Polk County Utilities Customers to See Rate Increases for Water, Sewer Services

Polk County Utility customers will see an increase in their cost of water and sewer bills starting today. Water and wastewater rates have been increased by 6% beginning Oct. 1.

According to county spokesperson Jeff Foley, "the surcharge assessed on water usage and reclaimed water usage also will increase, as will connection fees. The increases are necessary to allow the county to meet its current and future water demands."

Courtesy Polk Regional Water Cooperative

Increasing demand for water is requiring area cities and Polk County Utilities to cooperate on a massive water project to desalinate briny water from deep below the surface. The project is expected cost more than $1 billion.

The increase is the first that Polk County Utilities Division has implemented since 2019.

The surcharge assessed on water usage (amount added to bill on top of standard rate, based on use) will also increase by $0.25/1,000 gallons each year from October 2024 through October 2028.

The new increases will also affect water re-use systems, which offer treated water for irrigation purposes. Those 'purple pipe" systems are only available in limited areas of the county.

"Using reclaimed water is another conservation effort used by Polk County," Foley said in a statement. "Reclaimed water is highly-treated wastewater that is distributed to homes for use as irrigation water. For every gallon of water that is reclaimed, that is one less gallon of water that needs to be taken from the aquifer, allowing more to be used for drinking water and indoor use."

Polk County is investing heavily in the Polk Regional Water Cooperative, joining a dozen Polk cities in developing a network of pipelines, wells, and a desalinating plant that will combine to draw brackish water from the sub-Floridan aquifer deep below the earth. After treatment, the water will be piped from a facility east of Lake Wales to cities and their customers from Davenport to Bartow.

Courtesy United States Geological Services

The over-stressed Floridan Aquifer has reached the limit of its capacity for withdrawals, requiring area utlities services to find other sources of drinking water.

The huge project, expected to cost well over a billion dollars, has been directed by the Southwest Florida Water Management District in response to growing demand which is causing serious declines in the levels of the sweet Floridan Aquifer. No increased withdrawals will be permitted from that long-time source, which serves most of peninsular Florida.

Consumers are advised to consider several ways they can mitigate the increased costs of water by reducing their consumption. Those suggestions include:

• Install low-flow toilets and shower heads.

• Check washing machines, toilets and pipes often for leaks.

• Do not let water run needlessly.

• Turn off the water when you're brushing your teeth.

• Invest in water-saving appliances.

• Modify landscapes to feature Florida-friendly plants and grass.

• Invest in rain sensors or smart irrigation timers.

For more information, visit https://www.polk-county.net/how-floridas-water-dilemma-is-impacting-polk-utilities-rates/.