Who should
I call with questions about my water bill?
If you have any questions about your bill, call the Revenue and Finance
Department's
Utility Accounting Division at
(813) 274-8811.
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How do you figure my bill?
The Tampa Water Department measures water use by cubic feet instead of gallons. One
hundred (100) cubic feet of water, which is the same as 748 gallons, is
one unit. You are billed for water by the unit.
Tampa has a
tiered water rate; so the more you use, the more you pay per unit. |
Why are the City's water rates increasing?
In 2007, Tampa City Council approved a
5-year potable (drinking) water rate schedule. Water rates will
increase approximately 12 percent annually through 2011, with the
new rates becoming effective each year on October 1. The 5-year rate
schedule will help ensure Tampa Water Department customers continue to
receive the highest quality services.
Revenue from these rate increases will allow the Tampa Water
Department to accomplish several significant objectives over the next
few years: replace aging pipes; expand the
reclaimed water system in order to offset potable water use; improve
and protect the health of the lower Hillsborough River; and pay for
increased operation and maintenance costs.
It is important to note that these rate increases do not affect the
reclaimed water rate, which remains at $1.20 a unit.
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What is the Tampa Bay Water Pass-Through Charge and
why doesn't it appear on my bill every month?
The Tampa Bay Water Pass-Through Charge was established in order for the city to
recover the additional costs associated with water purchases from Tampa Bay
Water.
Tampa Bay Water is a regional water utility that sells water to local water
providers. The City of Tampa purchases water from Tampa Bay Water during times
when demand is high and our
own resources
can no longer meet customer demand. This surcharge was put into place to recover the difference between what we pay
Tampa Bay Water and what it normally costs us to produce water at our own
facilities.
The surcharge is only passed on to our customers during times when the City of Tampa has had
to buy water from Tampa Bay Water. A per unit cost is calculated from the total cost for all of the purchases
from Tampa Bay Water during the previous 3 month period. The amount
each customer pays is calculated by multiplying their individual usage
times that per unit cost. The surcharge appears a separate line item on the
utility bill and, like the
tier rates for water, the surcharge line item is
subject to tax.
For more information on the surcharge contact a
Utility Accounting Division Customer Service Representative at (813)
274-8811.
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Why does my water bill sometimes vary from month to month?
To save taxpayers money, water meters are read every other month. The
bill for the
month when your meter is not read is an estimate so every other bill
reflects your household's adjusted actual use.
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Some months my water bill seems very high. Why is that?
There are many possible reasons. Household guests or additional residents increase water
consumption. Filling a swimming pool takes a tremendous amount of water. A
hose left running on the lawn can waste hundreds of gallons. So may a
constantly running toilet. Just a leaking faucet can waste 500 gallons of
water per week!
Saving water can help lower your utility bill. Visit the
Water Use Calculator to see how you use water and ways to lower your
consumption.If your water bill increases dramatically and your household
patterns haven't changed, you may have a
leak. For this, or any
other question about your bill, please call the Revenue and
Finance Department's
Utility Accounting Division at
(813) 274-8811.
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Does the Water Department give discounts?
Sorry, no. We are sometimes asked to give discounts for large families or for people who
have new lawns or swimming pools, but our policy is to charge for the
amount of water used. We think that's fair to all our customers.
Please note that we don't charge for the water itself; we only charge for the cost of
purifying the water and delivering it to you.
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Can I get an allowance on my bill for filling my
swimming pool?
Sorry, no. We are sometimes asked to give allowances for people who
refill swimming pools after pool maintenance, but our policy is to charge for the
amount of water used. We think that's fair to all our customers.
Please note that we don't charge for the water itself; we only charge for the cost of
purifying the water and delivering it to you.
However, because your wastewater charges are calculated based upon
your metered water use, you may be eligible for an partial
allowance for the wastewater charges associated with a pool filling.
Contact Revenue and Finance Department's
Utility Accounting Division
at (813) 274-8811 for more information.
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What are connection fees?
