The Villages Irrigation Water Costs 53% More than Premium Gasoline
 

Can someone help me out: as a new homeowner in The Villages, why does just 9 gallons of dirty irrigation water cost $50+ a month, almost half of which is a “base” which actually isn’t irrigation?

We just got our “not an HOA” bill and this month it cost us an average of $5.68 / gallon for dirty water we have to use according to the “not an HOA” rules.

Make it make sense.

Well if you had your gas delivered to you there would be a minimum delivery cost added to your bill. If you want lower cost per gallon of water use more water the base won't go up just the water usage. Problem solved.

Fair point but I’m required to pay a monthly fee irrespective of whether or not I use it.

Glad I’m not paying your rates!!! 8,000 gallons only cost me $38. I *wish* I could find premium gas at $0.005 per gallon!

Every utility company I have ever had the (dis)pleasure of dealing with has a "customer charge" or "base rate". If you think it's a rip off for residential, you would really enjoy the feeling of opening your commercial bill. You can also enjoy extra pleasure as a part time TV resident. We get to pay that base rate on potable water, irrigation water, sewer, garbage and electric for the 6 months were aren't there and the usage is zero.

Make sense now?

It’s not just irrigation you pay for regardless of use. There is both the base water and sewer rate, trash pickup, ammenity fee, etc…. Also, if you own a home, but aren’t full time, there is no homestead exemption and you don’t get other benefits offered only to full time residents such as a free senior fishing license. The idea of possibly eliminating property taxes only applies to full time residents as well, despite the fact that they typically use more services than part time homeowners who aren’t renting their property.

Not sure what you are looking at but here are the irrigation water rates for South of 44 and I don't see anything approaching your figure.

The better question is: How is it possible to use only 9 gallons of irrigation water in a month? I guess the system must be off and its just meter rounding?

Did you attach it?

as a long time Florida Resident expecting a lower cost of utilities here in The Villages with the smallest house and yard I've ever owned...instead my Water and Energy bills have TRIPLED...

Northern homes water is cheap $23 for 3 months. Our irrigation is the same water, but 1/2 to 1 acre of Kentucky Blue can run upwards of $150+ a month depending on lack of rain.

Big difference between grass you can walk on and the weed like green stuff Florida calls grass. Our less than 1500sf of irrigation in TV is $50-60 a month depending on rain amount

You paid for the pipes that deliver that scum water in your bond cost.
How much was the charge for the cost for all that pipe, pumps, etc?

Sure it’s not 9,000 gallons? That makes more sense

The villages used to be very inexpensive to live in, but over the past few years car insurance ,house insurance, real estatetaxes, utility bills, amenity fees everything has gone up and not in a reasonable manner.

You think the villages is the only place that things have gone up during the last few years. We had a recession in 2022 when everything went up and have stayed higher. Compare our tax bills vs some of the states in the north and west, we pay very little compared to these states. You think insurance rates haven’t gone up elsewhere? I saw on tv that a couple in a smaller apartment in San Diego was paying $2000 for electricity!!! Let’s compare states that tax income (Florida doesn’t), how much are you saving? Gas is cheaper here than in the west, northeast.
The only thing that I don’t get here in Florida is the roof replacement cr@p after 10 years, I have never ran into this in other states. Shingles can last 2x or more than this, and from what I hear, they replace the plywood too. This part is nuts!

Water is excessively expensive. If drought is an issue, builders should be required to install "water harvesters" for each home and replace grass with gravel.

That is the norm for all utilities.

We have great water rates compared to other communities. You oughta see what on top of the word charges.

Something is wrong with your bill or your reading of it. Here’s my most recent bill.

Yes it’s disgusting how much money is wasted on water here in the Villages all just to have green grass which is near impossible to keep looking good.

The piping and pumps need to be maintained regardless of how much water used by you.

The same thing as on your electric bill and gas bill. There is a minimum maintenance charge and then the per unit charge.

Mine is always lush and green. I do no work to keep it that way. I get it mowed and I sect stuff and water it.

I suspect you need to water more. Like humans, grass needs water to survive.

The min fee is to ensure workers are paid all year and the pipes, pumps, etc, stay working all year.

Good Question!
 

Irrigation water is one more if the mysteries of life in the Villages! Maybe there's an added Gator excrement and fish poo charge!

