Bonifay/Fernindina smell

[sam&rog]

Went to look around the new area and as we turned the corner at the pool by Bonifay the smell hit us. The sewage plant was right there and stunk.
How can they control the smell and/or sell premier homes next to it?
What will the odor be like when the area is built out?
Any ideas about how this will play out?

[NotGolfer]

That smell might be the "re-cycled" water from the sprinklers. I know there's been an explanation here before but it was quite awhile ago!!!

[buggyone]

A couple of days ago, I was at the parking lot of Bacall Rec. Center and there was a sewer-like smell at 2 pm. No sprinklers were going at the time so I do not think it was reclaimed water. Don't think I would want to live near a sewage treatment plant. I do remember what a hog farm smells like in Iowa.

[Schaumburger]

A couple of days ago, I was at the parking lot of Bacall Rec. Center and there was a sewer-like smell at 2 pm. No sprinklers were going at the time so I do not think it was reclaimed water. Don't think I would want to live near a sewage treatment plant. I do remember what a hog farm smells like in Iowa.

I grew up in eastern Iowa. When my family would go on drives in the country and drive past hog farms my father would comment "Wow, smell that fresh country air." :)

[angiefox10]

I've been all over that area and I haven't smelled anything. I'm thinking you are smelling a golf course being built!

[VillagesFlorida]

A couple of days ago, I was at the parking lot of Bacall Rec. Center and there was a sewer-like smell at 2 pm. No sprinklers were going at the time so I do not think it was reclaimed water. Don't think I would want to live near a sewage treatment plant. I do remember what a hog farm smells like in Iowa.

Exactly why we never request Bogart or Bacall for a golf game! There is a sewerage treatment facility west (or maybe it's north) of the two courses and the few times we played there years ago it was unbearable. I guess it may depend on which way the wind is blowing but I don't plan to ever chance a favorable breeze again.

[rubicon]

I grew up in eastern Iowa. When my family would go on drives in the country and drive past hog farms my father would comment "Wow, smell that fresh country air." :)

buggyone, I too have had an opportunity to experience that "smell". the local farmers say "I smell money";)

[784caroline]

money or was it "Honey"

[Jim 9922]

Seems like nothing much has been done to fix the stink problen. I started a thread 10/5/11 on this topic. We were told at that time by the sales person that the smell is "just the price you pay to own on a golf course".
:0000000000luvmyhors

[CTgolfer]

Seems like nothing much has been done to fix the stink problen. I started a thread 10/5/11 on this topic. We were told at that time by the sales person that the smell is "just the price you pay to own on a golf course".
:0000000000luvmyhors

If this is the price you pay to own on the golf course, then why isn't the same odor at Cane, Mallory, or other golf courses. The odor is very apparent at the Bonifay Restaurant parking lot area... what a turn off. New residents in that area should be challenging this.

[memason]

We played Bonifay yesterday afternoon and had dinner [outside] afterwards. No one in our foursome smelled anything out of the ordinary. Certainly no sewer smell...

Maybe the winds were in our favor ????

[rjn5656]

Someone told me there is a buried lanfill up on the hill as you head east on 466a up on the hill. Not sure if that is true but could be cause.

[janmcn]

Seems like nothing much has been done to fix the stink problen. I started a thread 10/5/11 on this topic. We were told at that time by the sales person that the smell is "just the price you pay to own on a golf course".
:0000000000luvmyhors

Why would a golf course stink? Just wondering.

[CraigAC]

Can someone tell me exactly where the foul order is in Fernandina?

We reserved a lot in Unit 207 last month and may need to make a change if this is a persistent problem.

We spent quite a bit of time walking around the vacant lots, the country club, the area by the starter shack (below the water tower construction project), as well as by the pool and mailboxes without noticing any foul orders.

We’re returning next month and would like to spend some additional time in this area of concern.

Thanks.

[Jim 9922]

Can someone tell me exactly where the foul order is in Fernandina?


We’re returning next month and would like to spend some additional time in this area of concern.

Thanks.

