Lack of Water contributes to Blight in Lake Worth

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We all know that we have a lot of blight. It is not just in one district of our city but situated in all four corners on almost every street. I consider brown or dead grass blight, as it contributes to the overall negative appearance of our city.

While driving down a couple of streets, Katie and I stopped and took a few photos of some unkempt properties in Lake Osborne Heights, District 1. A few are in the same neighborhood as Commissioner Scott Maxwell whose top priority used to be Code Enforcement until the policing issue came along.

We also noticed that the biggest percentage of the properties seem to be complying with our once a week watering schedule as most had brown grass. Once a week watering is a main reason why our community looks blighted and why all neighborhoods throughout Lake Worth look shabby. No matter how much care you take or how much money you spend, you can never have a green lawn--yards will always look neglected. No one wants to move next door to a" deadbeat," the impression you get when you see a brown, dying or dead lawn.

Homeowner who doesn't know we are on a
once a week watering cycle. We all would
love to have our lawn look like this.

What is totally unfair are other areas outside of our city that buy our water and do not have to comply with Lake Worth's water restrictions.

To get curb appeal and attract home buyers to our city, we must be able to water our grass at least to the point of allowing it to look like green grass, not weeds. It used to be three times a week; then it went down to two and now it is at one day a week. Watering is controlled by the South Florida Water Management District, however, the City Commission has made once a week watering permanent. It has been suggested that even when we have our Reverse Osmosis system on-line, that policy will remain. If so, Lake Worth will always look shabby and blighted.

It's like the guy dying of thirst on the desert--one little dribble of water is not going to keep him alive. And that's what's happening to our city--dying before our very eyes from lack of water. Bring on the rain.