Thanks for your input-but
 

Ferrous oxide, essentially rust, is not the only iron source used in fertilizer. Iron sulfate comes to mind and I'm pretty sure there are others. Yes, any of them will leave stains on cement.

That is not at all the problem or the cause as the stains are clearly where the sprinklers hit and there is no, or should be no connection between your plants and chemicals you apply and the water system. The reason why homes that use potable water are their lawn, must have a back flow preventer.

My question was I and many others use this partly processed water and it hits stuff like veggies and fruits you may be growing.

Yeah...the irrigation water sometimes gets a little "Ripe" :)
Its not highly treated which is why its cheaper.
It seems to occur after a long period of dry weather followed by downpour.

is iron in fertilizer bad for you - Bing

what causes rust stains on the driveway - Bing

Good question about the "things" in the water which make their way into the vegetable and fruits you're growing. If you've never been on the University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences website, you should check it out. And/or you could always contact them with your question to get a factual answer.

I thought just the opposite.....the irrigation water is actually more costly than the water inside our homes (south of 466).

I’m in the same position, at Mallory, but why would irrigation water cost more than drinking water? I’d like to understand. I was hoping that irrigation water was recycled water so that we don’t use the Aquifer water so much which would contribute to the formation of sinkholes. Especially with so much new development. But why would water less purified cost more?

It doesn't. If you use a LOT of it your water bill is higher.

Just taking the water use cost from my last bill. Water use only "base fees" not included: It cost me $16.72 for 6490 gals of "inside" water = .0025 cents/gal and $54.43 for 16,490 gals of irrigation water = .003 cents/gal. Not sure if that "proves" anything but that's my last bill and seems irrigation is a bit more than drinking. There may be other factors but that's just raw info.

Hmmmmm

Hm Hu (have nothing to say just though I would build up my numbers)

No, but thank you for caring.


Actually I posted something, but I could not verify it (could not find my water bill) so I deleted the posting. Not a / / / guy, so I typed something else.

Yes...until you get nailed by the sewer cost :)

Oh, that does sound familiar, Gracie. That is to deter people from watering their grass too often, especially in the hot summer.

Depending on where in The Villages you live, irrigation water absolutely does cost more than potable.

I am not disagreeing with the cost of the various types of water, I would just like to understand why.