Connection fees are one-time charges for property owners who want to become customers
of the
Tampa water system. These fees do not apply to properties that
already are paying for water service.
Those affected
may include new construction or properties being switched from well water
to City water.
Connection fees vary; call the Tampa Water Department Planning Section
at (813) 274-8121 for more information.
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I irrigate with well, pond or lake
water. What water use restrictions do I follow?
Under Southwest Florida Water Management District's (SWFWMD)
restrictions currently in effect all water use not utilizing City of
Tampa-provided public supply water is restricted in accordance with the
Phase III Restrictions. This may have resulted in a change in
allowed irrigation day for some locations, as the SWFWMD watering days
are different than Tampa's. Irrigation with any water source other than
City of Tampa-provided public supply water may be accomplished with the
use of irrigation systems or hose end sprinklers. Please consult the modified
Phase III restrictions in effect for those water sources.
Locations within the City limits irrigating with an alternative water
supply (well, pond, lake, etc.) may
register with the Tampa Water Department to notify the Tampa
Enforcement Office of which set of restrictions are applicable at the
location. You are not required to register you are using a well or
another non-public supply water source, however failure to register may
result in receipt of a citation for violating Tampa's current
restrictions that limit the irrigation of turf grass to hand watering
only. Should you not register and a citation be issued, you will have
an additional opportunity to complete a registry form or to demonstrate
that an alternative water source was in use at the time the citation was
issued.
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I received a water use citation. What
do I do?
Violating
Tampa’s water use restrictions is a civil infraction, and, as a result,
all water use citations issued by the City are handled by the
Hillsborough County Circuit Court.
If you
receive a City of Tampa water use citation and believe that the water
use for which you were cited is one of the permitted uses defined in
the applicable
water use restrictions, please call (813) 349-5014 or
e-mail
WaterPatrol@techstafftb.com within five (5) calendar days after
receiving the citation.
If the
water use for which you were cited does not meet one of the permitted
uses defined in
the applicable
water use restrictions and you wish to contest the
citation, you may elect to appear in court on the date noted on the
citation to present your information to the judge for a decision.
We recommend that you refer to the correspondence included with the
citation packet for additional information about contesting a citation.
The payment
of all fines and fees associated with the citation must be made through
the Hillsborough County Clerk of Court, as noted on the face of the
citation. Specific information for making payment by mail or in person
is located on the reverse of the citation.
The City of
Tampa cannot process citation payments sent directly to the Tampa Water
Department or to Tampa’s Utility Accounting Division. Any payment
attempted in this manner will be returned to the citation recipient for
proper handling and may cause delays in payment that result in
additional court fees.
Please
note: Failure to pay the fine and fee shown on the face of the
citation
and failure to appear in court on the date shown on the face of
the citation results in a default judgment of guilty when the case is
called in court. All citation recipients receiving a default
judgment of guilty for failure to pay and failure to appear are
notified of the judgment and resulting fines and fees by the
Hillsborough County Clerk of Court.
To request
a continuation of a court date or discuss options for paying a City of
Tampa water use citation, please contact the Clerk of Court at (813)
276-2029, ext. 4325.
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Why doesn’t the City issue warnings any more for first water
use restriction violations?
The
issuance of warnings for first
water use restriction violations
began in May 2006, when the once-per-week irrigation
restrictions first
went into effect. The discontinuance of warnings and the
establishment of one-day irrigation restrictions are a
continuing response to less than normal levels of rainfall,
increased irrigation demands, decreased flow in the Hillsborough
River and lower than usual reservoir levels during dry periods.
Issuance of warnings is also prohibited under the current
Southwest Florida Water Management District orders.
All of those conditions and forecasts for the immediate future
indicate that continuing demand reductions during wet periods to
“bank” water for dry periods remains a prudent course of action
for Tampa residents.
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Do the water use
restrictions include water uses other than irrigation?
