DeKalb commissioner: Retrofit legislation ‘in jeopardy’

A proposed ordinance requiring homes in DeKalb County to be retrofitted with water-saving plumbing fixtures before they are resold is in jeopardy of being quashed unless it gains more public support. That’s the take of DeKalb County Commissioner Jeff Rader, who earlier this morning sent out an impassioned e-mail to various environmentalists and members of the community seeking to direct attention to the measure. The commission decided last week to postpone a vote on the ordinance until the next meeting on Dec. 5.

Retrofitting pre-1993 plumbing in metro homes has been a frequent suggestion offered by city and regional officials to Atlanta residents as a way to conserve water. Antiquated plumbing fixtures waste more water than their modern, more efficient counterparts. According to Rader, low-flow toilets and shower heads could reduce demand by an estimated 3.5 million gallons of water per day in the county. The cost — $450 is listed as a high-end estimate — would be recouped in the form of lower water bills in three years, he said.

“This is essential because we’re in a drought crisis and this is the single most cost-effective thing we can do to conserve water,” Rader said in a phone interview. “We’re not asking people to tear up their lawns or anything like that. This is a win-win situation for everybody. It’s a very effective thing we can do to reduce structural water consumption.”

According to a press release from the Atlanta Board of Realtors, the lobbying group inundated commissioners with phone calls opposing the DeKalb ordinance. It’s another battle in a familiar war — previous attempts at similar legislation have been met with opposition by the same industry. Realtors say ordinances such as the one proposed in DeKalb would negatively impact the market and place home buyers and sellers at risk of being fined. ABR’s offices were closed for the day when CL tried to reach them for comment.

In his e-mail, Rader urged the recipients to contact the other DeKalb commissioners and to attend the commission’s upcoming meeting, where they will vote on the ordinance. The commission will meet in the Maloof Auditorium Wed., Dec. 5, at 6:30 p.m. to vote on the ordinance.

Click here to read the Retrofit on Resale legislation being proposed by DeKalb County.

To send your views to the DeKalb County Board of Commissioners, click here to visit their website and access their e-mail addresses.