Our Shared Water Usage

A basic description of our water system (pdf)

Colonia Verde has 169 homes in its membership. As of March 1, 2021, 162 homeowners pay a monthly water assessment of $70 to the HOA based on an equal distribution of our shared water usage. In turn, the HOA pays the water bills for all 162 homes. Seven homes on Camino Bacelar don't pay this assessment because they have individual water meters and deal directly with Tucson Water.

What’s in the Water Bill?

Our HOA is billed monthly by the City of Tucson for 26 meter locations. The monthly charges
include both fixed and variable costs. In addition to direct charges for water and sewer service,
the bill includes charges for programs to protect, enhance and manage water-related resources.

The fixed costs include separate monthly service fees for water and sewer and a fee to monitor
and remediate closed landfills. Variable costs are calculated based on the amount of water that
is used. The water is measured in multiples of hundred cubic feet (Ccf); there are 748 gallons in
one Ccf. In addition to paying directly for water (and sewer) these costs support charges related
to the Central Arizona Project, the city’s water conservation efforts, and diverting stormwater
to vegetated water harvesting areas. Sales tax is collected on a portion of the bill.

Tucson Water has an explanation of where the funds are spent for the WATER portion of the
bill. Pima County manages the sewer system.

Assessments Compared to HOA Water Bills

The monthly HOA water assessment generates $11340 (162 x $70) in potential revenue. That in turn generates $136,080 (12 x $11340) in potential annual revenue.

In 2016 the HOA's annual water bill was $116,381
In 2017, the HOA's annual water bill was $122,877 (with a 7% rate increase)
In 2018, the HOA's annual water bill was $118,025 (with a 7% rate increase)
In 2019, the HOA's annual water bill was $121,828 (with a 7.88% rate increase)
In 2020, the HOA's annual water bill was $137,989 (drought year)

In recent years, increases in monthly homeowner assessments have been driven primarily by water expenses. In spite of our current water bill, CV has not raised the monthly assessment for 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020. In 2021 we reallocated an additional $10 from our homeowner dues from operating expenses to water. Continued increases in water rates will make future water assessment increases inevitable.

Water Harvesting
Research water harvesting resources and programs