The City of Venice will present its 5th Fire and Police Public Safety Day event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at the Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave. S., inside and outside.
Fun for the whole family, the free event will include first responder vehicles and big trucks that children can sit in and learn about; demonstrations every half-hour; photo ID cards for kids; free food, snacks, face painting and balloon twisting; music; and other activities and giveaways. In addition, come check out the nearby Venice Museum (open that Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and Old Betsy Museum.
The Community Association, in coordination with Venice Utilities, is sponsoring a tour of the Venice Water Booster Station (WBS) on Tuesday, April 14th, beginning at 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. This WBS (there are 2 WBSs in Venice) is located on Gene Green Road off Knights Trail. More specific directions and a map will be provided.
Please sign up HERE starting at 8 a.m. on April 5. Click HERE for Directions.
We have spaces for the first 15 residents who are interested in this tour. You will be able to get firsthand information on how the water pressure system works in the city and specifically how the WBS has impacted our water pressure here in Venice. VGRC CA members will be given priority for website signup starting on April 5.
Venice City embarked on a project in 2020 to enhance the quality of potable water service and fire protection in the northeastern part of the city’s service area. This initiative aimed to potentially increase water pressure and flow during peak water demand periods for the entire service area. The project concluded in the Fall of 2025 with the construction of a water booster station on Gene Green Road.
Venice water utility engineers have meticulously optimized system operations citywide, resulting in NE Venice now experiencing pressure levels comparable to the rest of the city. According to Venice Utilities and the Water Booster Station (WBS) pressure sensors, every resident in Venice receives between 51 and 56 psi from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Overnight, from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., the pressure is reduced to facilitate water storage tank refilling and maintain water quality throughout the system.
Beyond ensuring equitable and consistent water service for residents, the project has also led to an increase in water flow pressure during emergencies, significantly enhancing fire protection in NE Venice.
This improvement has resulted in improved water flow for hydrants in the area, thereby enhancing safety for everyone and providing better protection for the community.
According to the city, the station has significantly stabilized water pressure in the northern part of the city. Before activation, residents north of I-75 experienced daytime pressures ranging from 42 to 46 psi. Since the station came online, consistent readings by City Utilities have been recorded between 48 and 51 psi, with fluctuations limited to just 1 psi throughout the day.
Interestingly, many residents have reported no noticeable increase in water pressure since the WBS went online. According to Venice Utilities, this suggests that the issue may be related to private service lines in a home or internal plumbing.
If your home has water fixtures manufactured after January 1, 1994, they are mandated to be low-flow due to federal and state codes that came into effect around that time. Most high-flow fixtures were phased out by 1998, and if your house or renovations were permitted after 1994, you should have low-flow fixtures throughout. TheEnergy Policy Act of 1992 established these standards. While early low-flow fixture models occasionally had performance issues, designs improved significantly in the subsequent years. By 2007, the EPA WaterSense program further enhanced efficiency standards.
It’s also worth noting that not all low-flow fixtures perform identically. Factors such as age and design quality can significantly impact their performance. Additionally, having a water softener or treatment system can reduce water pressure in your home. It should be correctly sized, high-quality, and well-maintained. Industry experts and manufacturers generally cite a 2 to 5 psi drop as the standard for a residential water softener that is functioning optimally.
Additionally, “back flow preventers” installed in residents’ water systems prevent contaminated water from flowing backward into the potable water supply. While this system requires periodic maintenance (to remove grit), it is a service provided by the city. If you suspect an issue, especially if you notice noticeable drips from the pipes in your front yard, please contact Venice Utilities at (941) 480-3333.
As many of our seasonal residents begin preparing to leave for the summer months, we want to ensure everyone has the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding hurricane preparedness. Taking these steps now can greatly reduce potential damage and help safeguard your property while you are away. Please review the updated preparation reminders below:
Secure all outdoor furniture, umbrellas, grills, flowerpots, garden hoses, flag poles, and any items that could become projectiles during high winds.
Inspect your roof for any loose tiles and ensure no repair tiles are left unsecured on the roof.
Check your trees and remove any dead or loose limbs.
Hurricane shutters may be deployed when a watch or warning has been issued for Sarasota County, or earlier if authorized by the Property Manager and approved by the POA Board. Shutters must be those originally supplied with the home or those approved by the Architectural Control Committee under the Community-Wide Standards.
Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.
Inform your home-watch provider, neighbor, or designated contact of your departure date and share your updated contact information.
Keep an eye out for communications from Mary Rau-Foster and the Community Association Hurricane Response Team as the season approaches.
Due to extreme drought conditions, watering restrictions have changed in Venice City from April 3rd.
The interpretation is that this restriction, as mentioned in the Venice pamphlet below, impacts residents
who use potable water for car washing,
who irrigate with a sprinkler connected to their potable water supply, or
who water plants in their garden or landscape using a water hose connected to the outside water faucet.
The drought is curtailing use to specific hours or days depending on your address.
The source for the potable water is the Venice Water Treatment Plant which is near the intercostal/Venice bridge at 200 North Warfield Ave.
Venice Utilities asks that we also limit use of irrigation water which is supplied to the VGRC via the Water Reclamation facility at 3510 East Laurel Road.
The Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, says the region currently has a 13.7 inch rainfall deficit compared with the average 12 month total. Aquifers, rivers and lakes continue to decline and “public water supplies are extremely low for this time of year.
The most recent 12-month period (ending March 2026) has been significantly drier than normal. This follows a particularly dry calendar year in 2025, which saw only 37.75 inches total.
To track your household water usage, like everything else it seems, there is an app! See EyeOnWater and register. This app uses your water meter to gauge how much water you use by day, by week or by month.More significantly, it will alert you when you have a leak.
The changes for City residents are as follows:
Watering hours (sprinklers)
BEFORE: Watering before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m., once per week
NOW: Watering 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m., once per week
Hand watering
BEFORE: Any day, any time
NOW: Any day before 8 a.m. or after 6 p.m.
Vehicle/boat washing
BEFORE: Once per week, any time
NOW: Once per week, 12:01 a.m. to 4 a.m. OR 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
New lawns/landscaping
BEFORE: First 60 days, any day during restricted hours
NOW: First 30 days, any day during restricted hours, AND days 31-60, 3 days per week during restricted hours
