[Laurel Maryland]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m posting this to see if anyone else has experience with similar issues, or can give me direction.

I live on a corner lot. On the corner, is a berm, with landscaping, all property of The Villages. I’ve owned my new built for about 8 months, so I’m still under warranty. The water from the berm area drains onto my property.

For about the first four months, there were no drainage issues. About four months ago, I began to notice that there was always a small puddle of water on the corner of my driveway. I also noticed that the strip of grass from the berm all the way down to my driveway was always damp. I also noticed that a small depression began to form on the outside of the berm, just beyond my property line.

About a month ago, I began to see the amount of water coming down from the berm, along the grassy area of the front curb to my driveway increasing. I was told to call the Villages Utilities. They sent out someone - they turned on my irrigation and said the pipes were all functioning at full capacity. They did the same on their property, and I was told that there may be some slight blockage to their pipes. I asked if I would be contacted what the issue is at their end, and I was told no, since it was not my property.

In the last few weeks, there has been a huge increase in water in my yard. Now there is standing water at all times in my front yard. That area of depression by the berm has grown deeper, but is now relatively dry. I’ve been in contact with several entities. Here is where I’m at:

1) I called the Villages Water/Utilities again - this time they said that potential problem is not in there jurisdiction and for me to contact the District.
2) Called the District - they sent a pair of workers out in less than an hour of call (great service) - They discovered my meter box is completely flooded. They turned on my irrigation as well as the irrigation on Villages property, and said the flow is full at each end, and based on this ruled out any pipe breaks. When I told them, then what is the source of all this backed up water, they first attributed it to recent rains. When I told them it’s been wet and swampy for a few weeks, including our recent hot streak with no rain, they then said it could be ground water swelling up and collecting in my front yard. They said this happens sometimes. I then asked why is this not happening to any of my neighbors? They went across the street and pulled my neighbors meter box - it was bone dry. I then asked, where do I go from here, as this water has a source of someplace, and it doesn’t appear to be rain water. They then said I should talk to warranty dept, since my home is new, and maybe they would put in a French drain, or maybe build up the soil level, since there is a noticeable deep depression in my front yard where the water is accumulating.
3) Called warranty dept - they are going to send out Tri-Valley landscapers to look at the problem.
4) I then called my landscaper, who also came out to look at issue. He feels the issue is the small depression on Villages property, and that there is probably a pin-hole leak, that would not be diagnosed simply by running the irrigation. He said the villages would need to dig up the area around the depression and inspect. He also said, why is there a depression now, when there was none when I bought the house.

I’m waiting now on Tri-County, but am worried they will send me back to the District again. I’m hoping this will get taken care of since I’m under warranty. I feel like I’m getting a lot of snap diagnosis without any real inspections being done.

Sorry for long-winded post - appreciate any feedback - thank you.

Hate to say this, but if you don't get help from the District government or the warranty department, it may be time to hire your own civil engineer and get a written report. I agree with the post that recommends a good geo-technical assessment, which might require more than a landscaper.

[ron32162]

The Village's will carefully massage you until the warranty runs out. Then you will see how they really work.

[pjwenz]

Don’t forget to get photo documentation. I see a lot of reference to sinkhole’s in the post’s, which can confuse the issue. I would also look at any other pipes in the area surrounding your home ie: potable water, sewer and especially any drainage pipes. Many times leaks in the joints of the pipe leak and they start to erode surrounding soils. Hope you resolve your issue.

[GHMimi]

This is what happened to me. I am also on a corner lot. About 8 months after I moved in (during summer months) I noticed water building up in the front by the wall to the street. Constant muddy lawn from vehicles turning/driving over edge of lawn. I also had a wet mushy lawn in the back yard on the other side of my house that butts up to the neighbors house.
I called the warranty department multiple times. They sent landscaping and irrigation out and they said said everything was fine. I insisted it wasn’t and they sent the builders foreman out. He was awful. In the end he said you have added rock to your landscaping so we are no longer responsible. Apparently if you make any changes to your landscaping it voids the warranty.
I ended up having ACI irrigation come out and they said I had too many irrigation heads on my property. They capped off 12 heads. Can you imagine 12 heads to many? It Fixed the front yard completely but I still had an issue in the back side yard so I only run that zone 2x a week for 5 minutes in the summer and it has been better but with this summers rain I did shut it off for 2 weeks because it was to wet in the back yard.
I hope you have better luck than I did with this. My advice would be to stay persistent.

[SusanStCatherine]

Originally Posted by ron32162

The Village's will carefully massage you until the warranty runs out. Then you will see how they really work.

Join the club! And they will tell you that you are one of the only ones complaining and 99% don't have any problems.

