Holiday Island's Suntop Lane property owners grumble over water pressure, told little can be done

In Monday's lengthy business meeting of the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) Board of Commissioners, a majority of the property owners on Suntop Lane complained about lack of water pressure.

Ed Atkinson was spokesman for the group.

"I have 12 pounds per square inch (psi)," he said. "It's affecting my water treatment."

Another property owner said it takes 20 minutes to fill up her washing machine, and there is often not enough water to take a shower. She said her hot water heater has burned out because there is not enough water to keep the heating elements covered.

"If there was a fire on the street, it would concern me that we'd have enough water to put it out," said another.

Another more vehement resident said she is "not going to pay for this with no service. It took me five times to flush the commode this morning."

District Manager Kevin Crosson and Water/wastewater Superintendent Roger Mullis said they are aware of the problem, which has been going on for years, especially in the elevated areas of Holiday Island.

"We do recognize we have a water pressure problem up there...." he said. "Part of the problem is we continue to experience growth in those areas. We've had five or six new permits just on Venus (Avenue) this year."

"We have 36 PRV (pressure reducing valves) in the system," said Mullis. "If I adjust one, it affects nine. We have to be very careful. It's a real tricky situation. This is a very complicated water system to run."

Adjustments in one area can cause major waterline breaks in other areas, he said.

He said Stateline Drive has an 8-inch waterline, but Venus and everywhere else has a 4-inch line.

"It's not adequate," he admitted.

A year ago Suntop's problem in particular was addressed with adjustments that delivered 20 psi, he noted. But the psi has fluctuated since then.

Crosson said the water master plan for the district will address these issues and specific problem areas, but the district's engineering firm, McGoodwin, Williams & Yates, has suggested everything that can already be done to alleviate specific problem areas like Suntop.

"They say the solution is a longterm solution," he noted.

Several commissioners agreed the master plan is a solution, but a new water system is years down the road.

"Can't anything be done as a temporary solution?" asked Commissioner Harley Barnum. "We need to come up with a reasonably quick fix, although I don't know what that would mean."

Property owner Rebecca Sherman took the board to task for having water plans "on the table for years," but little has been done. She said water pressure is a problem in her area and all over the community.

Commissioner Ken Mills noted he has the same problem. He said a neighbor of his put in his own holding tank and pressure system, but Mills decided not to do that and to just "live with it."

Suntop residents said they cannot afford to do that and should not have to.

Crosson said he would ask the district's engineering firm to come out and look at the problem to see what might be done on a short term basis.

Chairman Boyce Williams said the issue will come up again at the next regular work session in November and invited the residents back for their input.

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Holiday Island's Suntop Lane property owners grumble over water pressure, told little can be done

In Monday's lengthy business meeting of the Holiday Island Suburban Improvement District (HISID) Board of Commissioners, a majority of the property owners on Suntop Lane complained about lack of water pressure.