Yes. A number of outdoor water use restrictions are included
in the
current restrictions, including restrictions related to the use of
open hoses, aesthetic fountains, pressure washing and
watering-in of pesticides and fertilizers. It is suggested that
all water users in Tampa review the restrictions and check this
Web
site periodically for updates to ensure that they avoid a water
use restriction citation. Water restrictions do change in
response to local and regional water supply conditions.
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How can I report a suspected
water use violation and how do I know if it was followed up?
There are two mechanisms for making reports of possible water
use violations: call the Water Conservation Violation Hotline at
(813) 274-8036 and leave a detailed message about the suspected
violation, including address, date and time, and the nature of
the suspected violation, or
online by submitting a Citizen Action Request through the
City's Customer Service Center. You may remain anonymous, if
desired.
We provide follow-up to 100 percent of reports received, but the
volume of reports prevents us from providing specific feedback
to individuals making reports.
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I am a Tampa Water Department customer but
live in Unincorporated Hillsborough County. Whose water
restrictions do I follow?
Tampa's
water use restrictions
are contained in the City's Code of Ordinances and the jurisdiction to
enforce the restrictions extends only to the municipal boundaries of the
City. Water use restrictions for Tampa Water Department customers residing in unincorporated Hillsborough County are
set and enforced by Hillsborough County Water Resource Services.
Tampa customers outside the city limits should
contact Hillsborough County Water Resource Services, Water
Restriction Information Line at (813) 275-7094 for more
information about county water use restrictions. Hillsborough
County restrictions may be viewed at
http://www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water/restrictions/.
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My mailing address is Tampa. Doesn't that
mean I live inside the city limits?
Mailing addresses are not
good indicators of municipal boundaries. Customers unclear on where
their property is located can consult their
property records for their Tax District. To view communities the
Tampa Water Department serve outside the city limits a map is available at
www.tampagov.net/dept_Water/files/COTW_SERVICE_AREA_STR_Reduced_1.pdf.
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I just got a water use violation citation for
irrigating new plant materials. I thought that was allowed. Who
do I call?
Water use restrictions set out specific
guidelines for irrigating new plant materials. Please call the
Water Enforcement Office at (813) 349-5014 with questions about
your citation and information about what to do if the irrigation
you were cited for is allowed within the ordinance.
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Why does the City maintain strict water use restrictions
during periods when it is raining frequently?
The establishment of
one-day irrigation restrictions are a
continuing response to less than normal levels of rainfall,
increased irrigation demands, decreased flow in the Hillsborough
River and lower than usual reservoir levels during dry periods.
All of those conditions and forecasts for the immediate future
indicate that continuing demand reductions during wet periods to
“bank” water for dry periods remains a prudent course of action
for Tampa residents.
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What is a backflow device and why do I need one?
A backflow device is a mechanical insert in your plumbing
system on your side of the meter that prevents a reversal of
water flow. Having backflow devices on water connections helps
maintain drinking water quality throughout the system to ensure
that all customers receive the highest quality water possible.
Approved backflow prevention
devices are required to be installed on the service
connection to any premises that the department has
identified as having a potential for backflow.
Additionally, all irrigation systems are required to
have backflow prevention devices, and any property which
is connected both to potable water supplies and
reclaimed water supplies is required to have the potable
water supply protected by an approved backflow
prevention device.
Prevent potential cross connections or backflow resulting
from a garden hose being submerged in a bucket, sink, pond,
swimming pool, car radiator, or a chemical applicator attached
to the hose by installing inexpensive hose bibb vacuum breakers,
commonly available in the plumbing section of home improvement
stores, between outdoor spigots and garden hoses.
More information on backflow devices and cross connection
requirements can be found at the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection website and
Sections 26-79 through 26-86 of
Tampa Code of Ordinances.
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I am making a plumbing repair. Am I allowed
to use the curb stop valve in the water meter box to turn off my
water?
No, The curb stop is City property and Tampa City Code
Section 26-70 prohibits anyone other than an authorized
representative of the City from turning off or turning on water
at the City's curb stop. Any damage to the City valve, water
meter or service as a result of unauthorized use will be billed
to the account holder. Customers can call the
Water Emergency Service Section at (813) 274-7400 to request a
field technician be dispatched to turn off and turn on water at
the curb stop. Fees may apply.
