Water sizzles as topic in DeBary

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Organizer — Jim Gangitano, who organized a water meeting for DeBary's homeowners associations, thanks the 75 or so residents and guests for attending the June 30 meeting.

BEACON PHOTO/PAT HATFIELD
Fielding a question — Volusia County Utilities Director Gloria Marwick, standing, takes a question from a homeowners-association member about the cost of reclaimed water, as County Council Member Pat Northey, left, and County Environmental Management Director Steve Kintner, listen.

By Pat Hatfield
BEACON STAFF WRITER

posted Jul 7, 2009 - 3:29:00pm

The cost of water now, and the cost of water in the future, brought members of DeBary homeowners associations and other locals to a June 30 meeting, to find out from their local-government people: What's going on with water?

DeBary Plantation Homeowners Association board member Jim Gangitano set up the meeting with representatives from the city, the county, and the St. Johns River Water Management District, at St. Ann's Catholic Church in DeBary to talk about water-rate increases.

Residents were alarmed at the possibility of water rates increasing up to 700 percent in the next year or two, when local utilities must start drawing from alternative-water sources.

West Volusia, which draws water from the delicate Blue Spring basin, has been directed to find alternative water, such as treated river water or desalinated ocean water, for household use. This water would cost up to 700 percent more than water pulled from the aquifer.

Volusia County Council Member Pat Northey, who represents Southwest Volusia, told attendees that the county is on their side. DeBary Mayor Bob Garcia told them the city is, too.

Garcia said it's a matter that should be brought up at the state and federal level, as well.

If DeBary is forced to pay many times more for water than east-side cities, why would anyone want to open a business in DeBary?, he asked. Plus, Gemini Springs water is polluted. Garcia wants the Water Management District to address that.

DeLand, Deltona, Orange City, Lake Helen and Volusia County are all working together to address water problems, Garcia said.

Northey agreed. "I don't want anyone leaving here tonight thinking we won't work together."

The west-side coalition of cities is making its own, independent study of water resources, she noted.

The other water issue that brought out homeowners was reclaimed water. The county, DeBary's water provider, recently changed classification of homeowners-association accounts from residential to commercial.

Homeowners thought that would save them money — until they got the bill. For example, Quail Lake Homeowners Association has 10 meters for reclaimed water, used for irrigation and watering. While the rate per gallon is lower, there's a $213-a-month basic charge per meter for tapping into the system. That cost alone is more than $2,000 a month, but the association budgets only several hundred dollars a month for irrigation.

Volusia County Utilities Director Gloria Marwick said, "Reclaimed water is highly treated. It's the most expensive to produce."

She said she could change the accounts back to residential.

Environmental Management Director Steve Kintner reminded the group that every gallon saved is a gallon that won't have to be purchased from alternative-water sources.

He offered to set up a workshop for the association.

An audit could help the homeowners association save 30 percent on its water bills. Most sod is over-watered, Kintner said, and the use of properly calibrated water sensors can assure no more water is used than necessary.

Most homes use about 4,500 to 5,000 gallons a month of potable water for inside use.

Of Volusia County's 15,000 residential water customers, about 1,200 use more than 21,000 gallons of water a month during the dry season. Generally, all but the first 5,000 gallons are used for irrigation — watering lawns and plants.

The County Council is about to approve a "conservation" water-rate schedule for potable water, that will keep rates low for low use, but target high users with high rates.

For a six-month trial, those heavy users — of more than 21,000 gallons a month — will pay $10 per thousand gallons of water in excess of 21,000 gallons, instead of the $5.13 per thousand gallons they're now paying.

On the other hand, those who use 7,000 gallons a month will still pay $1.71 per thousand gallons. The rate increases to $1.95 per thousand gallons for users of 7,001-14,000 gallons, and to $2.47 per thousand gallons for users of 14,001-21,000 gallons per month.

Water rates are in addition to a $9.80-per-month water availability fee.

Jim Gross, technical-program manager for the Water Management District, said conservation is a matter of education, getting people to see water as a "finite resource."

At-large Water Management District board member Hersey "Herky" Huffman pointed out that more than 50 percent of residential water is used on lawns.

"We've got to conserve," he said.

DeBary City Council Member Lenny Marks said 18 summonses have already been issued for violations of the new watering ordinance.

During daylight-saving time, residents at homes with odd-numbered addresses or no addresses can water on Wednesday and Saturday, and those at even-numbered addresses can water on Thursday and Sunday. Nonresidential users can water on Tuesday and Friday. No watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You're allowed to water for no more than one hour per zone, and no more than three-fourths of an inch per zone.

— pat@beacononlinenews.com

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