If you were at the AGM 2010 the other day you will have heard that it was decided to get rid of the community irrigation system. I my view this is the worst possible decision that we could have made so let me tell you why.
The system we have is far from perfect but it is much better than any alternative I have come across. I do not feel that it is the system that is at fault but the way the garden planters are used. No system is perfect but this one is far better than private systems as it is at least controlled by the gardener who takes into consideration the weather conditions.
No, the problem is how the planters are used by the majority of owners. Those that spend most of their time here and have total control of their systems are fine. It is the owners who spend little time here that have all the problems and these in general stem from one thing alone and that is the choice of plants. They have either large or non indigenous plants or sometimes both and expect the irrigation system to maintain them for months on end.
This is never going to work and for those that think a private system will take care of it, I think they are wrong. As will be confirmed by the president, it is private systems that cause most problems.
1. Insurance companies normally require owners to switch off their water if they intend to spend extended periods away or they will not cover consequential damage.
2. If and when they system fails either the plants are lost or the garden floods causing damage to the building and problems for neighbours.
The solution is not an easy one but I think that an investigation should be held to decide on upgrading the current system to take into consideration the failings it has at the moment. I am aware that apartments on the end of the irrigation lines often get little or no water. We can argue all day on the reasons for this and get nowhere as individuals will do what they do and that’s it.
We should look at the possibility of adding to or redirecting the existing pipe work to apartment gardens that it can be proved are not getting water at the moment. This, undoubtedly, will cost money and may require some creative remodelling of existing buildings but it would then give all owners the community system they currently pay for. As long as the whole thing originates from the community water supply Ramon will be able to control it.
At the same time owners should consider changing their planting to take into consideration the fact that indigenous plants do better than others and larger plants take up more water than smaller ones. I believe that the president is going to publish a list of suitable plants.
The system we have is far from perfect but it is much better than any alternative I have come across. I do not feel that it is the system that is at fault but the way the garden planters are used. No system is perfect but this one is far better than private systems as it is at least controlled by the gardener who takes into consideration the weather conditions.
No, the problem is how the planters are used by the majority of owners. Those that spend most of their time here and have total control of their systems are fine. It is the owners who spend little time here that have all the problems and these in general stem from one thing alone and that is the choice of plants. They have either large or non indigenous plants or sometimes both and expect the irrigation system to maintain them for months on end.
This is never going to work and for those that think a private system will take care of it, I think they are wrong. As will be confirmed by the president, it is private systems that cause most problems.
1. Insurance companies normally require owners to switch off their water if they intend to spend extended periods away or they will not cover consequential damage.
2. If and when they system fails either the plants are lost or the garden floods causing damage to the building and problems for neighbours.
The solution is not an easy one but I think that an investigation should be held to decide on upgrading the current system to take into consideration the failings it has at the moment. I am aware that apartments on the end of the irrigation lines often get little or no water. We can argue all day on the reasons for this and get nowhere as individuals will do what they do and that’s it.
We should look at the possibility of adding to or redirecting the existing pipe work to apartment gardens that it can be proved are not getting water at the moment. This, undoubtedly, will cost money and may require some creative remodelling of existing buildings but it would then give all owners the community system they currently pay for. As long as the whole thing originates from the community water supply Ramon will be able to control it.
At the same time owners should consider changing their planting to take into consideration the fact that indigenous plants do better than others and larger plants take up more water than smaller ones. I believe that the president is going to publish a list of suitable plants.