[Maker]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

My bet, based on what the billing system has been used for over the past 40ish years, is single monthly readings is all it is capable of handling.

Seriously? Thinking stuff from 40 years ago is even still relevant in today's age? And making conclusions "bets" on that?
ROFL

40 yeas ago...
The IBM PC was brand new. Some had a hard drive with 5 mb storage. We have picture files larger than that today.
Kodak invented the digital camera, and management decided film was the only future.
A big screen TV was a 35 inch tube weighing 150 pounds.
The Ford Pinto was still catching fire in rear end collisions.
Cell phones were still 10 years in the future.
Ronald Reagan was the president.
The Villages was just 3 years old, as a small mobile home park.
Y2K wasn't even though about.
The DOW was around $1800.

[rsmurano]

I think mgmt is doing a foolish thing draining the ponds. There are no big storms coming and last year they drained the ponds down and they never recovered until recently. The rainy season stops in a week or 2 so they should leave them high for now.

They are predicting a more stormy/rainy winter because of El Niño, but why not put the brakes on drawing the water down until we get closer to a big storm

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Maker

Seriously? Thinking stuff from 40 years ago is even still relevant in today's age? And making conclusions "bets" on that?
ROFL

40 yeas ago...
The IBM PC was brand new. Some had a hard drive with 5 mb storage. We have picture files larger than that today.
Kodak invented the digital camera, and management decided film was the only future.
A big screen TV was a 35 inch tube weighing 150 pounds.
The Ford Pinto was still catching fire in rear end collisions.
Cell phones were still 10 years in the future.
Ronald Reagan was the president.
The Villages was just 3 years old, as a small mobile home park.
Y2K wasn't even though about.
The DOW was around $1800.

TODAY, the reading from my meter and probably all of the Villages is only the total for a single month. TODAY, the bills sent to every home in the Villages contain readings for only a single month. TODAY, a billing system that is capable of storing 720 readings per month for every meter is overkill when only one reading is being supplied.

A lot has changed in 40 years but not the amount of data used to calculate our water bills.

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Sparky99

Do you pay flood insurance?

Actually, YES.
I really don’t want to, but until TV does their thing with FEMA, and FEMA updates their flood map, we are paying $1500 a year!

[Rocksnap]

Originally Posted by Maker

What if there was a notice like this....

On Monday Oct 11 all residents with reclaimed water irrigation systems are urged to operate their irrigation for 2 hours to assist with lowering pond levels. Since water meters measure usage hourly, all bills will be adjusted for that usage at no cost. We appreciate the cooperation and assistance from all residents.

Immediate results of lowering pond levels.
Saves money. ZERO LABOR COST for manually overriding irrigation schedules like they are doing presently.
Pond levels are lowered without wasting water. Great PR during a drought.
Great benefits to all residents.
Eliminates spraying pedestrians and carts with pond scum.

Shouldn't management consider benefits to residents as their #1 priority. Especially when there are numerous benefits for everyone?

If not for the minor details of much of that over watering our yard just runs back into the street drain and subsequently into the retention pond.
Not to mention many of us are now having lawn fungus issues from over watering/natural rain.

[BrianL99]

The Villages has one of the most sophisticated drainage systems in the US, yet people on TOTV think they can do a better job of managing it, than the professionals who designed it and maintain it?

How many TOTV commenters have a degree in Hydrology, Geology or Engineering or Professional Engineering certification?

If TOTV commenters were running The Villages drainage system, we'd be in big trouble.

Having the experience of turning on a faucet in your kitchen and seeing water come out or knowing how to adjusting a sprinkler head, doesn't make one an expert in water management, despite what many seem to think.

[bark4me]

Originally Posted by Minoletti

SITUATION
we had a lot of rain. Pond levels are higher than the pre determined engineering levels. Sprinklers are run to lower the levels. I get that.
Goft carts staying in their Lanes as well as pedestrians are getting sprayed by wind blown or mis adjusted sprinkler dirty pond water.
QUESTION
why aren't the Sprinklers scheduled to run in the later evening when there is minimal traffic?