The fastest way to shut your water off is to locate your
shut off valve (not to be confused with the City's curb stop),
typically placed on the side of your home or structure. This
valve is usually located in line with the meter box, low to the
ground, sometimes behind bushes and on property. It is
recommended that every home or structure have its own property
shut off valve. This will help minimize water damage to property
in cases of emergencies where the water is leaking. If your
property does not have one, consider having one installed.
If you are experiencing a
leak at a fixture (such as a sink
or toilet), there are small shut-off valves located underneath
that can be used for a shut down in cases of emergencies or
repair.
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Why isn't reclaimed water available
in my neighborhood?
The initial
reclaimed water service areas were selected based on their
concentration of heavy irrigation and their proximity to the
Howard F. Curren Advanced Wastewater Treatment Plant. These
factors were important in ensuring the economic feasibility of
the project.
For continued expansion it was determined that large users
have the highest potential to conserve drinking water and lowest
investment cost to connect due to their higher water demands and proximity
to the current system. In September 2008, the Tampa Water
Department signed an agreement with the
Hillsborough County Aviation Authority (HCAA), the City's
first official larger reclaimed water user. The reclaimed water
main will be extended to
Tampa International Airport and the HCAA is scheduled to
begin taking reclaimed water from the City in early 2010,
initially for irrigation and then for their cooling towers. The
City is installing a reclaimed water main larger than the size
needed to meet the HCAA’s demands to allow the City to
potentially expand the reclaimed water system around the airport
and toward Rocky Point.
In addition to continuing negotiations with
other large users, expansion plans are underway in other parts
of Tampa as well. The reclaimed water system will be extended to
provide irrigation when the
Curtis Hixon Riverfront Park opens in 2009; and plans
continue to move forward to expand reclaimed water further down
Bayshore Boulevard and the surrounding area.
Additional expansion driven by larger users
will allow
reclaimed water service to expand to the residential users
surrounding the new mains. If you are interested in becoming a
reclaimed water customer, contact (813) 282-7827 for
more information.
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Are there any water use
restrictions which limit when I can wash my car at my home?
The washing of cars or trucks in
residential settings and car wash fundraisers held on behalf of a non-profit
organization using potable (drinking) water are prohibited.
Locations within Tampa using a well or another non-public
supply water source for vehicle washing should consult the
modified
Phase III restrictions in effect for those water sources.
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What are the restrictions on
pressure washing?
Washing or cleaning of buildings,
structures, driveways and other outdoor impervious surfaces, including Pressure
Washing, using potable (drinking) water is prohibited, except when conducted by a commercial business and for
an allowable activity. Allowable activities include: preventing or
removing a health or safety hazard than cannot be addressed by other means, in
preparation for painting or similar necessary maintenance, to maintain a
warranty and to meet federal, state, or local health or safety standards. These
standards specifically allow for government required dust control.
Locations within Tampa using a well or another non-public supply
water source for pressure washing should consult the modified
Phase III restrictions in effect for those water sources. |
I'd like to convert my yard to
Florida-friendly landscaping but I live in a deed-restricted
community that requires the use of specific plant materials.
What can I do?
Florida Statute 720.3075(4) states that "Homeowners'
association documents, including declarations of covenants,
articles of incorporation, or bylaws, entered after October 1,
2001, may not prohibit any property owner from implementing
Xeriscape or Florida-friendly landscape, as defined in s.
373.185(1), on his or her land".
If your association documents were
filed prior to October 1, 2001, talk to your association board
and membership about revising them to allow for Florida-friendly
landscapes. The
Hillsborough County Extension Office offers a service for
community or condominium associations to provide free on-site
landscape evaluations to officers or board members of
associations and includes recommendations for problem areas.
This may be a way to help convince your leadership of the value
of using Florida-friendly landscapes in your community. Contact
the Extension at (813) 744-5519 ext. 142 for more information.
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