What is a “Residential Irrigation” Meter?

WATER RESTRICTIONS ARE STILL REQUIRED FOR ALL TYPES OF IRRIGATION

“RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION” meters are installed to separately account for the water used for irrigation. Water registered on this meter is not assessed a sewer charge.

“RESIDENTIAL POTABLE IRRIGATION METER” installation does not require an additional tap to the water main. The irrigation meter may be connected to the same service line that your house meter is on. Since there is no additional flow capacity, the irrigation meter cannot be larger than the existing service. There is a separate cut off valve for each meter so that one can be turned off independently of the other.

“RESIDENTIAL RECLAIM IRRIGATION METER” installation will be placed on the opposite side of the property from your house meter.

The Residential Irrigation Meter installation charge is:

• ¾ inch potable meter - $353.00
• 1 inch reclaimed meter - $441.00
• $45.00 Deposit
• Permit Fee of $52.00

This Charge DOES NOT INCLUDE the following:

• Backflow Prevention Device (BFP).
• Installation of the Backflow Prevention Device.
• Initial testing of BFP by Seminole County Approved Tester (Approved Tester list attached).
• Building Permit (407-665-7050).
• Annual Testing of the BFP after initial test.
• Maintenance and repair of the BFP.
• Connection of the irrigation system to this meter.
• Monthly based meter fee of $15.65 for potable and 6.52 for reclaimed, applicable volumetric charges, and tax.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

To initiate having a residential irrigation meter installed, please visit or contact the Seminole County Building Division at 1101 East First Street, Sanford; or telephone directly at (407)665-7050.

POLICIES FOR NEW RESIDENTIAL IRRIGATION CONNECTIONS

The Building Division will collect all applicable irrigation fees and charges. A separate permit application and appropriate inspection fee must be submitted to the Seminole County Building Department for the installation of the irrigation system itself and the installation of the backflow prevention device.

The Water and Sewer Division will issue a work order for the installation of the meter.

Utility field personnel will install and LOCK the meter.

In cases where the installation of the new meter is not possible, field personnel will return the work order stating the reason for denial of connection. The Water and Sewer Division will promptly notify the customer and refund the fees collected.

It will be the customer’s responsibility to have the backflow prevention device installed and the irrigation lines tied to the metered service.

After installation of the irrigation meter and backflow device (potable irrigation only),  the customer will contact the Seminole County Building Division to schedule inspections of the backflow device and cross-connection. The meter will be unlocked after this inspection and the meter will be turned on. (48 HOURS NOTICE REQUIRED)

For reclaimed water meters a second inspection is required by Water & Sewer personnel. Contact 407-665-2848 to schedule reclaimed inspection.

IMPORTANT MISCELLANEOUS NOTES

• No irrigation meter will be installed until all fees have been satisfied.
• All irrigation systems connected to potable water must have an approved backflow prevention device installed. The device must be installed to the guide lines below, and must be approved by inspection prior to turning water on to system at the meter.

Approved devices are:

1)    Reduced Pressure Principal Backflow Preventer (RP): conforming to ASSE 1013, AWWA C511, or CSA CAN/CSA-B64.4. A reduced pressure (RP) device must be installed at least 12” above grade.

2)    Pressure Vacuum Breaker (PVB): conforming to ASSE 1020, or CSA B64.1.2. A (PVB) must be installed at least 12” above highest sprinkler head, up to a maximum height of 36” above grade. Note: Systems that would require a (PVB) to be installed higher than 36” above grade must have a Reduced Pressure (RP) device installed in lieu of the (PVB).

• When a hose bibb is installed between the meter and the backflow, or on the downstream side of a (PVB), a Hose Bibb Vacuum Breaker is required to be installed on the hose bibb threads:
• The backflow prevention device must be installed immediately after the water meter and before the irrigation system.
• The minimum of an (RP) device must be used, where a booster pump is installed on the service (house) side of the backflow prevention device.
• Need to protect any potable water source from contamination (well, county, etc.). If the source of potable water is Seminole County utilities an (RP) is required to protect the potable system from a non-potable source such as a well.
• Irrigation heads need to be located a minimum of 12” from structure.
• Plastic piping supplying the backflow must be protected from ultraviolet light (sunlight). By means of an approved paint or an insulation.
• Florida Statues Require a Rain Sensor to be installed on all automatic irrigation systems. The Rain Sensor must be located in an area where it can receive rain from all sides, 360 degrees. Note: Keep in mind 2^nd story walls. Rain Sensors must also be secured to a permanent structure, such as fascia of a house or building.