Go out there in the late afternoon or evening when they are irrigating the lawns and golf courses. I'm sure you will smell it 2 out of 4 nights. We were in the area in late December and did not notice a smell, but it was definitely there a couple of nights the first week in January. It is a new sewerage plant and maybe they aren't treating the wastewater quite right for odors or maybe it is the fertlizer they are using on the courses and public areas.
If there is really an old land fill in the area, there probably is a real problem. It would be interesting to find out for sure.

[CTgolfer]

I'm not convinced the odor is from the irrigation on the golf course. I've smelled it late morning, early afternoon and evening on Pinellas Place up to Bonifay Country Club. There is a water treatment facility near the Bonifay Club. My thoughts are that the smell is coming from there.

[skip0358]

Re cycle center is dry construction debries only. No garbage and no smell. I was at Bonifay late afternoon yesterday there was a slight smell but as another poster put I know earlier this year they were using a very strong fertilizer on the courses and it really stunk like s---. I know they are also still working at the treatment plant which is on the hill next to Bonifay and right behind the Premier section. I'm sure if there was a sewer issue those people already living in that section would be all over TV because of what they spent on land alone not to mention their houses.

[tommy steam]

I was going to look at property in that area but will probably not at this point. I dont ever want to think that I might be sitting outside my home and get a wiff of anything like that.:ohdear:

[CraigAC]

If I'm thinking of the same construction site, my sales rep told me it's going to be a low profile water tower. He said the residents have been complaining about the traditional water towers so they came up with this design that will be hidden by the berm and plant growth. It's located near the intersection of Bonifay Path and Pinellas Place.

Is there another construction site in the area that I missed? I'd like to check it out during my visit next month.

I'm hoping the odor is related to the new golf course. When I moved to a new golf course community in MI we experienced the same thing during it's first year. They sprayed a fertilizer which they claimed would only be used for the first year. It had a terrible odor which would last several days after it was applied, and for several more days when they watered. I think they sprayed it every 4-6 weeks for the entire playing season.

I'll attempt to gather additional information during my trip next month.

[eweissenbach]

I grew up in eastern Iowa. When my family would go on drives in the country and drive past hog farms my father would comment "Wow, smell that fresh country air." :)

Sign upon entering Wisconsin: Welcome, enjoy our wonderful dairy air!

[quirky3]

Sign upon entering Wisconsin: Welcome, enjoy our wonderful dairy air!

Or.....the smell of wonderful "derriere" !

[cappyjon431]

We didn't hear about the sewage treatment plant off of El Camino Real until we had already purchased our home in Alhambra. After purchasing, I read (on TOTV) some disturbing things about the smells associated with this particular treatment plant.

I am happy to report that after living in our home since late August, we have yet to experience the bad odor in our neighborhood. We have noticed the smell when driving our cart on Camino Real (not pleasant!), but it has yet to affect our neighborhood. Sure hope it stays this way.

[buzzy]

Capt Jon,

Saw a Gem on Camino Real today around 6:00 with a diver's flag on the back. Was that you?

[cappyjon431]

Capt Jon,

Saw a Gem on Camino Real today around 6:00 with a diver's flag on the back. Was that you?

Yup, that was probably me going to the market in my wife's GEM.

[Happinow]

I was concerned about the smell in this area because our home will be built here. I emailed my TV realtor a few days ago to inquire about this and he phoned yesterday to let me know he would look into this and get back to me. He just got back to me and he said the smell was the fact that they were digging a well for the golf courses and the retention ponds. He was bringing the matter to the "higher ups" to see what they said. He said the trash plants would not be making that smell. They do use reclaimed water on the courses but he said that shouldn't be a problem either. If I find anything else out I will post. It's nice to know they are aware of this and will keep an eye on it. I get the sense they will correct it if it becomes a "lingering" problem. I appreciated his timely response.

[homeball]

Get used to it. Since I moved here in the early part of 2009, foul odors down in the Hemingway/Duval area, Colony Plaza, and now south of 466A are a way of life here. Whether it is the untreated water used for golf course irrigation or a sewer processing plant issue, no one really has figured it out. It just comes and goes. It is a known fact that the golf courses are irrigated with the lowest untreated quality of water. Then there is our irrigation system for our homes which uses non potable but somewhat better treated water. And then, of course, there is the highly treated water for home consumption. On the sewer issue there are those pumping stations that move the sewerage around this very hilly part of Florida. Supposedly there is a pumping station on Morse Blvd that can have issues at times and that has been blamed as a possible culprit for the occasional foul odor in the Hemingway/Colony area.

