Hydro Hogs

Here in the raindrop state, there are times when water feels more like an aggravation than an asset. After our annual winter deluge, most Portlanders are too busy drying out to think about drought. But ever since 1992, when a major water shortage sent people scurrying to shut off the sprinklers and empty the pools, Portland has been forced to confront an awkward fact: With our population growing by 2.4 percent a year, we are running short of water.

Most River City residents have conserved, installing low-flow toilets and showerheads, and employing more aqua-conscious lawn-watering schemes. Portland's average household consumption has dropped from 203 gallons a day in 1994-95 to 181 last year.

Against this civic-minded backdrop, however, some Portlanders are hogging more than their fair share.

Last year, WW got the notion to splash around in the records of the Portland Water Bureau and figure out who's consuming the most water ("Hydro Hogs," WW, Aug 1, 2001). This year we got our feet wet again, dredging through the books and surfacing with the 12 biggest residential water hogs in the city limits.

Our top Hydro Hog used more than 707,000 gallons from July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002--10 times the average household consumption of 66,065 gallons.

In fairness, we should note that this year's aqua-gluttons weren't as profligate as last year's crop, when the haughtiest hoser splashed away over 1 million gallons of H₂0. Nonetheless, the fact remains that these folks suck down a lot more water than the rest of us. Whether they have big yards, big families or big swimming pools, you can bet they're all wet.

For water-saving tips, contact the Portland Water Bureau at (503) 823-7770 or check out www.water.ci.portland.or.us

1. RALPH R. SHAW
Southwest Brentwood Drive
Gallons used: 707,608--10.7 times average
Shaw, a venture capitalist, didn't return WW's calls.
REPEAT OFFENDER Last year's rank: 12 (712,844 gallons)

2. SCOTT THOMASON
Northwest Luray Circle
Gallons Used: 667,216--10.1 times average
"That surprises me," says the car king. "I do have a big home and a big family. We have a swimming pool, and it's been an active summer at the house.... If there was a way to conserve, we would."
REPEAT OFFENDER Last year's rank: 6 (826,540 gallons)
WW Conservation Tip: Jeez, Scott, can't you let the boys at the dealership wash the cars on the lot? Quit hosing the Rolls(es) for a couple of weeks.

3. GENEVA CALLOWAY
Northeast Klickitat Street
Gallons used: 648,516--9.8 times average
WW was unable to contact Calloway.

4. MARK MOOTHART
Southeast Exeter Drive
Gallons used: 642,532--9.7 times average
"I think we had a leak about eight months ago," says Moothart, whose swimming pool adjoins the Waverley Golf Course. The Water Bureau says the reads are valid.

5. JAMES SHANK
Northeast Milton Court
Gallons used: 614,108--9.3 times average
"You're kidding!" says Shank, a government intelligence worker who owns the home where his stepmother lives and was oblivious to her high water tab. "She must be watering the hell out of it!" The Water Bureau says Shank has been notified of a leak, but Shank said he has received no message. "I appreciate the call," Shank continued. "I'll have a plumber get out there."

6. ROBERT & MELINDA MALETIS
Northwest Hilltop Drive
Gallons used: 605,880--9.2 times average.
"We've been doing a lot of construction and landscaping," explains Robert Maletis, scion of the beer-distribution clan. "That's what the usage was for."
WW Conservation Tip: Construction... sure. We thought that last sixer of Red Hook tasted watery! Leave our brewskies alone and save on your water bill!

7. DONALD & KATHY FROOM
Southwest 45th Avenue
Gallons used: 591,668--9.0 times average
Donald Froom, a nephrologist at St. Vincent hospital, didn't return WW's calls.
REPEAT OFFENDER Last year's rank: 3 (857,956 gallons)
WW Conservation Tip: We know you have to wash your hands every five minutes in the hospital, but at home try to keep it to only before mealtimes.

8. ROBERT & ERICKA CAMPBELL
North Emerson Street
Gallons used: 573,716--8.7 times average
The Campbells didn't return WW's calls.

9. THOMAS & KAREN ANDERSON
Northwest 24th Avenue
Gallons used: 571,472--8.6 times average
"Wow! I can't believe it, I'm just shocked," says lawyer Thomas Anderson, who rents out this property. "There's absolutely no reason this should happen--there's no lawn, no pool, no hot tub, nothing!"

10. GREGG MILLER
Northeast Alameda Street
Gallons used: 554,268--8.4 times average
"We tried to do some stuff after we showed up in the list last year," says Miller, who says he hired a new landscaper and reprogrammed the sprinkler system. "What do you do if you're in a place with a landscaped yard? Are we going to let the parks and the yards go dry, so we can increase our density in the central city? Is that our plan? I mean, there's a quality-of-life issue we should be concerned about as well."
REPEAT OFFENDER
Last year's rank: 15 (656,744 gallons)

11. ART & SUSAN DEMURO
Northeast 18th Avenue
Gallons used: 549,780--8.3 times average
"Jesus Christ!" said Art DeMuro after hearing he was the 11th-highest user in P-town. The DeMuros built a pond that sprang a major leak and have since corrected it, but the Water Bureau says the address shows "consistent high usage."

12. ANDREW WIEDERHORN
Southwest Greenleaf Drive
Gallons used: 543,048--8.2 times average
Brylcreemed bad-debt merchant Wiederhorn declined to comment.

WWeek 2015