Why is the water level so low?????

We have lost almost another foot of water since last week. It has not rained significantly and as usual some evaporation took place and very little water was used for landscape irrigation within the Village..

At the same time, we were getting recycled water from the County.

Since January 26 to this date we have purchased 13,162,000 gallons.
We were allowed 22,500,000 gallons during that same period and therefore we are suffering a shortfall of 9,338,000 gallons.

Why have we not purchased our full complement of water since January 26 while in the middle of a very dry season????

Why are we not getting our full bucket of water?????

Looking back at UCO 2008 budget we can see that line item 5070 ( Reclaimed Water Usage ) had an annual budget of $ 9,125. and that we have spent $ $3,475. out of it.

We can also see that line item 5069 ( Reclaimed Water Base Fee ) had a budget of $ 32,600. and that we have spent almost all of it with $ 32,570.

Why do we pay a full Base Fee if we are not getting our full complement of water?

Following are some extracts of Clause 8 of the BULK RECLAIMED WATER AGREEMENT:
...This agreement is contingent on the County's access
to sufficient quantities of reclaimed water to provide UCO
with the amount of Reclaimed Water provided in this agreement...

... In the event that County must reduced the amount of
Reclaimed Water provided to UCO, or temporarily or permanently
ceases providing Reclaimed Water to UCO , the monthly base fee
will be adjusted by an amount proportionate to the reduction
in service...

Since UCO has not shown in its 2008 budget that the Monthly Base Fee had been prorated to the percentage of water received from the County, one must conclude that the shortage in supply was the failure of UCO and not of the County. If this is not a true statement then the County owes UCO $ 20,860.00 $

Why UCO did not purchased all its allocation of Reclaimed Water in 2008 and is continuing doing the same in 2009????

Were the lakes full in 2008 or didn't they look the same as of this year?

Why are we not monitoring and managing this contract specifications in a responsible manner?

As per Clause 9 of the Bulk Reclaimed Water Agreement with the County, a water level sensor was installed and is supposed to be remotely connected with a flow control valve located on County's side of the Point of Service. The flow control valve will be designed to automatically shut off the flow of Reclaimed Water should the elevation of the Lake System exceed the level authorized by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Is the maintenance of that system properly done by the County?

The inside of the blue plastic tube housing this level sensor is located near the pipe dumping water into our canal system. As can be seen lookng into it sand, mud and weed fills the base of the reservoir and the metallic pieces holding the float is all rusted. Furthermore when moving the float ( similar to a toilet bowl installation ) a funny rattle can be hear and the thing is loose and may fall apart soon. When lifting the float to its maximum level .....nothing happens.....

Why is UCO accepting such technical components of a critical system to become so deteriorated?

Our lawns, shrubs, trees and flower beds are suffering from an evident lack of water and the lake system is very ugly to look at from any point of vue. Nature does not help by not sending water and UCO is worsening the case by not professionally managing the only other mean at our disposal to give our Village an upscale look.
Since writing about the problem is not sufficient to move the decision makers, let's make sure that a large number of owners fed up with this situation, attend the next Executive Meeting on Monday March 2nd at 1.00 p.m. in room B of the Main Clubhouse.
We could also attend the Irrigation/Infrastructure Committee at 09.30 a.m. in the UCO office on March 10th 2009..

RECLAIMED WATER

Hi All,
The long awaited reclaimed water has been turned on, keep your eyes on the Lakes and Canals for the resultant effect.
Dave