[NANCY58]

Take a look at the landfill across from colony plaza. Could that be the smell?

[Larry Wilson]

homeball is right. I've smelled it for years when I play golf down that way.

[graciegirl]

Swimdawg and I were down that way yesterday afternoon sending pictures of a home to a friend. We both said we couldn't smell a thing. Perhaps there are smells at other times. When we had our house in Hadley I shopped for all of my groceries at Colony and bought many a thing at Bealls outlet and ate lots of Peachwave Frozen Yogurt and took out many a meal from the Chinese place in Colony Plaza which is just across the street. Also went weekly to art class at Colony Cottage. I missed that smell. Not to say that there isn't a smell.

Hadn't heard from you for awhile, Larry.

[newvillagegirl]

I spent a lot of time at Colony while designing our home. There were very pungent odors in the morning so I am glad we did not build near there. If you are looking for another Premiere Home Area, you should check out some of the remaining lots in Pennecamp which is a quiet area which does not seem to share the odor problem.

Good luck.

[DDoug]

Used to operate sew plants(aerobic plants) and there is no reason that they should smell if they are running right. And if they are having a hard time with them there is an additive that can mask the smell. Just my experience and opinion.

[BlueHeronFan]

Not sure if this is the problem with the oder or not, but I have noticed when we haven't had a decent rain in awhile and the ponds a low, some of the water must get caught in the storm sewer tubes and becomes stagnet.

I have noticed a similar oder near Pimlico rec center when that is the case.

[deanna1950]

Where are the Bagart and Bacall golf course located

[rubicon]

Why would a golf course stink? Just wondering.

Because the golfer won't admit he does:1rotfl:

[buggyone]

BlueHeron is right. I played golf at Pimlico last week and noticed an unpleasant odor coming from the ponds that are drying up.

[NJblue]

There is no sewerage treatment plant near Bonifay. All of the treatment is done at the plant that near the Bacall golf course. You may have noticed a lot on construction going on there while they were getting ready to open the new sections south of 466A - that was the expansion of the treatment plant to handle the entire "Final Phase".

[3puttharry]

There is no sewerage treatment plant near Bonifay. All of the treatment is done at the plant that near the Bacall golf course. You may have noticed a lot on construction going on there while they were getting ready to open the new sections south of 466A - that was the expansion of the treatment plant to handle the entire "Final Phase".

Hi NJ, have seen the ongoing work at Bacall area plant and think it would be great if it is the last sewerage treatment plant. I find it hard to believe that Brownwood (given the size of it) is going to pump all it's sewerage to that site. I am curious, who told you that bacall is handling the entire "final phase"?

[cgalloway6]

There are also different sensitivities to smells. One person may not even notice a smell while someone else finds it objectionable. Those sensitive to odors might relate to being around someone that had an overdose of cologne or perfume. The wearer probably isn't aware of how strong it is.
Same thing with the trains - it bothers some, others don't notice or tune it out. (Or turn off their hearing aids.)

[Barefoot]

Not sure if this is the problem with the oder or not, but I have noticed when we haven't had a decent rain in awhile and the ponds a low, some of the water must get caught in the storm sewer tubes and becomes stagnet.

I have noticed a similar oder near Pimlico rec center when that is the case.

I just noticed the Pimlico smell today as I was driving on Belvedere, quite pungent. In four winters, I've only noticed the smell once near Pimlico. But I have noticed it often in a few other pond areas.

[CarGuys]

We need a good steady rain for several days. To refill the ponds and dilute that sewage.

It was explained to me when the ponds are low that sewages is tansfered to water you lawns. Ehewwww!

[homeball]

Speaking of foul odors, sewer processing plants and other things, here is a picture taken on Jan 13, 2012 of what appears to be a processing plant/facility of some sort off Bonifay Path across the street from the Bonifay Country Club. As is the custom it is hidden from the road by high bushes and one has to give a good hard look to discover it. Anyone interested can take a drive down and check it out.

