Water usage drives budget increases

Dry season leads to higher irrigation costs.

By Pam Eubanks
| 7:00 a.m. June 21, 2017

The meetings are held at Lakewood Ranch Town Hall.

East County
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What’s the cost of rain, or rather, a lack of it?

In parts of Lakewood Ranch, it’s more than $75,000 a year.

An increase in irrigation water usage will be a driving factor for budget increases within Phase 1 Lakewood Ranch.

Lakewood Ranch Community Development Districts 1, 2, 4 and 5, which comprise the Greenbrook, Summerfield/Riverwalk and Lakewood Ranch Country Club/Edgewater communities, each will see annual increases ranging from $75,000 to $90,000 for water usage alone compared with fiscal year 2017.

For perspective, the May irrigation water usage for Phase 1 of Lakewood Ranch was approximately 213 million gallons. The previous high of 160 million gallons came in December

In other business:

• CDD 4 Supervisor Nancy Johnson reminded the public motorized vehicles, such as golf carts and scooters, are not permitted on sidewalks and multiuse paths. Johnson said a woman reported nearly being hit by a golf cart driven by teenage girls on the sidewalk. “Somebody’s going to get hurt,” Johnson said.

• CDD 4 supervisors tabled discussions about funding a shed and pavilion at the community garden in Greenbrook Adventure Park. Costs range from about $10,000 to $23,500, depending on whether the district completes the entire project at once or does it in phases. About $10,000 is already reserved for the improvements. The Lakewood Ranch Garden Club, which has overseen the project, is seeking grant funding to help pay for the project.

• CDD 2 and CDD 5 supervisors raised concerns that CDD 6 supervisors have discussed directing all commercial traffic to the Legacy Boulevard gatehouse, rather than allowing the vehicles through the Balmoral Woods Boulevard gatehouse. The CDD 2 and CDD 5 boards will attempt to schedule a workshop in August.

2016.

“May 2017 usage represents a 33.1% increase over the previous high,” Town Hall Financial Director Steve Zielinski said, adding the seven-year monthly average for fiscal years 2010 through 2016 is about 101.77 million gallons. “May 2017 usage compared to the seven-year average represents a 109.4% increase. This is indicative of how dry the current season is. It’s the highest we’ve ever seen it. We’re seeing higher volumes than we anticipated.”

Zielinski said there could be other factors impacting water usage. For example, irrigation provider Braden River Utilities has improved its filtration system and the districts are experiencing better water pressure, which means more water is being distributed. Additionally, households may be abusing the watering schedule, watering more than the once a week allowed.

Over the past year, Braden River Utilities made sure valves leading outside the districts’ water system are sealed and are not providing other areas with its water.

Lakewood Ranch Phase 1 residents pay for irrigation water through their CDD assessments. Watering currently is limited to once a week, determined by a set watering schedule.

“It’s a cost they don’t see,” CDD 2 Supervisor Pete Bokach said. “People don’t relate to it.”

CDD supervisors are exploring options to help reduce overwatering and off-schedule watering, including putting out reminder signs in front of neighborhoods or mailing notices. CDD 4 supervisors discussed turning off irrigation during the rainy season, and CDD 2 and 5 supervisors are polling residents about installing soil moisture sensor systems districtwide.

CDD supervisors will finalize budgets in August during public hearings. Dates vary by district. For information, visit lakewoodranchgov.org.