Seminole County has the location of water and sewer mains and lines only up to the meter.

Service connections and lines past the meter have been installed by contractors and/or plumbers. If the house is relatively new, your builder may be able to help, or, in lieu of that, a plumber is usually qualified to locate these lines.

 

On infrequent occasions, water use may be estimated. When a meter is inaccessible to the meter reader (such as a car parked over the meter, flooding conditions, etc.), or the meter has stopped registering usage, an authorized representative in the business office may estimate your bill for the month. This is done based on the customer's recent history of water use.

 

To determine your water usage for one month, locate your meter (usually in the ground in the yard). Make a note of the odometer-type numbers, reading them from left to right. About one month later, take another reading. Then calculate the total by subtracting the previous reading from the current reading. In the following example, the first reading was April 28th. On that date, the meter total read 027941. On May 28th, the meter read 029911.

 029911 (current)

-027941 (previous)

1970 gal. or (19,700 gallons billed)

One revolution of the sweep hand indicates
10 gallons have gone through the meter.

Seminole County bills water usage in increments of 1,000 gallons, always rounding down to the nearest hundredth.

The meter is read approximately every 29 - 35 days.

Troubleshooting your Sewer System 

• Check all your plumbing fixtures inside the house to determine if only one or more than one are affected.
  • If only one drain is backed up (e.g. a toilet or one bathroom), it is generally a customer's problem with those specific fixtures
• If more than one drain is backed up (e.g. two bathrooms, or the kitchen and a bathroom), the problem could be in your service line leading from the house to SCU's collection line.
  • To determine if the problem is in your service line or SCU's collection main, you can check with your neighbors on both sides of you. Any collection line problem will probably affect you as well as one or more of your neighbors.
• Call your plumber to examine and clear the service line of the blockage. Your plumber will let you know if the problem appears to be the utility's lines. Ask for footage if plumber finds it is in the County's lines.

If in doubt, always call Customer Service at 407-665-2110 or email wscustomerservice@seminolecountyfl.gov

 

RESIDENTIAL APPLICATION FOR WATER UTILITY SERVICE

Required Documents:

• Copy of a signed lease/rental agreement, signed closing disclosure, settlement statement, purchase agreement, or a warranty deed
  • All documents must have all required signatures and seals (both landlord and tenant signatures required)
• Photo Identification (Govt Issued)
  • Expired identifications will not be accpeted

This application is NOT FOR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS

AUTO REACTIVATION for Owners ONLY. You may also fill out the form below if you would like to sign up for owners auto reactivation. You can attach it in the application above. You can upload it with the copy of your lease (more than one document can be uploaded)  

This will automatically reactivate your water account in to your name when tenants move out. This can NOT be sent in alone it must accompany an application. 

Owner Reactivation of Service Application for Utility Service

Request must be made online. Please Click Here

Water services can not be terminated Fridays, weekends, or holidays. 

Existing customers that want to transfer from one serviced address to another must complete a new application below. And mark "existing account".

All charges must be current on the original service account. 

• Copy of a signed lease/rental agreement, signed closing disclosure, settlement statement, purchase agreement, or a warranty deed
  • All documents must have all required signatures and seals (both landlord and tenant signatures required)
• Photo Identification (Govt Issued)
  • Expired identifications will not be accpeted

This application is NOT FOR COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS

Sewer charges are based on water usage. Residential customers are charges sewer only up to the first 15,000 gallons of water used each month. Sewer rates are designed to take into account that not all water used ends up in the sewer system.

Automatic Meter Reading Devices do not need direct contact with the meter. We simply drive by and the read is picked up automatically. 

If we do need to make contact with the actual meter:

• If it's under dirt, we use our hands or tools to clear it for reading.
• The excess dirt removed from the meter box may be spread out in yard.
• Meter readers carry bug sprays and other tools of the trade.
• When the meter is fogged, sometimes lightly tapping the lens clears condensation.
• When the meter is continually fogged, or under a lot of mud or water, a work order may be issued to raise the meter or replace it.

Automatic Meter Reading Devices do not need direct contact with the meter. We simply drive by and the read is picked up automatically. 