[NJblue]

Hi NJ, have seen the ongoing work at Bacall area plant and think it would be great if it is the last sewerage treatment plant. I find it hard to believe that Brownwood (given the size of it) is going to pump all it's sewerage to that site. I am curious, who told you that bacall is handling the entire "final phase"?
I had a tour of the plant a couple of years ago which included a presentation by the head of The Villages sanitation department. He said that the plant there, once it was enlarged, will handle all of the building south of 466A.

[NJblue]

Speaking of foul odors, sewer processing plants and other things, here is a picture taken on Jan 13, 2012 of what appears to be a processing plant/facility of some sort off Bonifay Path across the street from the Bonifay Country Club. As is the custom it is hidden from the road by high bushes and one has to give a good hard look to discover it. Anyone interested can take a drive down and check it out.

This is the water storage tank that they are using instead of the tall towers that you see around. There is one similar to that off Morse near Bonita. This will not give off any odors.

[NJblue]

We need a good steady rain for several days. To refill the ponds and dilute that sewage.

It was explained to me when the ponds are low that sewages is tansfered to water you lawns. Ehewwww!

Not true. The water used for residential irrigation (south of 466) is a combination of the ponds (which are fed by rain runoff) and the lower aquifer (not the same aquifer that we get our drinking water from). The irrigation water for the golf courses, however, does have a component from the waste water treatment plant (along with the ponds and the lower aquifer).

I have seen the water coming out of the waste water treatment plant up close (could literally reach out and touch it). It has no odor and is so clear that you would think that you could drink it - but hasn't been purified to the extent that you really could drink it.

[homeball]

Tall water towers are necessary to generate the necessary water pressure via the law of gravity. A tower 70 ft tall will generate at least 30 psi of discharge pressure. A so called water tower of no significant height off the ground would generate very little pressure and be of no practical use. That's why we have numerous tall towers around TV.

[NJblue]

Tall water towers are necessary to generate the necessary water pressure via the law of gravity. A tower 70 ft tall will generate at least 30 psi of discharge pressure. A so called water tower of no significant height off the ground would generate very little pressure and be of no practical use. That's why we have numerous tall towers around TV.

Well, explain to me why the well at the intersection of Morse and Bonita as well as the well near Bonifay have no tall towers? Just a different method of storing water at a high point for distribution to lower points.

[Hancle704]

Rode through the area the other evening, glad to learn the odor had not originated from within the car.

[Penguin]

Rode through the area the other evening, glad to learn the odor had not originated from within the car.

Made me laugh. Thanks:laugh:

[Bill-n-Brillo]

Rode through the area the other evening, glad to learn the odor had not originated from within the car.

That'll usually happen after a trip to Krystal up in Ocala....... :ohdear:

Bill :)

[chuckinca]

Well, explain to me why the well at the intersection of Morse and Bonita as well as the well near Bonifay have no tall towers? Just a different method of storing water at a high point for distribution to lower points.


Don't need tall towers if the stored water is PUMPED into the system from the low storage tank. The pumps provide the line pressure to move the water.


.

[NJblue]

Don't need tall towers if the stored water is PUMPED into the system from the low storage tank. The pumps provide the line pressure to move the water.


.

That's what I was figuring as well. Regardless of how they move the water from the well near Bonifay into the system, the tank that is there is not any type of sewage treatment plant and should produce no odors.

[keithwand]

Can someone tell me exactly where the foul order is in Fernandina?

We reserved a lot in Unit 207 last month and may need to make a change if this is a persistent problem.

We spent quite a bit of time walking around the vacant lots, the country club, the area by the starter shack (below the water tower construction project), as well as by the pool and mailboxes without noticing any foul orders.

We’re returning next month and would like to spend some additional time in this area of concern.

Thanks.

We just bought a lot on Braddock Ct 2 days ago and visited it the next 2 days.
Had lunch outside at Bonifay (great burger) and
DID NOT SMELL ANYTHING!!
Believe me if we had we would not have bought there and I had read this before coming back.
Its an all Premier neighbor hood and no way would they have put it there if it stunk.

