Exchange Rate in Mojacar

You’re right David. Just checked with Irma and apparently there was an inspection by Gestagua last Friday which revealed that some of the connections were not correct. This information reached them today. This problem has to be fixed by Arrohabitatge so Maximo will speak with them. Depending on the outcome there will be a new ‘green light’ moment or possibly an agreement with Gestagua that we can sign in advance. She understood that it becomes impossible for almost all owners to sign on such short notice.  
 
Max

do we have an update on the water yet?  Can we go to complete the change over yet?

Hi Wanitza

A number of people have been asking about this. Ana is in touch directly with Gestagua and the situation has not yet changed. As soon as we are able to sign we will let you know

Gestagua have given us until 28th November to sign our water contracts. I do not know what they will do if you don't. The threat is they will cut you off and clearly they are not prepared to allow people to enjoy free water indefinitely but no one is sure how soon after 28th ov they will actually cut your supply.

Hi All

Does anyone know if we get billed only for the water we use, or is it a set amount regardless of usage.

Westport

Hi Westport

The water is metered therefore we pay for what we use.

A problem we have is Tico is still watering the grass at night from Phase 1 water supply, I have seen him do this therefore at the moment we are paying for Phase 2 water, I assume the community water is also metered. I dont know how we solve this without even more bad feeling.

Our water is metered but there is a standing charge as well - I think Irene got some info on this on the main board but it may vary from 1 water company to another so that is why I asked if anyone had found out how much of a standing charge we have to pay each quarter.

Tico has been using our metered water for the phase 2 gardens. As this is no longer "builders water" it is expensive. He has been told that he cannot use it anymore. This is part of a broader strategy to try to make progress in our dealings with the Town Hall, Water Company and Developer. I will write more later. Just now it is lovely and warm, the barbeque is lit and the fridge is full of cold beer crying out to be consumed...........

I was over at Gestagua this morning to sign for our contract, and the lady there told me that there is still a technical problem in Block 9. The plan is to switch to the personal contracts between 25 and 28 november, but only if that problem has been solved. There is someone from Gestagua at Don Juan right now to have a look at it, and to get a seperate meter for the gardens of phase II.

I haven't seen Tico watering the gardens of phase II in the past few days (but I haven't been up all nights to check on him ;)). I find it quite amusing however that he does water the gardens of phase I now, at least blocks 2 till 5. For some reason the computers stopped working or were turned of a while ago, so now he starts the sprayers by hand every night. Probably just because he is bored, but maybe he wants to make up for the water he stole in the summer.

He told me by the way that he will be leaving by the end of this month, because Arrohabitatge wants to cut down on his hours and pay, but he has been saying this ever since we met him last year so I don't think there's reason to worry about that yet.

regarding the invoices and the fixed and variable costs, the lady talked a very rapid andaluz which was a  bit difficult for me to understand, but I think what she was trying to tell me was this:

the fixed amount is based on your usage in the first quarter of 2009. You will get your first bill by the end of march, where you pay the actual usage up till then PLUS a downpayment for the next quarter. The height of that downpayment will be based on your usage. At the end of june you will get your second bill for the (if applicable) extra usage over the second quarter AND the downpayment for the third quarter, etc. This system is used to get a bit more even spreading of payments over the year.

Keeping in mind how electricity and watercompanies in the Netherlands work, I think that once the amount for the downpayment is set, they will stick to that for a year and then eventually change it at the beginning of the next year. If I have understood everything correctly (mind you, I might be completely wrong ;)) it might mean that your first bill in march will be much higher than the bills after that because you pay effectively for two quarters, so keep that in mind and don't get too upset if it turns out higher than you expected.

The initial fee that you pay at the signing of the contract already has a deposit in it, but I am not sure if that is used as a fixed deposit, or already as downpayment for the first quarter.

A recent Gestagua bill that I have examined belongs to a friend with an apartment in Fuengirola and covered the 3 month period 13/6/2008 to 12/9/2008.  The consumption for the period was 18 cubic metres and the total bill was 28.42€ before IVA and 30.41€ after IVA at 7%.

The bill is made up of 2 elements - a fixed charge and a variable charge based on the consumption.  Each charge is further broken down into 4 headings as follows:

Fixed: (Monthly)                                                                                                         Variable: (per cubic metre of water used)

Service Fee:    3.003333€  per month                                                                  Consumption:  0.354597€  per cubic metre                                               

Desalination:  0.786667€  per month                                                                 Desalination:    0.150598€  per cubic metre                                                                              

Sanitation:       1.051771€  per month                                                                  Sanitation:         0.168283€  per cubic metre

Financing:        0.360607€  per month                                                                  Financing:         0.038104€  per cubic metre

Total:                 5.202378€  per month                                                                  Total:                  0.711582€  per cubic metre

plus IVA @ 7% on the total bill.

This bill was based on an actual reading of the meter - there was no estimated amount.  If the charges are the same for us, and I have no reason to think otherwise, then it looks like we will be paying a fixed charge of € 5.57 per month plus a charge of € 0.76 for every cubic metre of water used.

So leaking taps, constantly running toilets, baths, watering plants etc might have to be looked at in a new light.....recycling of your shower water to clean the dishes might be a good idea to cut down on costs....on the other hand, I think no, that might be one (body) too far....

Thanks Gericomm - at least we now have an idea of how big our water bills are likely to be. Hopefully most people will have signed for their water by now. If you haven't Gestagua have agreed to extend the signing period until 15th December.

Q: Do you get an individual water meter when you sign up at Gestaqua?

A: Eventually yes, but not immediately. So far none has been placed. They will do it when the sign-up period ends.

Q: What determines the fixed costs of water?

A: The diameter (=max throughput) of your meter. For DJ this seems to be 15 mm.

Max

 I can´t say Irene. Either someone out of one of the other blocks checks his bill or the committee clarifies it.

Max.