The Irrigation Cost Reduction Project
The effort to study the expense and effects of water used for irrigation around the Highlands is an incredibly complex and wide-ranging initiative. Many variables and scenarios must be considered, to ensure that all possible avenues for reducing costs are considered.
Every option — including the conscious decision to do nothing at all —has a cost, and every option has an effect on the amount of water that could be saved. Each and every option, then must be evaluated to determine the return on the initial investment to implement that option.
Every option — including the conscious decision to do nothing at all —has a cost, and every option has an effect on the amount of water that could be saved. Each and every option, then must be evaluated to determine the return on the initial investment to implement that option.
The Highlands volunteers engaged in this effort are all home- or condo-owners. They have no expectation of any financial or personal gain from their participation. Quite the contrary: they're trying to reduce the expense of the water used for irrigation, and thereby reduce the size of the monthly and/or annual fees paid by Highlands owners.
What is this Project all about?
The Highlands (both the Homeowners and Condominium Associations) use the highest-quality — and most expensive — potable drinking water, purchased from the City of Tigard's Water Department, to water the plants in the common areas. That water has been getting more expensive with annual increases from City of Tigard. Global Climate Change has also lead to hotter, drier and longer summers in the Portland area, and the Associations are needing to use even more of that expensive water to keep the plants green.
Who is on the Project Team?
Quite a few Highlanders have been involved in this effort. The current active members are:
- Judy Austin, Past HOA Board Member and ALC member
- Bill Beecroft, Finance Committee Chair
- Bonny Chown, ALC member
- Rob Mustard, ALC Chair
- Mark Perkins, ALC Arborist Coordinator
- Lucianne Phillips, Highlands Homeowner
- Sheldon Siegel, HPCA Condo Maintenance Committee Chair
How much is this thing going to cost?
We have no idea. The IRC working group is not finished investigating all of the details of the various options available to reduce watering costs, so therefore it is impossible to determine a cost. In addition, no final recommendation will be developed without close consultation with the two Association Boards.
How are we going to pay for this?
We have no idea. Until the cost(s) of the recommended option(s) is/are determined, it is impossible to know where funding would come from to cover the implementation expenses.
Needless to say, this will be an opportunity for creative thinking!
Needless to say, this will be an opportunity for creative thinking!
