Project Origins

Project Origins

The Board of Directors of Seven Oaks HOA #1 developed this project in May 2020 after evaluating the impact of utiity costs against obligations in the Association's annual budget. At least two objectives became clear: address budgetary concerns by reducing spending on water; and, begin a concerted effort to find ways to conserve water across the property. Both objectives work hand-in-hand. Notwithstanding the positive results of San Diego's efforts to assure residents of access to water resources, conserving water is not only fiscally responsible, but environmentally wise.

In May 2020, the Board took on the mantel of water stewardship while researching the history of water consumption in the HOA community. This now involves

  • reading residential and irrigation water meters every month to identify leaks, to check for billing errors, and to monitor home use and irrigation output;

  • identifying mechanical defects, leaks, and inefficiencies in the irrigation system;

  • recording data to establish history of usage and institutional memory;

  • reviewing water bills for cost analysis, and budgetary due diligence; and,

  • modeling water consumption across the twenty triplexes, comprising sixty condominiums.

Each one of the activities has resulted in a wealth of data about the ways we have used water and how we might reduce costs.

It was clear from the start of this project that the companion motive, budgetary oversight, would be well served by effective control over water resources. Other needs of the community compete every year for the attention of the Board and for the funds to resolve a variety of problems. It is crucial that the Board maintain as much flexibility as possible in order to address anticipated obligations as well as unscheduled challenges to budget capacity.

As will be seen throughout this website, controlling the use of residential water and water used to irrigate or our lawns and gardens is an essential factor in the Board's broader responsibilities.


Wildfires and Rain

As wildfires and heatwaves stress the western United States, concern over drought is rising: Dry landscapes burn more readily, and rain can help quell fires already raging. But wildfire smoke may keep that essential rain from falling (Science Daily. 12 August 2021).