Watergate Board Announcements

2011 Earthquake

Before August 23, 2011, who among us, even the refugees from California, had given much thought to the possibility that the East Coast would experience a major seismic event in our lifetime?  Following tremorgeddon, the Board has received several inquiries as to whether our master property insurance policy covers earthquakes, and the answer is yes, we are covered.  If you are a homeowner, and would like to see a summary of our current insurance policies, including the scope of our earthquake coverage, please click here.

Electrical Inspections

This Fall, the Association completed its inspection and preventive maintenance of the electrical circuit breaker boxes in substantially all the homes at Watergate, as well as the equipment and wiring in Watergate's four electrical rooms.  Several identified areas of repair are being addressed.

Mandatory Bicycle Registration

Through October 1, 2010, the Association is conducting a mandatory bicycle registration drive. All residents must register and obtain a permit decal for every bicycle that is placed in one of the bicycle storage rooms, the underground garages, or any other common areas of the community. You must re-register your bicycle even if you have registered your bicycle in years past. After the registration drive is completed on October 1, 2010, the Association will remove all bicycles without a current permit decal. Click here to see the bike registration letter (in PDF format) that the Board sent to all homeowners and residents. Click here to view and print a copy of the bike registration form (in PDF format).

TV Satellite Dishes at Watergate

At its August meeting, the Board imposed a moratorium on additional homeowner installations of roof-top satellite dish receivers until the issue can be discussed with homeowners, starting at this year's Annual Association Meeting. Click here if you wish to see the US Federal Communications Commission's current guidance on the limited rights of condominium owners to install over-the-air reception devices on commonly owned community property (in PDF Format).

Unauthorized Pruning

We are asking for your help. Every year, some homeowners and residents take it upon themselves to prune the Association-maintained plants and shrubs near their homes. Some are even bold enough to take their cutting shears farther afield. Please do not do this without the express approval of the Landscaping and Infrastructure Committee. Much of this unauthorized trimming is causing irreparable damage to our plants, interfering with the scheduled care for our plants, and in some cases preventing plants from flowering.

Chimney Maintenance and Cleaning

Homeowners who use their fireplaces are strongly urged to have their chimneys swept on a regular basis, particularly if artificial fire logs such as Duraflame are used. When burned, artificial logs can coat interior chimney surfaces with highly flammable creosote, which may pose a significant fire hazard.

Fish Pond

Please do not feed the fish in, or the ducks near, the fishpond. The excess food is not good for them and is clogging the fishpond filters and clouding the pond water. Thank you very much for your cooperation.

Patio and Balcony Screens

On May 23, 2007, the Board of Directors of the Watergate of Alexandria Homeowners' Association adopted a policy resolution prohibiting homeowners and residents from erecting bamboo fencing or screening on any patio or balcony, other than the few fences that had been "grandfathered" by prior Boards. Click here to see the entire Policy Resolution. Please remember that patios are a limited common element and are subject to covenant guidelines and other restrictions. Click here for a copy of the Covenant Review Form and Instructions (PDF).

Watergate Electric Power Supply

You should be aware of the power supply that we have here at Watergate. This information will be important for residents when purchasing electrical appliances such as water heaters, heat pumps, washers, dryers and kitchen appliances. Watergate has commercial type transformers (three) that provide 120-208V. This is slightly less then those seen in residential transformers (208-240V). These transformers were installed at the time of construction, and may very well have been chosen by the developer because each transformer serves multiple customers and can be located below ground. In addition, units served by a specific transformer are all located on the same panel. Had residential transformers been utilized instead, there would have been many more of them (approximately 20), and all of them would be placed above ground. Changing over to residential transformers (to supply up to 240V) is not really a structural or financial option for the community. Please keep the voltage range 120-208V in mind when making future appliance purchases, as there are some that are designed to operate on these lower voltages. In the event that owners wish to "step up" their power to 120-240V, then a "dry cell transformer" can be installed into that unit at the owner’s expense. Any questions can be directed to a member of the Board.