Offensive smell from irrigation water
 

We just had some landscaping work done and need to water 2 times a day for a while. I noticed the 2nd time if day (late afternoons) there is a nasty smell from the irrigation water. Not sure if that's normal because the program for the normal schedule is at 5 a.m. and I've never been outside at that time if say to notice if it smells.

Now, before any of you wisenheimers tell me to just get up early and check, I'm not going to get up at 5 a.m. to check for smells, I'd rather sit here now writing this to ask you extremely exceptionally knowledgeable folks here.

Thanks

It stinks all the time.

I run between 3 and 5am. Trust me no matter where you live the irrigation water stinks so bad you try not to inhale deeply. I try to get out by 3 am before everyone waters their lawn.

So no worries getting up at 5am, I got you covered

Any idea the reason for the smell?

My dear wife thinks I am nuts for getting out around 7 am for my walk of the morning.

Village Community Development Districts

Steve

Florida s smelliest home town?

Not in Marion County portion of TV. We don’t use re-claimed water for irrigation.

Steve's link explains where the irrigation water for homes south of 466 comes from -- storm water runoff plus the lower Floridan aquifer. Water from the lower Floridan aquifer has a higher level of hydrogen sulfide, known for having the smell of rotten eggs.

My wife makes me have a dump when the watering system is in use.
When neighbors remark on the dreadful smell, she blames it on the irrigation water.

Michael Charles only those on reclaimed water for irrigation have that problem , it does smell .no known relief only wee hours water timing lol

The Villages does not use reclaimed water anywhere. That is a popular myth, probably arising from the fact that in some areas the irrigation water stinks. If you call the water department they will be happy to explain it to you.

The water from the deep Florida Aquifer has huge amounts of hydrogen sulfide dissolved in it. It is all chlorinated, purified, and treated the same way. Drinking water goes through a final step of having the hydrogen sulfide removed. In some parts of The Villages they don’t do that final step for irrigation water. That is only difference.

All the homes located south of 466 run off of reclaimed water because they have two water meters. The reclaimed water can have a sulfur smell to it. It is non-potable meaning non-drinkable water. That’s why you will also see what looks like rust stains on driveways and houses south of 466.

The irrigation water comes from the ponds. At certain times of the year the odor of the water is worse. Ask people who live on golf courses. Set your timer for times that you won’t be outside.

Most irrigation water comes from detention water

it takes until afternoon for the waste water from toilets to leach through and get into the waste water system.

I do not know what you mean by "reclaimed water". If you mean treated water from the water treatment plants then you are incorrect for any home north of 44. Treated water from the water treatment plants is used for golf course irrigation but not residential irrigation north of 44. The homes south of 44 may use treated water from the water treatment plants for residential irrigation.

Stay up
 

Stay up until 6:00 am..
No need to ruin your sleep !!

:ohdear: :popcorn: :popcorn:

Even the rain smells bad here

WRONG :boxing2:

Well, I lived in St. James for 7 years and never noticed this nasty smell from the irrigation at any time.

Yuck

My wife and I noticed the foul smelling irrigation water long ago. If you go outside very long at all the smell will even be on your clothes. I think most people don't notice it, maybe have aclimated to it or have a poor sense of smell as we age. You have to know that it is bad stuff when they tell not to get the water on you or to bathe soon after you do.

The water comes from the retention ponds and when you and neighbors water fertilizer and other stuff seeps into the water as it soaks in the ground, so when this happens continuously the water in the ponds gets rancid, thus the smelly water. Try adjusted your sprinklers and getting sprayed with it, smells like you crawled out of the sewer!

Funny!!!!

Nope, I am correct, as per the CDDs. I specifically asked the question of one of the facilities people at the day-long CDD class, that is held regularly. Just to be clear, by treated water from the water treatment plants I mean black water that is treated by the water treatment plants. I believe that is what is generally referred to as "reclaimed water" but the term may be used rather loosely by individuals, which is why I clarified.

As already posted by "anothersteve" from districtgov.org,

Home Irrigation:

North of CR 466, homes are irrigated with potable water.
South of CR 466, homes are irrigated with non-potable water which is comprised of storm water runoff that is collected in water retention areas and groundwater from the lower Floridan aquifer when storm water supplies are not available.
Golf Course Irrigation:

North of CR 466, golf courses are irrigated with a combination of reclaimed wastewater, storm water runoff that is collected in water retention areas, and groundwater (some upper Floridan and some Lower Floridan, depending on the specific course).
South of CR 466 all golf courses are irrigated with a combination of reclaimed wastewater and lower Floridan groundwater.
Please note that any reclaimed wastewater that is used for golf course irrigation is treated and meets the public access reuse standards established and required by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Not true. They openly admit they use reclaimed water for the sprinkler systems and only filter out debrie. Treating it costs a lot more money.

See posts #16 and #25.

And post #5

Steve

Ohiobuckeye
 

[QUOTE=Michael Charles;1799448]We just had some landscaping work done and need to water 2 times a day for a while. I noticed the 2nd time if day (late afternoons) there is a nasty smell from the irrigation water. Not sure if that's normal because the program for the normal schedule is at 5 a.m. and I've never been outside at that time if say to notice if it smells.

Now, before any of you wisenheimers tell me to just get up early and check, I'm not going to get up at 5 a.m. to check for smells, I'd rather sit here now writing this to ask you extremely exceptionally knowledgeable folks here.

Thanks[/QUO. Well just my opinion! I know what your saying about Irrigation smell but personally I think the drinking water has an order. A while back I heard someone say in a TOTV comment that they thought TV had the best tasting drinking water. Your irritation water must be really bad because I’ve never smelled an odor. You’ll have to live with right along with your neighbors.

I disagree, they water the golf courses with water from the ponds. I got hit in the face with their sprinklers in my yard. Golf course is behind my house. Ended up with a horrible eye infection that took 2 rounds of medication and 2 months to clear up. Also had to contact Village's district government several times before they redirected their sprinklers!

Reclaimed water, not knowing the specifics of that name, not potable water is also a water saving tactic. Water will become the new crisis in the future as it is a non renewable resource and people run it like there is no tomorrow. That is the reason for more restrictive shower heads and faucets and the reason why astroturf, or other methods that use less water and chemicals, should be considered here, in the villages, and elsewhere.

You forgot the smiley for this bit of satire........

Consider reading the link in post #5.

Mine also smells sometimes, also the hose water smells. I thought it might be due to the heat.

Thanks.

I've said this numerous times, you can find just about anything you need to know here;
Village Community Development Districts

That link should be bookmarked by everyone that lives or winters here.

Steve

It is obvious The Villages uses pond retention water. During the rainy season they sometimes run the sprinklers along Morse Blvd all day to drop the level of water in the ponds.

And why is it again the run the sprinklers?

Think of it as free fertilizer lol
 

think of it as free fertilizer

We are in Charlotte, it’s between 466a and 44. I haven’t noticed the smell but I try to keep it from spraying on the house or driveway too much because it causes a brownish rust like stain. The pressure wash guys can clean it up pretty easily, and had my lawn people do it once too. For sure keep you car well away from any over-spray.

Also, lot-wide rock gardens and painted concrete. ;-) Seriously, zero lawn landscaping should be considered. You can landscape nicely with hearty attractive plants that require much less water than grass. The Colorado Springs community my son lives in allows it (they may even require it) and the community really looks great.