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

Overview

Highlands at Stonegate North HOA, a 446-unit residential community in Parker, Colorado, was facing the rising cost of shared utilities and losing control in the process. With no submetering in place, water bills were skyrocketing and being divided equally among residents, regardless of individual usage.

This outdated model led to frustration, unchecked water waste, and mounting financial strain on the HOA. High-use households had no incentive to conserve, while low-use homeowners paid more than their fair share.

Faced with rising bills, outdated infrastructure, and impractical submetering quotes from legacy providers, the HOA needed a solution that was accurate, affordable, and easy to deploy without cutting into pipes or their budget.

Customer Profile

Property: Highlands at Stonegate North HOA
Type: Multi-building HOA community
Location: Parker, Colorado Meter
Count: 446+ submeters
Interviewee: Sherri, HOA Board President

The Problem: No Visibility, No Accountability

The HOA's water system lacked unit-level metering, which meant:

• Water waste went unchecked, with leaks potentially inflating costs by over 30%.
• Irrigation issues and even a misread city meter led to tens of thousands in billing errors.
• Residents had no control over their usage or bills.
• Flat-rate assessments caused frustration and made the community less competitive for homebuyers.

“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.”
— Sherri, HOA Board President

Quotes for traditional inline submeters were well beyond the HOA's budget at over $700 per unit, plus plumbing labor.

The Solution: SimpleSUB’s Non-Invasive, Real-Time Submetering

The HOA chose SimpleSUB Water for its over-the-pipe, LTE-connected submeters, allowing them to avoid the high costs and disruptions of traditional systems. Installation required no pipe cutting or plumbers, and setup was fast.

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

Key system benefits:

• Over-the-Pipe Compatibility: Each meter installs in under 5 minutes with no plumbing modifications.
• Real-Time LTE Monitoring: Leaks are identified instantly, even during off-hours.
• Resident Billing Platform: Water costs are billed directly to homeowners instead of the HOA.
• Usage Dashboards: Residents can track their own water use and take action.
• Irrigation Monitoring: Outdoor water lines are also monitored, surfacing high-volume leaks.

Results: Less Water Waste, Fairer Billing, and a Fast Payback

With more than 446 meters installed in just a few weeks, the HOA saw results almost immediately:

• 38% drop in water usage in two months.
  (January: 1.872M gallons → March: 1.124M gallons)
• $20,000–$30,000 refund recovered from correcting a misread city meter.
• Multiple hidden leaks detected and repaired right away.
• Residents saved $50–$70/month on average.
• Major installation savings versus traditional systems.

The system gave homeowners visibility, control, and incentives to conserve, while enabling the HOA to reclaim control over water expenses.

“For any HOA struggling with water accountability, non-invasive submeters with real-time monitoring are the only practical path forward. SimpleSUB delivers powerful results without the risks and costs of traditional systems.”
— Sherri, HOA Board President

Empower Your Community to Cut Waste and Take Control of Water Costs

At Highlands at Stonegate North HOA in Parker, Colorado, SimpleSUB Water helped the board replace flat-rate water billing with accurate, real-time monitoring. This reduced usage by 38% in just two months and recovered $20,000–$30,000 from city billing errors. With over 446 easy-to-install, clamp-on meters, the HOA eliminated waste, improved fairness, and gave residents full control over their own usage. If your community is facing rising water bills or outdated infrastructure, SimpleSUB delivers fast ROI and accountability without cutting a single pipe

Schedule a demo to see how it can transform your HOA.

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