Apartment Condo E News
Landscapes are blossoming and may require more water and care. See below for water conservation help and other opportunities to reduce your utility costs while conserving resources.

Enjoy the sunshine!

Marcia Rutan, SPU Community Recycling Program Manager

Apt/condo properties with 5 or more units qualify for the Friends of Recycling and Composting training. The next training, early evening on May 21, is filling up! Attendees will receive free kitchen food waste buckets for all property units, along with educational materials, inspiration, and supper! The only other scheduled FORC training is midday June 21. Almost 400 FORCs have benefited from this training – don't miss it! Pre-registration required: email Melissa Martin or call (206) 684-5223.

Seattle's premier community cleanup, Spring Clean, ends in May. You still have time to plan a cleanup event in your neighborhood with our help. We'll supply your volunteers with free cleanup bags, gloves, safety vests, and waste disposal permits. Call (206) 233-7187 or register online.

Multi-Family Toilet Rebates will increase to $200 per toilet for the new Maximum Performance (MaP) Premium toilets (pdf) which flush at 1.06 gallons per flush, and are independently tested to meet EPA’s WaterSense requirements. Only properties of 4 or more units with pre-1994 existing toilets are eligible. New rebate forms will be available in June on www.savingwater.org. Call Billie Fisher at (206) 615-1282 for more information.

Do you wonder if your automatic in-ground irrigation system is wasting water?  Unusually high water bills are one sign.  Here are other signs your water is wasted and your bill will rise:

• Water running out of sprinkler heads after the system turns off
• Wet sidewalks and driveways from your system
• Watering in the rain

To save water and money, email Jenna Smith for onsite technical assistance and financial incentives for irrigation upgrades.

Leaky toilets, faucets, and outdoor watering systems are costly. Home leaks and toilet leaks are easy to fix, but residents need to notify you so you can get them fixed.

Seattle Public Utilities has tips for property owners and managers to enlist the help of residents to find and fix toilet leaks:

1. Distribute toilet testing dye strips to all residents. 
2. Set a date with residents to carry out a building-wide testing program.
3. Start an “Observe and Report Leak Plan” with your residents.

These steps could help lower your water bill. For information, email Arece Hampton.  

Mr. H. J. Russell—a tenant whose building got free CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and showerheads from Seattle City Light—says, "My family of four is very glad that our building participated in Seattle City Light's Powerful Neighborhoods program. The new energy-saving lights and low-flow showerheads are a great way to save money." Call (877) 311-8752 today to save energy in your building!

Did you know you can look up hundreds of items 24/7?  From plastics to paper, from cans to carpet, find out the best way to discard used or unwanted materials.  If you prefer a bit of fun, try out the Recycling Game!

Please email Marcia Rutan and we’ll respond directly or in the next edition.

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | List-Owner | Privacy and Mailing List Policy