[shcisamax]

This thread has me extremely concerned. I just came back from TV having put my deposit down on a very nice golf view site right near the Club. I do NOT want to build a house on a site beginning of April if it is impacted by a bad smell or sitting on a toxic landfill. I can live with temporary but if this is a permanent issue.....Does anyone have any further information on this. Who do you call at TV besides your salesperson to find out the truth? Yikes!

[shcisamax]

This thread has me extremely concerned. I just came back from TV having put my deposit down on a very nice golf view site right near the Club. I do NOT want to build a house on a site beginning of April if is impacted by a bad smell or sitting on a toxic landfill. Does anyone have any further information on this. Who do you call at TV besides your salesperson to find out the truth? Yikes!

[angiefox10]

This thread has me extremely concerned. I just came back from TV having put my deposit down on a very nice golf view site right near the Club. I do NOT want to build a house on a site beginning of April if is impacted by a bad smell or sitting on a toxic landfill. Does anyone have any further information on this. Who do you call at TV besides your salesperson to find out the truth? Yikes!

It seems that none of the people who bought lots and built homes smell anything. I haven't and you didn't.

[Barefoot]

Speaking of foul odors, sewer processing plants and other things, here is a picture taken on Jan 13, 2012 of what appears to be a processing plant/facility of some sort off Bonifay Path across the street from the Bonifay Country Club. As is the custom it is hidden from the road by high bushes and one has to give a good hard look to discover it. Anyone interested can take a drive down and check it out.

This thread has me extremely concerned. I just came back from TV having put my deposit down on a very nice golf view site right near the Club. I do NOT want to build a house on a site beginning of April if it is impacted by a bad smell or sitting on a toxic landfill. I can live with temporary but if this is a permanent issue.....Does anyone have any further information on this. Who do you call at TV besides your salesperson to find out the truth? Yikes!

Did you check out the area mentioned by Homeball? Are you near a retention pond? The only bad smells I've experienced have come from ponds near Maintenance Buildings, not sure if they are sewer related.

[NJblue]

Did you check out the area mentioned by Homeball? Are you near a retention pond? The only bad smells I've experienced have come from ponds near Maintenance Buildings, not sure if they are sewer related.

This is NOT a processing plant. There is an identical tank near the intersection of Bonita and Morse and no one complains of odors from it. The fact that there is a well at both places as well is not just a coincidence. If you visit the processing plant on BV near Bonifay (by Bacall golf course) you will see that a real processing plant looks nothing like what is at Bonifay and at Bonita/Morse.

[Jim 9922]

The smell was very strong in September and October but not so strong in late December. We noticed no smell during a recent visit to the area. Maybe it was a combination of hot days, heavy doses of of organic based fertlizer and heavy watering drawn from stagnant ponds. At that time they were "grassing in" the golf courses and common areas so everything was going full blast.

Many golf courses use organic fertlizer as part of their maintenance programs. In fact, Milorganite produced by the Milwaukee sewage plant is the most widely used, including in TV. It has its own unique smell for a few days after application (so good that the locals use it as a deer repellent). But the September-October smell was not Milorganite.

[keithwand]

We will be building on Braddock CT in Fernandina. We had lunch at Bonifay and visited our site by car and golf cart.

The only smell we got was the gas golf cart provided by TV.

Every once in a while FL gets an early morning smell that I have noticed in Orlando, Tampa and when I visited my parents in Sun City. I chalk it up to it smells like FL!

Ever smell a paper/ pulp mill? Now thats bad.

We are very happy with our decision. If you are not try and get refund and look for another lot.

[rubicon]

I just noticed the Pimlico smell today as I was driving on Belvedere, quite pungent. In four winters, I've only noticed the smell once near Pimlico. But I have noticed it often in a few other pond areas.

I was told it is because the store fertilizer there?????????

[Lynnelf]

I smelled the mysterious odor when we were showing off our new neighborhood to some relatives who came to visit. We were standing by the Fernandina pool and we all got a whiff of a sulfur smell. One whiff and then it was gone. It was quite noticeable as we all made a comment about it when it occured. But it was gone as quickly as it came. It did not smell like fertilizer (we have been walking at the Polo club while they were fertilizing. Now that was an awful stink!) This smelled more like sulfur. Considering that most of the folks in the neighborhood have not smelled it at all, and I only smelled it for an instant, I'm not too worried about it.

