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Article Courtesy
of Your Observer
By Pam Eubanks
Published August 9, 2017
All around Steve Ayers’ yard there are hints of what some may
consider an obsession with rainfall and irrigation.
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In flower beds and under
oak trees, yellow cups made for measuring rain dot the
landscape. An irrigation pressure reader hides in a front yard
bush, and he even has a weather station positioned at the corner
of his lanai roof.
“I’m not the typical resident,” Ayers admits.
As one of five ad hoc irrigation committee members for the
Country Club Edgewater Village Association, Ayers is keen on
solving some of the community’s irrigation-related issues. The
Country Club Edgewater Village Association is the homeowners
association for residents in the Lakewood Ranch Community
Development Districts 2 and 5 portions of the Lakewood Ranch
Golf and Country Club. |
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With the support of Braden River Utilities, the ad hoc committee has seen
improvements in using less irrigation water throughout the district.
And with rainy season in full force, supervisors are considering what can be
done to minimize water usage at a time when irrigation isn’t actually needed.
Florida yards require about an inch of water per week — a requirement that’s
been satisfied naturally since late May.
Even so, in June, the districts used 47 million gallons of water, which cost the
CDD $57,000.
“That’s basically wasted money,” said Ayers, who believes the districts should
turn off irrigation during the rainy season. “We did not need to irrigate in the
month of June. We had 10 to 12 inches of rain, depending on the neighborhood. We
need to engage residents.”
The water usage for CDDs 2 and 5 was 35 million gallons in June 2014, then fell
to 25 million gallons in June 2015. However, it doubled to 50 million gallons in
June 2016 followed by the 47 million gallons this past June.
The CDDs control irrigation lines and distribution, while the HOA enforces
watering restrictions.
Options being discussed by the CDD include finding ways to encourage residents
to turn off their systems during the rainy season, or a more drastic measure —
turning off valves that supply irrigation water to district households during
the rainy season.
“We’ve got to be careful how far we take it,” CDD 2 Supervisor Jerry Twiggs
warned. “Every year is different. We’ve got to fully vet this before (we take
action). There are going to be some residents here that are not going to be
happy.”
Turning off valves would require ample upfront communication with residents,
blackout periods on plantings and other means by which the district could help
ensure no property damage occurs due to lack of water.
Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Operations Director Paul Chetlain said
his department uses the rainy season to install plant material, so such a
change, while possible, would require careful planning and, in some instances, a
delay in installing replacement plant materials.
Members of the irrigation committee hope near zero-water usage during the rainy
season will have a great impact. For example, if the HOA and CDDs can show the
Southwest Florida Water Management District, the agency tasked with water
conservation in the region, that they are serious about water conservation, the
district may consider relaxing watering restrictions in the winter months, when
more water is needed.
Committee member Jack Kerber said even residents who balk at the idea of turning
off their irrigation systems support it knowing it could result in increased
dry-season watering.
“What we’re trying to do now is to balance out the watering,” Kerber said.
“Right now, we have people complaining because we don’t have the ability to
water twice a week during the dry season, but then they water anyway during the
rainy season.”
Ayers and irrigation committee members also hope the water district and Braden
River Utilities will partner to sponsor a soil-moisture sensor program, like
they did in mid-2013. At that time, residents could install a soil-moisture
sensor device and be refunded for it through the program.
The water district has expressed a reluctance to relaunch the program because
only about 250 sensors were installed compared with the 400 available, Ayers
said.
“We’ve got a lot on our plate, but we’re making progress,” Ayers said. “Right
now, we’re trying to engage our residents and make sure they are aware (water)
is a valuable resource, and it’s not free.”
All around Steve Ayers’ yard, there are hints of what some may consider an
obsession with rainfall and irrigation.
In flower beds and under oak trees, yellow cups made for measuring rain, dot the
landscape. An irrigation pressure reader hides in a front-yard bush and he even
has a weather station positioned at the corner of his lanai roof.
“I’m not the typical resident,” Ayers admits.
As one of five ad hoc irrigation committee members for the Country Club
Edgewater Village Association, Ayers is keen on solving some of the community's
irrigation-related issues. The Country Club Edgewater Village Association is the
homeowners association for residents in the Lakewood Ranch Community Development
Districts 2 and 5 portions of the Lakewood Ranch Golf and Country Club.
With the support of Braden River Utilities, the ad hoc committee has seen
improvements in using less irrigation water throughout the district.
And with rainy season in full force, supervisors are considering what can be
done to minimize water usage at a time when irrigation isn’t actually needed.
Florida yards require about one-inch of water per week — a requirement that’s
been satisfied naturally since late May.
Even so, in June, the districts used 47 million gallons of water, which cost the
CDD $57,000.
“That’s basically wasted money,” said Ayers, who believes the districts should
turn off irrigation during the rainy season. “We did not need to irrigate in the
month of June. We had 10 to 12 inches of rain, depending on the neighborhood. We
need to engage residents.”
Ayers said the monthly average for water usage between CDDs 2 and 5 continues to
grow, exceeding 110 million gallons in June, compared with about 70 million
gallons in June 2015 and less than 40 million gallons in June 2014.
The CDDs control irrigation lines and distribution, while the HOA enforces
watering restrictions.
Options being discussed by the CDD include finding ways to encourage residents
to turn their systems off during the rainy season, or a more drastic measure —
turning off valves that supply irrigation water to district households during
the rainy season.
“We’ve got to be careful how far we take it,” CDD 2 Supervisor Jerry Twiggs
warned. “Every year is different. We’ve got to fully vet this before (we take
action). There are going to be some residents here that are not going to be
happy.”
Turning off valves would require ample upfront communication with residents,
blackout periods on plantings and other means by which the district could help
ensure no property damage occurs due to lack of water.
Lakewood Ranch Inter-District Authority Operations Director Paul Chetlain said
his department uses the rainy season to install plant material, so such a
change, while possible, would require careful planning and, in some instances, a
delay in installing replacement plant materials.
Members of the irrigation committee hope near zero-water usage during the rainy
season will have a great impact. For example, if the HOA and CDDs can show the
Southwest Florida Water Management District, the agency tasked with water
conservation in the region, that they are serious about water conservation, the
district may consider relaxing watering restrictions in the winter months, when
more water is needed.
Committee member Jack Kerber said even residents who balk at the idea of turning
off their irrigation systems, support it knowing it could result in increased
dry-season watering.
“What we’re trying to do now is to balance out the watering,” Kerber said.
“Right now, we have people complaining because we don’t have the ability to
water twice a week during the dry season, but then they water anyway during the
rainy season.”
Ayers and irrigation committee members also hope the Water Management District
and Braden River Utilities will partner to sponsor a soil-moisture sensor
program, like they did in mid-2013. At that time, residents could install a
soil-moisture sensor device and be refunded for it through the program.
The Water Management District has expressed a reluctance to relaunch the program
because only about 250 sensors were installed compared with the 400 available,
Ayers said. CEVA now is collecting a list of names of people interested in such
a program so it can provide it to the Water Management District for
consideration once interest is significant enough to restart that conversation.
A longterm goal could be having a community-wide soil moisture sensor
installation.
CDD 2 Supervisor Donald Avoloi, who serves on the irrigation committee, said he
has been working on with vendors to get a group rate on the soil moisture
sensors from about $370 per system to as little as $200. Across nearly 2,800
homes, however, “It’s a big number,”— probably about $750,000— if the district
were to cover those costs, Avolio said.
“We’ve got a lot on our plate, but we’re making progress,” Ayers said. “Right
now, we’re trying to engage our residents and make sure they are aware (water)
is a valuable resource and it’s not free.”
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