Many of those ponds are now below the level before the rain. They are still running the irrigation 5 days later. I want to thank TV for flooding many bike and walking paths along with MM paths. But you must still ration your irrigating your lawns

[Ptmcbriz]

Watering grass in early evening keeps the grass wet all night which promotes fungus growth on the grass.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by bark4me

Many of those ponds are now below the level before the rain. They are still running the irrigation 5 days later. I want to thank TV for flooding many bike and walking paths along with MM paths. But you must still ration your irrigating your lawns

Where are the many ponds that are below the level before the rain? Around my neighborhood they are still a bit high based on the water touching the tree trunks.

I would call or write to Customer Service to let them know about a path being flooded.

[Maker]

Originally Posted by BrianL99

The Villages has one of the most sophisticated drainage systems in the US, yet people on TOTV think they can do a better job of managing it, than the professionals who designed it and maintain it?

How many TOTV commenters have a degree in Hydrology, Geology or Engineering or Professional Engineering certification?

If TOTV commenters were running The Villages drainage system, we'd be in big trouble.

Having the experience of turning on a faucet in your kitchen and seeing water come out or knowing how to adjusting a sprinkler head, doesn't make one an expert in water management, despite what many seem to think.

Many people have real world experience and make comments intended to provide factual information and call out waste or foolish actions?
Often, the "we have always done it like that" syndrome is the root cause for justifying inefficient processes, refusing to think about how technology has made things better using different mythology, or recognizing the old way has actual real problems. Opportunity to improve is constant; dismissing looking at things differently is always a bad plan.

So a few people point out things. Hope to educate others. Share their expertise.
Only to hear the constant "trust the experts" blowoffs.
Or "do you have a degree" without knowing that they actually do.
Or the "prove it" challenges from the clueless, too lazy to do a little research.
My favorite is when "I think" or "it may be" becoming written law in their closed minds.

[bark4me]

Originally Posted by rsmurano

I think mgmt is doing a foolish thing draining the ponds. There are no big storms coming and last year they drained the ponds down and they never recovered until recently. The rainy season stops in a week or 2 so they should leave them high for now.

They are predicting a more stormy/rainy winter because of El Niño, but why not put the brakes on drawing the water down until we get closer to a big storm

EXACTLY! This is why I would never buy a house with a water view here in TV. You'll end up having a view of an empty hole.

[biker1]

Property Management at 352-753-4022 will be happy to address your concerns.

Originally Posted by bark4me

Many of those ponds are now below the level before the rain. They are still running the irrigation 5 days later. I want to thank TV for flooding many bike and walking paths along with MM paths. But you must still ration your irrigating your lawns

[Marathon Man]

Why don't people go to the next CDD meeting and make comments to the people that can answer questions and explain why things are done the way they are? I've done it many times. It's not difficult.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Maker

Many people have real world experience and make comments intended to provide factual information and call out waste or foolish actions?

Except that in the case of The Villages drainage system and the maintenance of such, is all regulated by Permits issued by the • Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) or the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD).

The Villages has little or no discretion as to the management of the system ... they're required do exactly what their permit requires. Public input, suggestions and criticisms are irrelevant.

If someone doesn't like the way The Villages runs their drainage system, you need to petition the applicable water management agency and see if you can convince them to modify The Village's permit.

[biker1]

I have backed up to a retention pond for 12 years and the view is terrific. It has never been an empty hole, or even close to being an empty hole. Some people kayak on it. While I have seen some retention pond that do not look good, suggesting that all of them will become an "empty hole" is just silly. Property Management maintains the level by opening the valve on the weir when the water level become too high. The water level variation is about 2 feet. Right now, I think the water is at a perfect level but a bit higher than Property Management would prefer (based on conversations with them). Based on the past, they will probably come out and lower it a bit in the next several days. They did bring it down a bit before last week's multi-day rain event.

Originally Posted by bark4me

EXACTLY! This is why I would never buy a house with a water view here in TV. You'll end up having a view of an empty hole.