[keithwand]

We got in the car and drove over to TV (1 hour away) and walked our dogs at the Fernandina Pool.
We stopped in at the Bonifay Pro Shop then checked on our lot and saw all of the new housing starts just in the last few weeks.
You know what? NO smells and I have a real sensitive smeller.

[Mikeod]

We played Truman today starting at 10:40. When we got to the third green, we both noticed a sulfur odor. With the wind blowing from the north, it couldn't be originating in the Bonifay/Fernandina area. I wonder if they are doing something in that new facility on 466a between Buena Vista and Canal St. that is producing that odor. By the time we got to the 4th tee, we didn't smell it anymore.

[pooh]

It was definitely a sulfur smell that Mike and I noticed. After watching the movie Volcano many times and visiting the La Brea tar pits a few times... I was waiting for a volcanic vent to open up... ;) Didn't last long.

[keithwand]

We played Truman today starting at 10:40. When we got to the third green, we both noticed a sulfur odor. With the wind blowing from the north, it couldn't be originating in the Bonifay/Fernandina area. I wonder if they are doing something in that new facility on 466a between Buena Vista and Canal St. that is producing that odor. By the time we got to the 4th tee, we didn't smell it anymore.

What are they doing there on the South side of 466A?
We saw the mound and all of the trucks moving dirt around.
What was there before they started building Bonifay CC and the houses there?

[CraigAC]

My wife and I just got home to S. CA after spending 3 great days at TV. We spent a lot of time in the Fernandina/Bonifay area looking at our empty lot as well as the progress being made on the other new homes.

I’m pleased to report that I didn’t pick up any foul orders in any of the areas we visited. We walked around the empty lots as well as the pool and Starter Shacks around Bonifay.

We visited there all three days at different times of the day. We also had a leisurely lunch on the Bonifay patio yesterday afternoon, and still no orders. I’m feeling much better about this issue.

[CraigAC]

sorry -- should have typed "odors" not "orders". Must be the jet-lag...

[keithwand]

Which model did you guys pick out?
We are excited to be going back for 6 days next week to pick out our stuff and hopefully staying within budget.
Glad you had a great time.

[Golfer in Sanibel]

It was definitely a sulfur smell that Mike and I noticed. After watching the movie Volcano many times and visiting the La Brea tar pits a few times... I was waiting for a volcanic vent to open up... ;) Didn't last long.

Did you ask Mike what he'd been eating?:D

[coffeebean]

Seems like nothing much has been done to fix the stink problen. I started a thread 10/5/11 on this topic. We were told at that time by the sales person that the smell is "just the price you pay to own on a golf course".
:0000000000luvmyhors

I'm not a golfer so I didn't know there was an odor associated with golf courses. What creates the odor?

[Posh 08]

I'm not a golfer so I didn't know there was an odor associated with golf courses. What creates the odor?

Fertilizers. The farmer next door to my place just spread his fields with chicken manure. It's zesty for a few days. Lucky the wind in the right direction.

[looneycat]

Take a look at the landfill across from colony plaza. Could that be the smell?

nope, its construction debris, not organic waste.

[coffeebean]

Fertilizers. The farmer next door to my place just spread his fields with chicken manure. It's zesty for a few days. Lucky the wind in the right direction.

Do golf courses require a different type of fertilizer than the grasses that are all over The Villages such as lawn for homes and all the common grounds?

[Posh 08]

Do golf courses require a different type of fertilizer than the grasses that are all over The Villages such as lawn for homes and all the common grounds?

I believe the shear volumes of turf require fertilizers that cost less than one uses on homes so maybe it has more of the "barnyard" in it. Just guessing. Higher nitrogen is desired on pastures, that I can bet the ranch on.

[coffeebean]

I believe the shear volumes of turf require fertilizers that cost less than one uses on homes so maybe it has more of the "barnyard" in it. Just guessing. Higher nitrogen is desired on pastures, that I can bet the ranch on.

Now I get the picture. Thanks.