Residents demand urgent action on failing water infrastructure

Residents of Bulow Plantation, a senior citizen gated community in Florida, voiced urgent concerns regarding deteriorating infrastructure during a recent government meeting. The president of the Bulow Plantation Homeowners Association highlighted critical issues, particularly the compromised water supply system, which has been in disrepair for over 50 years. The community, governed by Florida Statute 723 and owned by Equity Lifestyles (ELS), has faced multiple water outages, with three incidents occurring in just the past month.

A petition presented at the meeting, signed by residents, demands that the entire water supply system be updated to current codes, including the installation of shut-off stations to minimize future outages. Residents expressed frustration over ELS's neglect in maintaining the infrastructure, which they claim was known to be compromised when the property was purchased over two decades ago. The lack of timely communication regarding service interruptions has left residents, many of whom are seniors, to fend for themselves in securing bottled water during outages.

Additionally, residents raised concerns about safety hazards posed by abandoned homes and poorly maintained trees within the community. They urged local officials to investigate building violations at an adjacent RV park owned by ELS, which has reportedly faced fines from the Flagler County Building Department.

The meeting underscored the residents' plea for immediate action to address these pressing infrastructure issues, emphasizing the need for accountability from ELS to ensure the safety and well-being of the community's senior residents.