If we do need to make contact with the actual meter:

• If it's under dirt, we use our hands or tools to clear it for reading.
• The excess dirt removed from the meter box may be spread out in yard.
• Meter readers carry bug sprays and other tools of the trade.
• When the meter is fogged, sometimes lightly tapping the lens clears condensation.
• When the meter is continually fogged, or under a lot of mud or water, a work order may be issued to raise the meter or replace it.

Seminole County 

Sec. 270.186. - Meters.

(b)

The property owner shall keep meter sites readily accessible for meter reading and maintenance. If obstruction or lack of accessibility is not corrected within two weeks after notification of the customer by the Department, the Department may correct the condition and charge the owner the costs incurred.

Seminole County 

Sec. 270.186. - Meters.

(b)

The property owner shall keep meter sites readily accessible for meter reading and maintenance. If obstruction or lack of accessibility is not corrected within two weeks after notification of the customer by the Department, the Department may correct the condition and charge the owner the costs incurred.

Current Residential Deposits

• Water $45 
• Sewer $60 
• Irrigation/Reclaimed $45

Residential deposits are credited back to the account after a satisfactory payment record has been met and continuous service for a period of 12 months.

Satisfactory payment consists of the following criteria:

• no late payment in the previous 12 months
• no checks returned by the bank for insufficient or uncollected funds
• the account has not been disconnected for non-payment
• customer has not tampered with the meter
• customer has not used services in an illegal or unauthorized manner

Deposits are fixed by the Rate Resolution approved by the Board of County Commissioners.

Customers opening new accounts must pay a deposit. Deposits are necessary to protect paying customers from losses caused by those who do not pay. Deposits earn interest annually according to market rates. Generally, the initial deposit plus interest is credited to the customer’s account after a year of good payment history. Failure to pay by the due day shown on the monthly bill may cause indefinite retention of the original deposit.

You may turn in a letter of credit in lieu of a deposit. The letter of credit must show 12 months of good pay history which includes: no disconnections, no return checks and no late payments. Obtaining a letter of credit from a previous utility company must provide pay history within the last 12 months of application date. You may also use your credit from Seminole County water & Sewer in lieu of a deposit. 

Learn more about Water Conservation by clicking here 

Sandro Aganovic

Water Conservation Coordinator

407-665-2121

saganovic@seminolecountyfl.gov

Residential Water & Sewer Monthly Bill Calculator

Single Family Residential - Water
	FIXED	VOLUMETRIC	$ PER THOUSAND GALLONS
Water (per ERC)	$15.65 per month	0-10,000	$1.38
		10,001-15,000	$2.29
		15,001-20,000	$4.15
		20,001-30,000	$6.69
		30,001-50,000	$9.62
		50,001-over	$13.03
- 4% utility tax on water and water base for unincorporated County - Those within City limits may vary to 10% Winter Springs and Casselberry.
Sewer (per ERC)	$24.86 per month	0 - 15,000	$5.91
- Sewer stops being charged at 15,000

 

All Users - Irrigation
	FIXED	VOLUMETRIC	$ PER THOUSAND GALLONS
Water (per ERC)	$15.65 per month	0-10,000	$2.29
		10,001-20,000	$4.15
		20,001-30,000	$6.69
		30,001-50,000	$9.62
		50,001-over	$13.03
- 4% utility tax on water and water base for unincorporated County - Those within City limits may vary to 10% in Winter Springs and Casselberry.

 

Reclaimed Water Rates
	FIXED	VOLUMETRIC	$ PER THOUSAND GALLONS
Reclaimed Water (per ERC)	$6.52 per month	0-10,000	$0.90
		10,001-20,000	$1.52
		20,001-30,000	$2.49
		30,001-50,000	$4.11
		50,001-over	$5.57
Volumetric-Commercial/Other			$0.90

 

Seminole County's rates reflect the actual cost of providing safe drinking water and environmentally sound wastewater treatment and effluent disposal to its customers. These services have become more intensively regulated over the years as concerns over health and protection of the environment have grown. Rates and charges also reflect the cost of water purchased, utility financing, operation and administration.

 

 

Click here to view the latest water restrictions online.

 

Office Hours are:

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Monday - Friday

The office is closed for all Federal Holidays.