I use an app to override and control my system. That way the Irrigation system doesn't go off during or after a good rainfall. The investment in the Hydrawise module is paying for itself over time.

If you’re only using 9 gallons a month to water your grass I’m glad im not your neighbor…

Bet you drove through , your first time here, and said WOW everything is so lush and green , beautifully maintained ! Now ya want to gravel over it ! Should have moved to Arizona where they gravel every yard or you could move to a CV where you are allowed to remove the grass and rock the yard. Sorry, makes me mad when people buy into a beautiful community only to want to change it cause they realize there is a cost to beauty. My son has a tiny yard in Virginia 2000sq ft home and his water bill is $400 a month . His taxes are 3x what mine are and he doesn’t get cheap golf.

It sure would be nice to see the bill. Could be any number of issues but without seeing the actual period of time on the bill, readings on the bill, and itemized numbers on the bill we don't really know enough to help.

9 gals/month is unreasonable but the meter could be broken (happened to me)

$50 for 9 gals (or 9,000 gals or two month's of bas rate or ...) is unreasonable.

$50 for the total utility bill doesn't make sense because there should be $150+ for amenities.

Something isn't right but without seeing the numbers on the bill it's impossible to figure out what.

My latest “not an HOA” bill shows an Irrigation Base Fee of $6.21 and an Irrigation Usage Fee of $12.30 for 5,720 Gallons! That comes out to $0.0032 per gallon! It appears you are not reading your “not an HOA” Utility Bill incorrectly.

My comments had nothing to do with comparing us to other states
 

[QUOTE=rsmurano;2438683]You think the villages is the only place that things have gone up during the last few years. We had a recession in 2022 when everything went up and have stayed higher. Compare our tax bills vs some of the states in the north and west, we pay very little compared to these states. You think insurance rates haven’t gone up elsewhere? I saw on tv that a couple in a smaller apartment in San Diego was paying $2000 for electricity!!! Let’s compare states that tax income (Florida doesn’t), how much are you saving? Gas is cheaper here than in the west, northeast.
The only thing that I don’t get here in Florida is the roof replacement cr@p after 10 years, I have never ran into this in other states. Shingles can last 2x or more than this, and from what I hear, they replace the plywood too. I believe the original post had to do with the ridiculous price of water used in the irrigation system in the villages so my comment centered around, living in the villages.

Above 466, where we irrigate with potable water instead of the "dirty" stuff, /the cost is as follows:

0-11,000 GAL @ $1.70/1,000 GAL

11,001-18,000 GAL @ $3.40/1000 GAL

18,001 AND UP @ $5.02/1000 GAL

All prices are apparently lower than the "dirty" water and significantly below a gallon of gas.

Because it's... The Villages! The same reason gasoline costs more here than just a few miles outside the bubble...

The concept of reclaimed water appeals to my eco-sense. Sadly, it doesn't translate to my practical sense or my sense of self preservation as it is more costly for a product that is only good for dumping on the dirt. Possibly not even that good. I've often suspected that the irrigation water is, at least, partially responsible for the crapgrass, weeds, mold and other undesirable issues with the yards and home exteriors. If I happen to get sprayed for some reason, I go in ASAP, shower well (not just rinse off) change my clothes, wash the dirty clothes and hope a vitamin C can stand up to any nasty bug or parasite that might have gotten to me.

Can't say I blame you. I've been in areas and smelled that non-potable water. I guess people get used to it, but it made me nauseous.

When you were considering all costs of ownership here did you ask about the way the water bill is calculated? It’s easy to see a sample invoice including g all fees and costs online. They’re often distributed with the listing info.

If that's all you're using a month how is your grass still alive?������������*♂️

Not first home, but, like finally marrying your new mate, it might have escaped notice that new love produces enough ear wax to make a large candle everyday. You don't expect to have to test the irrigation water.

Overreacting a little bit????

Perhaps. But I'd rather be over protected than under protected. Especially when the sprinklers run at night and the water glows in the dark.

I grow tired of these posts with outrageous edge cases presented as the norm

Sorry to hear that. What kind of stuff gets you excited? What would you like to talk about? What ever it is, someone will reply. You might not get exactly what you want, but at least you know someone is paying attention.