Final Word on the Cistern
This will be the last posting regarding the cistern(s) on Marco Island.
Yesterday's relatively light shower filled the 1,400 gallon cistern - again. Now, the third time since January 1, 2010. Despite the rantings of the syndicate, these rains in the last five weeks are at, or below, normal (instead of listening to idiots, try getting the facts - in this case from http://www.noaa.gov).
Therefore, in the dry season, the cistern saves a tremendous amount of water.
The City required a last-minute overflow valve - costing approximately $100 - pushing the cost to install a cistern to $600 from $500. As I posited, this valve is useless and in fact it is deleterious to your lawn. But of course, who listens.
So yesterday's rain proved the point. Notice this picture - the overflow valve is now flooding one area of the yard.
As opposed to allowing two gutters to overflow naturally and disperse the extra water over a much larger area and minimizing if not eliminating flooding in one area, the valve floods and damages one area. Perfect.
So for those that are actually going to pursue this idea, petition the City to negate this unnecessary, costly, and damaging overflow valve.
Lastly, there is a grant that just came available. In speaking with the director of said grant, it is highly likely that the grant will cover 100% of the cost of a cistern.
The grant needs to be applied for by the City (good luck) or by a home owners association (none on the island). It is a shame that yet another opportunity will be passed up.
It will be telling what happens next. If this initiative is stillborn - as it appears it is - don't blame it on the usual suspects. Unlike the STRP debacle, the efficacy of the cistern initiative has been proven in practice. There are the three non-syndicate councilors that have openly supported the cistern. The local newspaper has now covered it twice. The Florida Department of Health has abated most of the fee.
It is now up to the individual citizens - and therein lies the problem.
Now, onto the last battle solely for the sake of virtue, and then silence will reign.
Yesterday's relatively light shower filled the 1,400 gallon cistern - again. Now, the third time since January 1, 2010. Despite the rantings of the syndicate, these rains in the last five weeks are at, or below, normal (instead of listening to idiots, try getting the facts - in this case from http://www.noaa.gov).
Therefore, in the dry season, the cistern saves a tremendous amount of water.
The City required a last-minute overflow valve - costing approximately $100 - pushing the cost to install a cistern to $600 from $500. As I posited, this valve is useless and in fact it is deleterious to your lawn. But of course, who listens.
So yesterday's rain proved the point. Notice this picture - the overflow valve is now flooding one area of the yard.
As opposed to allowing two gutters to overflow naturally and disperse the extra water over a much larger area and minimizing if not eliminating flooding in one area, the valve floods and damages one area. Perfect.So for those that are actually going to pursue this idea, petition the City to negate this unnecessary, costly, and damaging overflow valve.
Lastly, there is a grant that just came available. In speaking with the director of said grant, it is highly likely that the grant will cover 100% of the cost of a cistern.
The grant needs to be applied for by the City (good luck) or by a home owners association (none on the island). It is a shame that yet another opportunity will be passed up.
It will be telling what happens next. If this initiative is stillborn - as it appears it is - don't blame it on the usual suspects. Unlike the STRP debacle, the efficacy of the cistern initiative has been proven in practice. There are the three non-syndicate councilors that have openly supported the cistern. The local newspaper has now covered it twice. The Florida Department of Health has abated most of the fee.
It is now up to the individual citizens - and therein lies the problem.
Now, onto the last battle solely for the sake of virtue, and then silence will reign.
posted by Mario R. Sanchez, Ph.D. at
10:19 AM
|
Number of Comments: 3
CLICK HERE TO VIEW&POST COMMENTS
3 Comments:
Mr. Sanchez:
I have been following your efforts to get approval for the septic/cistern conversion since I, too, had a similar conversation with the health dept. and got the same "it's against the law" "can't be done" nonsense about two years ago when I found out that our neighborhood was about to get sewers.I would love to talk to you. I tried calling, but the phone does not work. Call me at 393-3981. Thanks: Harvey Goldberg 1030 Dana Court (off Lamplighter).
By
Harvey Goldberg, at Saturday, February 06, 2010 6:05:00 PM
You are absolutely correct. The overflow valve is NOT required. In fact, it localizes the overflow water.
This city claims to be environmentally aware. The last posting/comment on the shell driveway debacle clearly indicates they are clueless. Watch the next debate when they discuss the use of fertilizer. Just read the Code of Ordinances that apply to landscaping requirements and guidelines. It is absurd, when you consider the fact that this is a barrier island. Just consider the fact that they insist on specific specicies and number of trees required for new home construction. I like trees, but this is a barrier island. Due the proximity to the sea, normal hurricane seasons, wipe out tall and large canopy trees due to typically higher wind velocities near the coast. I could go on, but the lunacy of government control of nature is beyond my comprehension, especially when it is done under the guise of environmental sensitivity of our shores.
By
Anonymous, at Sunday, February 07, 2010 8:16:00 AM
my hope is that with joe batte joining dr. recker and councilor kiester, vision will replaced blind obedience so that initiative such as these can take hold. for this to happen the "staff" need to take their appropriate place of taking orders as opposed to doing whatever they want. and it is because of this that your note is correct: utter disregard for the environment or even where they live. caring for the environment - the outright lie by the criminals moss-issler-TURK-arceri-patterson and the rest of the kkk celebrate marco - was just a ruse to get the strp going. that is legacy of this place as we all leave. they even have a six-figure staff position that is suppose to be the caretaker of the environment - which is nothing more than a co-conspirator as proven with the release of the epa and fdep documents. no thought, no consideration - just amazing.
By
Daring to Speak, at Sunday, February 07, 2010 5:59:00 PM
Post a Comment
<< Home