Recent travels reminded me how nice it is to push a little lever, and have clean, drinkable water magically appear at our fingertips. It also reminded me of how easily we take it for granted!
We just returned from an amazing journey to a country that realizes the importance of this resource, as 97% of its inhabitants live along the shores of a single, renowned river. Any ideas here?
We were in Egypt where the waters of the Nile have sustained life for thousands of years.
In looking at Lake Michigan, it may seem that water is abundant, but the tedious, multi-stage treatment process that makes it drinkable requires a lot of time, money and energy.
With this in mind, the Chicago Department of Water Management (DWM) recently announced the MeterSave Program, which offers the free installation of state-of-the-art water meters into homes which are currently non-metered. 
The new meters, which can be installed in about an hour, allow residents to keep better tabs on water usage so that they will be more aware of, and more responsible with, their use of Lake Michigan's bounty. The city estimates that residents who make the switch will save anywhere from 17-33% on their current water bill by switching to the metered system -- not too shabby!
The DWM has chosen to focus on the western edge of Chicago first, known locally as the “Bungalow Belt”. They made that choice because it’s a part of the city that has the greatest number of non-metered homes. But other residents who presently own non-metered single family homes or two-flat buildings also qualify for the program.
So, how does it work? What are the benefits?
A non-metered home means that residents pay a flat rate for water regardless of how much they use. Non-metered residents are currently billed for water based on their lot size and the total number of plumbing fixtures within the residence.
Most residents will save money with the MeterSave program. However, to entice those who are wary, the city enacted a seven-year guarantee that residents who volunteer to receive a new meter will not pay more than they would be paying without metering. The guarantee means the MeterSave program is financially risk-free.
And if acting responsibly and saving money isn't incentive enough, the DWM is offering additional water-saving gadgets while supplies last. Options include low-flow shower heads, rain barrels, a refrigerator magnet that shows water usage, and more.
Check out the MeterSave website to learn more. This program is a no-brainer qualifying home owners who want to do their part to make Chicago greener!
Publisher's Note: KOHLER is giving Squeeze Card holders $50 off efficient Water Sense faucets, showers and toilets.
