To the Editor:
Have you noticed how many sink holes appear near downspouts? Or even other areas where rain run-off from the roofs or other areas tends to be much greater than just the rainfall? It stands to reason that an excess of water in any small area contributes to starting a sinkhole?
Up north, downspouts are tied to storm sewers and water is kept away from the homes and basements, and where there is a lot of water run-off they build catch basins for excess water to be drained over days into the sewer system, and as relatively clean water it needs little treatment to send back to the Lakes.
Consider roofs w/slopes sq. ft. compared to sq. ft. of each lot for each homeowner and the roofs probably could capture 40-45% of all rainwater from every home in the Villages.
Image all that free water used for other things like watering lawns, golf courses, other villages properties at a later date, and reducing the amount of water into any one spot in every yard – possibly avoiding sinkholes.
Barry Beck
Village of Labelle