[mtdjed]

Having read the article in the Daily Sun regarding water restrictions because of lower rainfall makes me question my understanding of the local water supply.

I have always believed that the Potable water was from the underground Florida Aquifer and that pumps pushed it into the water towers for distribution. I believe that the non-potable water comes from recycled water. I have never questioned how it is accumulated, distributed or for that matter stored.

Back to the Daily Sun. These sources would seem to be somewhat independent as I have seen excess irrigation water pumped out during rainstorms. Have we squandered that excess?

Is the supply of each adequate for The Villages continue the rate of building new housing? The aquifers are not getting any larger.

If our use of non-potable water is being cut back by 50 %, it is inadequate to support our lawn needs. Isn't it only going to become less as we build 300-400 homes a month with water hungry new yards. Perhaps the new lawns should be delayed by 50 % during this crisis helping us maintain our existing lawns.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Having read the article in the Daily Sun regarding water restrictions because of lower rainfall makes me question my understanding of the local water supply.

I have always believed that the Potable water was from the underground Florida Aquifer and that pumps pushed it into the water towers for distribution. I believe that the non-potable water comes from recycled water. I have never questioned how it is accumulated, distributed or for that matter stored.

Back to the Daily Sun. These sources would seem to be somewhat independent as I have seen excess irrigation water pumped out during rainstorms. Have we squandered that excess?

Is the supply of each adequate for The Villages continue the rate of building new housing? The aquifers are not getting any larger.

If our use of non-potable water is being cut back by 50 %, it is inadequate to support our lawn needs. Isn't it only going to become less as we build 300-400 homes a month with water hungry new yards. Perhaps the new lawns should be delayed by 50 % during this crisis helping us maintain our existing lawns.

People misunderstand how water works. The Volume of water is finite, always has been. The earth has essentially the same amount of water it has had since the beginning of time. That doesn't change.

What changes is the distribution of that water. From a micro point of view, the amount of water "in" The Villages is same as it ever was (regulations prevent the water from moving off-site). Constructing lawns doesn't promote the use of more water, it merely changes the distribution of that water.

It is the distribution that needs control. If we're not getting much rain (which is what replenishes the distributable supply), we get a "shortage". Not a volume shortage, a distribution shortage.

Everything in the water business is about control of water, not volume or "use". So while that doesn't specifically answer your question, it perhaps give you another way to think about it.

[Pondboy]

I think that people are very wasteful of water.

How many times have you driven thru a neighborhood after a rainstorm, and seen someone’s lawn irrigation system running?

Does everyone really adjust their lawn from a summer watering schedule to a winter watering schedule?

Does your lawn really need to be irrigated once per week?

Why is your irrigation system watering the street instead of your lawn?

It’s high noon on a windy day, why is your irrigation system running?

Water your lawn when the soil is dry, not because it’s your day to water.

Blows my mind…..it’s not hard, you’re just lazy.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

I think that people are very wasteful of water.

How many times have you driven thru a neighborhood after a rainstorm, and seen someone’s lawn irrigation system running?

Does everyone really adjust their lawn from a summer watering schedule to a winter watering schedule?

My irrigation is shut off during the winter months and has a rain sensor.

A huge step in the right direction, is if irrigation controllers were simplified. The programming for most every irrigation controller I've ever seen, is like programming your VCR in 1979. I know there are way more sophisticated systems these days, than what's installed in most homes in The Villages ...but that doesn't simplify the legacy control boxes.

The average person has no clue how to simply manage their irrigation system controller ... because it doesn't exist.

[twoplanekid]

At the last NSCUDD board meeting, I suggested that vendors of new irrigation controllers be invited to attend the water matters event to let people know what is available to simplify that task.

Water Matters - Saturday April 11th from 9AM till noon at Lake Sumter Landing

more info on the Districtgov website -> Water Matters – Save the Date (4.11.2026) - The Villages Community Development Districts

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by mtdjed

Having read the article in the Daily Sun regarding water restrictions because of lower rainfall makes me question my understanding of the local water supply.

I have always believed that the Potable water was from the underground Florida Aquifer and that pumps pushed it into the water towers for distribution. I believe that the non-potable water comes from recycled water. I have never questioned how it is accumulated, distributed or for that matter stored.

Back to the Daily Sun. These sources would seem to be somewhat independent as I have seen excess irrigation water pumped out during rainstorms. Have we squandered that excess?

Is the supply of each adequate for The Villages continue the rate of building new housing? The aquifers are not getting any larger.

If our use of non-potable water is being cut back by 50 %, it is inadequate to support our lawn needs. Isn't it only going to become less as we build 300-400 homes a month with water hungry new yards. Perhaps the new lawns should be delayed by 50 % during this crisis helping us maintain our existing lawns.

- Potable water does come from underground aquifers.
- Street runoff water from storms is retained by channeling into the "ponds" and prairies.
- When hydrants are flushed in the areas between 466 and 44 we get notices about irrigation distribution being affected which implies that hydrant water is retention water

Even as dry as it has been, the retention ponds are not empty. One possible explanation is that water from the aquifers is pumped into the retention ponds to maintain a level sufficient for supplying the hydrants.

