $2,500.00 Every Year and Never Pay for High Water Bills Due to Your Tenants’ Running Toilets, sign up for our Free Report here.
 

Abendigo Reebs is the VP of Business Development for LeakBird Industries LLC in San Francisco, CA. He may be reached by email at ben@leakbird.com

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