[CatskillBill]

Sink hole insurance generally only covers you if it occurs under any part of you slab.

Lawns and driveways are not covered, but read the fine print in your policy.

[SusanStCatherine]

Revelant beginning at 36 minute mark, Rusty Nelson discusses his drainage issue and how he worked with the warranty department and how it was resolved:
https://youtu.be/a_KoURr_ckw

[coffeebean]

Originally Posted by Wondering

Too much coffee this morning? Not unusual for meter boxes to be flooded during rainy season.

That is what I thought but I didn't want to say anything because I wasn't sure. I've seen our irrigation box under water when the irrigation guy opened it up. He said that the water in there was normal. I never gave it another thought after that.

[rjm1cc]

Can you get a sample of the water. Probably several samples on different days and when their was no rain for a period of time. Then get the water tested to see if it has the same chemicals as the drinking water.

I had a neighbor with a water problem (not leaks) and a French drain did correct the problem.

[Michael 61]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

That is what I thought but I didn't want to say anything because I wasn't sure. I've seen our irrigation box under water when the irrigation guy opened it up. He said that the water in there was normal. I never gave it another thought after that.

But daily for several weeks? All my neighbors are bone dry.

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

But daily for several weeks? All my neighbors are bone dry.

“I’m waiting now on Tri-County”
Maybe when they come you can ask them.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

But daily for several weeks? All my neighbors are bone dry.

Shut off the irrigation on both sides for a week and see if it improves.

[AKKlein]

We also had an issue, but finally got warranty to correct the issue, took several conversations. You are correct in presenting and pushing on this before your year warranty is up.

[Notsocrates]

Originally Posted by Michael 61

I’m posting this to see if anyone else has experience with similar issues, or can give me direction.

I live on a corner lot. On the corner, is a berm, with landscaping, all property of The Villages. I’ve owned my new built for about 8 months, so I’m still under warranty. The water from the berm area drains onto my property.

For about the first four months, there were no drainage issues. About four months ago, I began to notice that there was always a small puddle of water on the corner of my driveway. I also noticed that the strip of grass from the berm all the way down to my driveway was always damp. I also noticed that a small depression began to form on the outside of the berm, just beyond my property line.

About a month ago, I began to see the amount of water coming down from the berm, along the grassy area of the front curb to my driveway increasing. I was told to call the Villages Utilities. They sent out someone - they turned on my irrigation and said the pipes were all functioning at full capacity. They did the same on their property, and I was told that there may be some slight blockage to their pipes. I asked if I would be contacted what the issue is at their end, and I was told no, since it was not my property.

In the last few weeks, there has been a huge increase in water in my yard. Now there is standing water at all times in my front yard. That area of depression by the berm has grown deeper, but is now relatively dry. I’ve been in contact with several entities. Here is where I’m at:

1) I called the Villages Water/Utilities again - this time they said that potential problem is not in there jurisdiction and for me to contact the District.
2) Called the District - they sent a pair of workers out in less than an hour of call (great service) - They discovered my meter box is completely flooded. They turned on my irrigation as well as the irrigation on Villages property, and said the flow is full at each end, and based on this ruled out any pipe breaks. When I told them, then what is the source of all this backed up water, they first attributed it to recent rains. When I told them it’s been wet and swampy for a few weeks, including our recent hot streak with no rain, they then said it could be ground water swelling up and collecting in my front yard. They said this happens sometimes. I then asked why is this not happening to any of my neighbors? They went across the street and pulled my neighbors meter box - it was bone dry. I then asked, where do I go from here, as this water has a source of someplace, and it doesn’t appear to be rain water. They then said I should talk to warranty dept, since my home is new, and maybe they would put in a French drain, or maybe build up the soil level, since there is a noticeable deep depression in my front yard where the water is accumulating.
3) Called warranty dept - they are going to send out Tri-Valley landscapers to look at the problem.
4) I then called my landscaper, who also came out to look at issue. He feels the issue is the small depression on Villages property, and that there is probably a pin-hole leak, that would not be diagnosed simply by running the irrigation. He said the villages would need to dig up the area around the depression and inspect. He also said, why is there a depression now, when there was none when I bought the house.

I’m waiting now on Tri-County, but am worried they will send me back to the District again. I’m hoping this will get taken care of since I’m under warranty. I feel like I’m getting a lot of snap diagnosis without any real inspections being done.

Sorry for long-winded post - appreciate any feedback - thank you.

Consult a lawyer to conserve your options before your warranty expires.

[Nell57]

Keep us updated…..we are interested in finding out how this is resolved.
Everytime you talk to warranty, mention that you post regularly on TOTV and the community is following your experiences.
Documenting all your conversations is a great idea.
People on NEXTDOOR might also have some relevant advice for you.