Manatee addresses irrigation concerns

MILL CREEK — Residents in the Mill Creek 7 Homeowners Association are concerned a recent problem with the pressure of irrigation water may mean more serious issues in the future.

Sam Cohen, president of the Mill Creek 7 HOA, said many residents were without irrigation water for about a week at the start of the month.

“It was spotty,” Cohen said of the pressure. “Some days, you’d have no pressure. Some days you’d have a little pressure.”

Although the irrigation system seems to be working well at present, Cohen and other residents of his East County community worry the issue could happen again and prove even more detrimental if it occurs during the heat of summer.

“The pressure seems to be back to normal now, which is great,” Cohen said. “But is this a short-term solution or a long-term solution? As we add 59 homes to finish Mill Creek 7, what can the county do to (guarantee) a steady water supply?

“We need water because people have large investments in their landscaping,” he said. “It would be very expensive to replace it and we have deed restrictions that dictate people keep their lawn and landscaping in order. It poses a financial impact to people.

Mark Simpson, water division manager for the Manatee County Utilities Department, said the shortage, which was experienced in the west, east and southwest portions of the county, was caused by demand for reclaimed water exceeding available supply.

The county, he said, has worked to address the issue, taking a closer look at its operations and making sure it is maximizing its production of reclaimed water. Simpson also noted the county has made changes to some valves in the system to help balance it, and has also worked with agricultural customers to decrease their demand for water.

Simpson said there is no guarantee the issue won’t arise again but that the county is continuing to optimize its operations to get the most out of its existing facilities. The county will be making capital investments in the reclaimed system, including additional storage and improved filtration systems to boost available water supply. Timing of improvements will vary, with some beginning in just a few months and some occurring over the next few years, Simpson said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].