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Case Studies – Multi-Family Apartments

How a Colorado HOA Cut Water Waste by 38% and Reclaimed Control Over Rising Utility Costs

Overview

Highlands at Stonegate North HOA in Parker, Colorado was spending tens of thousands each month on shared water bills—with no insight into usage, accountability, or tools to control it. After installing over 400 submeters with SimpleSUB Water, the community:

• cut usage by 38%
• empowered residents to take ownership of water costs
• uncovered hidden leaks costing the HOA over $30,000.

Jump to: Problem Statement | Solution | Results

Customer Profile

Customer: Highlands at Stonegate North HOA
Property Type: Multi-building HOA
Location: Parker, Colorado
Meters Installed: 446+
Interviewee: HOA Board President

The Problem: Sky-High Water Bills and No Accountability

For years, Highlands at Stonegate North—a 446-unit community in Parker, Colorado—struggled with unpredictable and rising water bills. Water expenses were split across all units as part of the monthly HOA assessment, frustrating both homeowners and board members.

“Why are my HOA dues so high?”

Some buildings used far more water than others, yet without
submeters the water portion of the monthly assessment could not be billed to
homeowners based solely on their unit’s water usage. So, many homeowners were paying more than their fair share. Traditional submetering systems weren’t viable—the cost of $700 per unit, plus plumbing labor and invasive installation, made them financially out of reach.

Hidden Water Waste and Growing Frustration

The HOA board recognized that unmanaged water costs were hurting the community:

• Higher dues made the HOA less competitive with nearby properties, affecting home values
• Residents had no insight into or control over their own water use
• Undetected irrigation leaks and a misread city meter inflated bills
• Water waste may have been inflating costs by 30% or more
• Service providers offered little transparency or actionable data
  

They needed a solution that could reduce waste, increase accountability, and empower homeowners—all without a massive infrastructure overhaul.

The Solution: Affordable Submetering with SimpleSUB Water

A board member led a pilot project with SimpleSUB Water after discovering its cost-effective, non-invasive metering system. Key reasons for choosing SimpleSUB included:

• No pipe cutting or plumbers required
• Lower cost compared to legacy submetering options
• Real-time usage data and leak detection
• Resident billing handled outside of HOA management
• Flexibility to expand into irrigation metering

In just two days, SimpleSUB installed over 300 meters. The full system—446+ meters—was up and running within a few weeks, allowing the HOA to begin tracking individual usage and billing residents directly.

Results: 38% Drop in Water Usage in Just Two Months

The impact was fast and measurable:

• Water use dropped by 38%!
  • January: 1.872 million gallons
  • March: 1.124 million gallons
• Expect $20,000–$30,000 refund from previously misread city meter
• Residents began fixing long-standing leaks and replacing inefficient fixtures
• Many residents are now saving $50–$70 per month

“SimpleSUB made the extra effort. The ROI is absolutely there—better than continuing to throw money at rising utility bills.”

“Until people start getting their own bill, they won’t care. When water is hidden in assessments, people waste it—and the whole community pays. With SimpleSUB, that changes immediately.”

—Sherri, HOA Board President

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