On Sunday, September 13, 2015 at 10:05:55 AM UTC-4, dpb wrote:
On 09/13/2015 8:49 AM, trader_4 wrote:
...

If it's just the operating costs, I agree. But who pays
if the pump needs to be replaced? The well stops producing?
The sprinkler system needs maintenance? If all those are
treated as split costs if and when they occur, then $50
a month for electric to run what's on that list does sound
like a lot of money. ...

The well here is on separate meter and during summer months can reach
nearly $200 if sprinklers are run significantly and even during winter
$50 isn't unheard of. So on average that might be about right here
altho I've not totaled up for any number of years to see what a
long-term average might be. Of course, there's a pretty sizable yard
area and garden here so it's likely a larger usage and that's total not
just half, but may not be as far out of line as one might
think...particularly if count something for the maintenance going
forward, etc., ...


A 1hp pump runs about 7 amps, ~1700 watts. Using 13 cents/kwh that's
22 cents an hour. Water 5 hours and it's $1.10 Assuming you water
3 times a week, that would be $3.30, or $13 a month. If you watered
10 hours at a time, it's still $26 a month. I don't see how you get
near $200 unless it's a much bigger system. Given that it's a condo
with a shared well, seems the watering would probably be closer to
the $13 to $26 a month. And that's for the whole thing.

The heater could be running more than that, but it's for just a few
months. Also it's probably not too much for the heater, because he
says it's a room in the garage, so I'm thinking it's more like closet
size.



But it is a nightmare arrangement.


That's for sure. It could work OK if you have a reasonable neighbor
and the relationship doesn't go south for some other reasons, etc.
Even then it could lead to disagreement, one wants to water every day,
the other 2x a week, etc.
But for sure if ownership changes on either side, who knows who
the new owner will be. Clearly this special arrangement should be
spelled out, probably in the closing documents for both units.
I would suspect that this shared well was probably added after the condos
were originally built and sold.