Kansas City is known for its water: the odorous Brush Creek, the murky Missouri River, hundreds of fountains — and now, monster mansions guzzling millions of gallons of water a year.
With lawn-watering season upon us, the Department of Burnt Ends decided it was time to call out the top water users in Kansas City, Missouri. So we asked the city's Water Services Department to produce a list of the top-25 water users from 2007. What we found was that the city's top user went through enough water to fill a 50-gallon bathtub 89 times a day for a whole year.
(Contrary to what the Department of Burnt Ends first reported, the average amount of water used by a family in Kansas City, Missouri, is 5,984 gallons per month — 71,808 gallons per year. For the record, that's 1,436 bathtubs.)
Most of them said they were completely unaware of their high consumption. (Were water bills in the thousands of dollars not a hint?) Just the same, they used more than a million gallons of water last year. According to the water department, the average family uses just 6,200 gallons.
Here, then, are Kansas City's top-five most outrageous water users.
5. C. Floyd Anderson Gallons used: 1,206,524 Yearly water bill: $3,117 Anderson is the owner of Opportunities Unlimited and a chairman of Northland National Bank. His water-sucking estate graced the pages of The Kansas City Star back in 1991, when Anderson paid about $2 million for the home. The Andersons, out of the country for an extended vacation, were unable to comment.
4. H. Drier Jr. Gallons used: 1,249,160 Yearly water bill: $3,266 Drier died in 1997, and his widow, Joyce, didn’t want to comment on her water usage, fearing the water department. “I have had troubles in the past with the water company, and now they are helping me,” Joyce Drier says. “I don’t want to start a vendetta against them.” Apparently, you don’t screw around with the water department.
3. Alan Atterbury Gallons used: 1,533,648 Yearly water bill: $3,540 Atterbury is a Midland Properties executive. We called Atterbury, and Andy Anderson returned the call. Anderson explains that the property has suffered from leaks that could be to blame. Also, there’s the watering. “We looked at the history of the usage,” Anderson says, “and the winter was lower than the summer because of irrigation for the landscaping.” Thanks for the explanation, Andy. Now we know that plants don’t require watering in the winter.
2. Rachel Bachenberg Gallons used: 1,575,288 Yearly water bill: $3,851 Despite being No. 2 on the list, Bachenberg doesn’t seem to fit in among KC’s biggest water users. In fact, her house is a shoebox compared with the monster mansions of the other folks on the list. She claims to have no idea how she ended up on this list, other than having had a massive leak last year. Colleen Newman, a public information officer for the water department, confirms that a leak from a toilet is a silent killer for water users. “A leaking toilet can fill an Olympic-sized pool in a couple of months,” Newman says. Still, that must have been one hell of a leak, considering that every two days last year, Bachenberg used more water than the average homeowner does in a year.
1. Charles and Patty Garney Gallons used: 1,630,640 Yearly water bill: $4,115 Charles Garney is CEO of Briarcliff Development Company and No. 1 on the list of top water users. Charles’ wife, Patty, is surprised that their place is on the list. “It is hard to believe. It is only the two of us here,” she says. “I suppose we should look into it, but I’m at a loss.” Patty Garney says the house doesn’t even have a pool. When a Department of Burnt Ends associate went by to take a look one afternoon, the extremely lush lawns were being watered.
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1. something of value, either tangible, such as land, or intangible, such as patents, copyrights, etc.
2. (Law) Law the right to possess, use, and dispose of anything
3. possessions collectively or the fact of owning possessions of value
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture)
a. a piece of land or real estate, esp used for agricultural purposes
b. (as modifier) property rights
5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) Chiefly Austral a ranch or station, esp a small one
6. (Physics / General Physics) a quality, attribute, or distinctive feature of anything, esp a characteristic attribute such as the density or strength of a material
7. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic obsolete another name for proprium
8. (Performing Arts / Theatre) any movable object used on the set of a stage play or film Usually shortened to prop
[from Old French propriété, from Latin proprietās something personal, from proprius one's own]
1. something of value, either tangible, such as land, or intangible, such as patents, copyrights, etc. 2. (Law) Law the right to possess, use, and dispose of anything 3. possessions collectively or the fact of owning possessions of value 4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) a. a piece of land or real estate, esp used for agricultural purposes b. (as modifier) property rights 5. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Agriculture) Chiefly Austral a ranch or station, esp a small one 6. (Physics / General Physics) a quality, attribute, or distinctive feature of anything, esp a characteristic attribute such as the density or strength of a material 7. (Philosophy / Logic) Logic obsolete another name for proprium 8. (Performing Arts / Theatre) any movable object used on the set of a stage play or film Usually shortened to prop [from Old French propriété, from Latin proprietÄs something personal, from proprius one's own]
Ricke from KCMO, we received the figures from the Kansas City Water Department. We were skeptical at first as well so we had them double-check to make sure it was accurate, and they assured us that it is.
Ricke from KCMO, we received the figures from the Kansas City Water Department. We were skeptical at first as well so we had them double-check to make sure it was accurate, and they assured us that it is.
I think the quoted statistics are way off. A family using an average of 6,200 gallons a month, maybe, but 6,200 gallons a year -- no way!
I think the quoted statistics are way off. A family using an average of 6,200 gallons a month, maybe, but 6,200 gallons a year -- no way!
I just have a question. Why, when we know that water is a very important resource that should not be squandered do we not put limits on the amount that can be used by private individuals as well as businesses. When businesses go over their alloted water rights they have to pay a premium, or in some cases face a shut down (I am speaking of very high water usage company's). Set a limit for private individuals and make them live with it. We do not need the highly manicured lawns. Yes, they are pretty, but they are not a necessity.
I just have a question. Why, when we know that water is a very important resource that should not be squandered do we not put limits on the amount that can be used by private individuals as well as businesses. When businesses go over their alloted water rights they have to pay a premium, or in some cases face a shut down (I am speaking of very high water usage company's). Set a limit for private individuals and make them live with it. We do not need the highly manicured lawns. Yes, they are pretty, but they are not a necessity.
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