Our phone numbers are:

Office: 407-665-2110

Fax: 407-665-2125

EMERGENCY AFTER HOURS: Please call 407-665-2110

Is it possible that there was a typo in your email address?

Please check your junk mail. 

If you still did not receive your verification email please send an email to wscustomerservice@seminolecountyfl.gov and request to have your online account enabled. 

Utility lines are usually located in the street right-of-way and in some instances in the rear easement. Please call our office for field verification.

Seminole County offers a sewer credit for pool fills. 

Pool Fill Credit Eligibility 

• One every 5 years 
• Must have sewer service
• $35 credit is given

1. Sign Up for Re-Occurring Payments 

2. Pay Online

• You only need your account number 

3. Online Account

 

View bills, payment history, consumption history and update your account online

 

Wherever possible, we utilize a water industry standard of "split-service" connections. This means that many connections service two residential lots and are, therefore, located on the property line common to both lots, at the front or rear yard.

Seminole County Utilities (SCU) field personnel repair or replace boxes, lids and meters. However, any willful damage to SCU's meters or appurtenances are handled in accordance with Florida Statute 812.14.

Seminole County Utilities (SCU) is responsible for leaks in the main line and the service lines from the main to the meter. The customer is responsible from the point of connection of their service line to the meter coupling and beyond.

Learn more about leaks here

Meters are replaced for a variety of reasons. For example:

1. Meter replacement program
2. Broken meter lens.
3. Meter is too fogged to read.
4. Water meter is old and has slowed or stopped registering.
5. Water meter has been damaged.
6. Customer requests water meter test and it fails.

The Clerk of the Circuit Court is the County’s Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer, and all banking is coordinated through that office.  The County, in consultation with the Clerk, adopted a policy to offer a credit card payment option to our customers. The convenience fee is charged to recover a portion of the transaction charges incurred by the Utility that is imposed by the card service provider entities.

Using Your Water Meter to Check for Leaks is Quick and Easy:

1. Turn off all the water uses in your house (faucets, dishwasher, laundry, water softener, irrigation system, fountain) and grab a screwdriver.
2. Find your water meter. It is in front of your house in the grass near the sidewalk or street. The meter is in a small underground box. Look for a rectangular meter cover that could be made of cement, metal, or plastic.
3. Lift the cover using the screwdriver or other tool.
4. If there is more than one meter, see the section below to find which is yours.
5. Lift the meter cap and look for the flow indicator. It could be a small dial, a triangle, or a wheel. If nothing is moving, there's no leak. If the flow indicator is spinning and all water uses are turned off, you have a leak.
6. Close the meter cap to protect the lens, and carefully replace the meter cover.

More than One Meter in the Meter Box?

• Either you have two meters, or one meter belongs to your neighbor.
• Do you have both an irrigation meter and a house meter? You would know from your water bill. Turn on your irrigation system to find out which is the irrigation meter.
• If you share a meter box with your neighbor and both meters are not moving, turn your water on to see which meter is yours. It may not be the one closest to your house.
• If you can't tell which meter is yours, find the meter numbers on the meter cap, call the billing office (407-665-2110) and they will confirm which is yours.

What to Do if You Have a Leak

A series of simple tests will identify the most common types of leaks.

1. Double-check to see that all water was turned off. What about automatic refill usage such as the pool, fountain, water softener, automatic ice maker, and hot water heater?
2. Is the leak indoors or outdoors? Find the master shutoff valve (B in the picture), usually on the outside of the house or in the garage. Turn the valve off, and if the flow indicator is still spinning, your leak is outdoors between the meter and the shutoff valve. Locate and repair underground leaks as soon as possible, because if left unchecked, they could cause property damage.
3. If the leak is indoors, first, check the toilets. Shut off all toilets using the valve at the wall behind the toilet and check the flow indicator. If it stops spinning, at least one toilet is leaking. Turn them on one by one and check the flow indicator each time. More than one toilet could be leaking.
4. Check other appliances, including water softener, water heater, swamp cooler, water-cooled air conditioner, and automatic ice maker. Almost all have bypass valves. Turn them off one by one, checking the meter between each.
5. Turn off the master valve to the irrigation system and check the meter. This will identify a leak in the headworks of the irrigation system, but not in the distribution pipes or sprinkler heads.
6. If none of these tests locates your leak, it may be time to call a plumber.