Minimizing water costs as a Property Manager

Water - an essential of life and unfortunately for many, a cost. As property managers, it is our responsibility to ensure that water is used efficiently and fairly, to ensure our property and operations remain sustainable and economical. With this in mind, let's take a look at how property managers can minimise water costs at a building or multi-family home.

The average American shower uses 17.2 gallons of water, that’s over 40 gallons of water per day for an entire family. With water bills rising 200% in the past 15 years, that’s no small sum! To help conserve water costs, federal regulations limit the water flow to 2.5 gallons per minute. In theory, this should result in shorter shower times and less water expenditure.

Unfortunately, not all shower heads in the US meet this standard, and many tenants do not abide by the regulations anyway taking lengthy, 4-12 minute showers. In addition, tampering with shower heads can increase the flow rate, resulting in higher costs for the property manager as much as 60 gallons per shower! It's important to consider that heating water takes up almost two thirds of water usage, making it double spending for property managers.

There are several tactics that can help property managers reduce water costs. Firstly, encourage tenants to take shorter showers. Secondly, use low-flow fixtures to reduce water flow and a Water Scrooge or similar device to reduce it further. Thirdly, use a tamper-proof device, such as The Water Scrooge, to ensure tenants do not tamper with their fixtures and risk incurring higher costs.

At the end of the day, using water strategically and making smart decisions about fixtures and technology can result in significant savings for the property manager, both for their wallet and the environment. Incorporating a Water Scrooge into multi-family buildings provides a simple, sustainable and cost-effective solution for both tenants and landlords. With this, you’ll improve your property’s reputation while doing your part to protect the environment.”