Non-cynical: The restrictions are in place to protect the water level in the aquifers. Since aquifer water supplements the retention ponds, all water use needs to be reduced. Those in charge have taken droughts into consideration when issuing permits and have calculated that these reduction measures are sufficient to carry us through this period even with additional homes being added.

Cynical: If water usage is reduced then water bills will bring in less revenue for the District. A 5% surcharge on potable water will help but will not recover a 50% reduction in irrigation revenue. A 5% surcharge on runoff water will bring in more and therefore irrigation water is subject to the surcharge as well. As for new construction - water concerns pale in comparison to an increasing tax base and contributions from large companies.

As for pumping water in anticipation of heavy rains, that is an integral part of the Villages flood control system. If water was not pumped out of the retention ponds and the anticipated rain materialized then the ponds would overflow. The same amount of water would be "lost" but in this case it would flood streets and cause damage to homes. By spraying the water onto the golf courses it protects streets and homes. The pumped water that does not evaporate or get consumed by vegetation may eventually finds its way back into an aquifer.

[Pondboy]

Perhaps one day, every lawn that has an irrigation system, also has a soil moisture meter built into each zone. That way irrigation only runs when the soil is dry.

There are some on the market but very expensive and not that accurate.

[biker1]

Some of the "Wi-Fi" controllers, such as Rachio, run a soil moisture model, which looks at soil type, temperature, irrigation amount, and precipitation amount. Based on the model, the decision about when to irrigate and for how long is made. These systems have the potential to reduce water usage over less capable controllers.

Originally Posted by Pondboy

Perhaps one day, every lawn that has an irrigation system, also has a soil moisture meter built into each zone. That way irrigation only runs when the soil is dry.

There are some on the market but very expensive and not that accurate.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Pondboy

Perhaps one day, every lawn that has an irrigation system, also has a soil moisture meter built into each zone. That way irrigation only runs when the soil is dry.

There are some on the market but very expensive and not that accurate.

They're getting way less expensive and many golf courses are now using them. There's no reason they can't be incorporated into residential system. Given the what we're charged for water use in TV, they'd pay for themselves in no time!

[Maker]

It's time for allowing water conservative options. Rock or artificial turf need no water. These types need to become the preferred landscape.
Will that ever happen? Extremely unlikely. Simply follow the money. Bonds pay for building the water collection ponds, and the water distribution lines. Then the developer operates the reclaimed water system and charges residents an extremely high price to providing something he has paid zero to build, zero to refill with more inventory, and nearly zero to maintain. HUGE profit happening there. Asking the developer to support zero water landscaping is a waste of time. The only way is to get the residents to work together to force it upon the CDDs we should control.

[twoplanekid]

Originally Posted by Maker

It's time for allowing water conservative options. Rock or artificial turf need no water. These types need to become the preferred landscape.
Will that ever happen? Extremely unlikely. Simply follow the money. Bonds pay for building the water collection ponds, and the water distribution lines. Then the developer operates the reclaimed water system and charges residents an extremely high price to providing something he has paid zero to build, zero to refill with more inventory, and nearly zero to maintain. HUGE profit happening there. Asking the developer to support zero water landscaping is a waste of time. The only way is to get the residents to work together to force it upon the CDDs we should control.

NSCUDD, with an elected board controls the water systems from 466 down to 44. So the developer has no control of these systems. It's a public entity. And most CDD's now have elected supervisors on their boards. So, please consider running for a board position in the future to help control things.

After 8 years of serving on the NSCUDD board, I am retiring so a board position serving CDD 10 on the NSCUDD board will be open this fall. I encourage someone to run for this position!

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Maker

It's time for allowing water conservative options. Rock or artificial turf need no water. These types need to become the preferred landscape.
Will that ever happen? Extremely unlikely. Simply follow the money. Bonds pay for building the water collection ponds, and the water distribution lines. Then the developer operates the reclaimed water system and charges residents an extremely high price to providing something he has paid zero to build, zero to refill with more inventory, and nearly zero to maintain. HUGE profit happening there. Asking the developer to support zero water landscaping is a waste of time. The only way is to get the residents to work together to force it upon the CDDs we should control.

Try again.

[BrianL99]

Originally Posted by Maker

It's time for allowing water conservative options. Rock or artificial turf need no water. These types need to become the preferred landscape.
Will that ever happen? Extremely unlikely. Simply follow the money. Bonds pay for building the water collection ponds, and the water distribution lines. Then the developer operates the reclaimed water system and charges residents an extremely high price to providing something he has paid zero to build, zero to refill with more inventory, and nearly zero to maintain. HUGE profit happening there. Asking the developer to support zero water landscaping is a waste of time. The only way is to get the residents to work together to force it upon the CDDs we should control.

That is complete and utter nonsense.

Changes in landscaping ONLY effect the distribution of water, nothing more, nothing less. Read Post #2. Water is finite. It doesn't go anywhere and no more is getting created. It's all about management, not about volume.

& if you think water costs the developer/water company/district "nothing", you're dreaming.

[Normal]

We know the restrictions do not apply to new construction areas where gushers of water are seen daily and repetitively watering all the new homes that are for sale.

[Marathon Man]

Originally Posted by Normal

We know the restrictions do not apply to new construction areas where gushers of water are seen daily and repetitively watering all the new homes that are for sale.

And the ponds stay full. Landscaping is great. More good reasons to live south, I guess.