Usually, when a bill comes in the mail, I am not anxious to open it, however; these days when my Denver water bill arrives I open it first.  checking to see our family’s consumption and monthly charges is always a game for me.  I like to note if we saved this month, how much we consumed over last year and our cost.   This week when the bill came there, in big, bold print was the headline: 2010 Water Rate Changes (not increases as it truly is)  The bill directs one to their website.    They state on the web site:

Your 2010 Denver Water Rates

Effective February 2010, Denver Water’s rates will increase. On average, Denver residential customers will pay $40 more per year — an average of about $3.30 per month, or about $12 on a summer bill. Typical suburban residential customers served by Denver Water will see an increase of $51 per year — an average of $4.30 per month, or about $16 on a summer bill. The amount of your bill will vary depending on how much water you use. The more you use, the more you pay. (my italics and bolding).

But don’t worry,  your bill if your are residential consumer will only go up $51.00 per year (avg).  But please note, this is JUST the service charge!

Actual rates are dependent upon consumption. The more you use the more you pay.  If given the opportunity to reduce consumption by 30% to 40% you know you will pay less and consume less.  HMMMMM, what’s all this fuss about greywater reuse??? 

There are two components to Denver Water’s rates:  Service Charges ( which we know have gone up this month from $4.41 per month to $5.58 per month, an increase of 21%.) and Consumption Charge per gallon. The rate being charge per 1000 gallons before the rate hike was $1.91 per 1000 gallons. current rate charges for 1000 gallons is $2.11per 100 gallon.  (only a 10% increase).  However, this is the lowest rate of all consumption for Denver Water.  If you like to take long showers, water your garden in the middle of the day, let you hose run or even keep the water running when you brush your teeth you may be subjected to a over 40 gallon (with a 1000 gallon multiplier) you will be charges $8.44 per 1000 gallons, compared to $7.64 before the rate hike. (10% increase).

We pay hardly anything for our water.  I am pleased to fork over my $23.00 per month for water and sewage services.  It’s the best deal in town.  We have to have water, truly is my cell bill 10 times more valuable than water.  No, I don’t see how it can be.  

My message is truly water is undercharged, and supplemented by local, regional and national agencies.  We can be smart by practicing conservaton now, reducing consumption is easy, but recycling and reusing truly consumes less. But we also need the help of people in Denver Water and all water regulatory agenices to promote the use of grey water and not hinder it with regulations and personality conflicts and old school thoughts.

How exciting!!!!  Today I was alerted to a blog, written by Kevin Geminiuc of the Colorado Green Tech Blog with a feature Article about Conservation through water ReUse.  The article succinctly describes the WL55 and describes the mission and product extremely well.  I personally could not have written it better.  So, I’d like to share it with you through this link and our Facebook page.  http://www.coloradogreentech.net/meetupblog/?p=328

We are so excited that in the upcoming issue of Green Mechanical Contractor Magazine Water Legacy will be featured.  The article which discusses the ” New Frontier of Residential Water Conservation: Graywater Reclamation Systems” specifically mentions the Water Legacy Product and shows a photo of the sytem installed.  This article clearly and succintly describes the knowledge of greywater, various greywater systems, types of disinfection and treatment, storage options, pumps and controls and distribution piping.

When the article is published I will provide a link directly to the magazine.  In the meantime, DO NOT FLUSH FRESH WATER!!!   cmkv

Hello to all those who read my blogs. 

We were written about and we did not even know it.  The best kind of publicity is truly word of mouth and unsolicited.  Thank you to Michele Melio for her kind words.  To view her article check out this site http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-5397-Denver-Green-Initiative-Examiner~y2009m11d15-Colorado-Green-Tech-MeetUp-Green-Grey-water-recycling

Imagine my surprise while watching the Nebraska vs. Texas game Saturday night when a television commercial from IBM is on the tele discussing the need for water management.  Check out this ad on Youtube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JOcetNnwp7U.

We can make a difference in many ways, and Water Legacy with it’s greywater recycling systems for residential use starts right at home.  Call us for more information. 

Linked In, a professional social networking site is  having a discussion today that asks the question that we have been asking for years.  Why FLUSH FRESH WATER????

http://www.linkedin.com/groupAnswers?viewQuestions=&gid=67451&forumID=3&sik=1255743268281

Water Legacy has spent the past two years working on developing a product that is easily installed in new residential construction.  The need for other applications of the design is becoming apparent as we have designed a unit for a dormitory at the University of Colorado (http://www.newsinfo.colostate.edu/index.asp?url=news_item_display&news_item_id=307579497)

Water legacy has also recently been featured on a YouTube video in conjunction with Service Master to explain the systems function and capability. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbschsK_tNk.  Help promote greywater re-use in your area and if you need expert advice on a system installation call Michael Vail at 303-587-9147 or email him at mvail@waterlegacy.com

Wednesday March 18th, 2009

Boulder, Colorado

Water Legacy WL55 model passes IAPMO testing

The WL-55 has been designed to service the typical 4-to-6 person household. It is a stand-alone fully integrated system that collects used bathing greywater, filters & disinfects this water, and manages the automatic supply to the toilets. The WL-55 is fully automatic and requires no operator intervention. In the event of insufficient Greywater for flushing of toilets, the WL-55 will complement with Fresh Water.

For more information on Water Legacy and the WL55 contact Mike Vail at 303-547-9787