FYI: On the ballot March 6: 1% sales tax vs. higher water-sewer rates

The March 6 ballot includes a continued Atlanta local option 1% sales tax, to be dedicated to the completion of the City's water and sewer improvements currently underway. Without this tax being continued (in effect since 2004), city water and sewer rates would likely increase by 25 to 30 percent. These rates are already the highest in the country.

The logic behind the tax is getting 'other people' to pay part of the cost of the project.

Reducing water consumption

Atlanta is one of the most expensive cities in the country, for domestic water. For years, the City put off upgrading the sewer system, and now the bill has come due. We pay a bit more than 2 cents per gallon, and the average Lullwater Estate unit used about 91 gallons per day in 2011.

If you have a water meter in your unit, you can benefit monetarily by reducing your water consumption. And if that gives you a warm glow, other than in the wallet, so much the better. (If you don't have a meter, you should try to conserve water as well, but you'll have to share the benefits of your efforts with all the other non-metered units.)

Here are some things that will help reduce your water usage.

• Replace old (pre-1996) toilets with new low-flow toilets. Old toilets (like the ones originally furnished with our units, when they were built in the 1980's) use about 3 to 4 gallons of water per flush. New, low-flow toilets use just over a gallon. A low-flow toilet costs about $100 at Lowes or Home Depot. If you are even modestly handy, it's an easy project, swapping one out, and the instruction sheet included in the box is easy to follow. Or, hire a plumber. Replacing a frequently-used toilet can reduce your water consumption significantly (say, 20 gal./day).
• Put a flow-control valve on your shower head, and use it to reduce the flow to the lowest comfortable setting. This is a low-cost item available at the home-improvement stores, and easily installed if you can operate a wrench and a roll of teflon tape.

Flow-control valve

• Replace a top-loading washer with a front-loader. This only makes sense, economically, when replacing a washer is necessary, but it will save 20 to 30 gallons per load of laundry. Besides saving on water, you'll save even more on energy for heating water.
• Be aware of how much water you're using with other uses, like drip irrigation, for example. Check your meter before turning on the system, and then again, afterward. Water costs us about 2 cents per gallon; are you okay with how much is being used?