Q. Where does our water come from?
A. 100 percent of the water we supply to homes and businesses in the City Gulf Breeze is imported from Fairpoint Regional Utility Authority. For those households outside the City, 100 percent of the water used is imported from Fairpoint Regional Utility Authority.
Q. Where does our water go after we are done with it?
A. Water leaving our homes generally is sent to our wastewater treatment plant through the wastewater collection system or it goes into your individual septic tank where it it is treated in the septic tank. The out flow from the septic tank seeps back into the ground.
Q. How can I check or read my own water meter?
A. Your water meter is generally located near the curb in front of your home or place of business. It is housed in a box usually marked “water”. Carefully remove the lid by using a tool such as a large screwdriver.
Water meters resemble the odometer in your car. We read the first four (4) digits only. Your bill is figured by subtracting the old number (your last month’s reading) from the new number (your current reading). The difference is the units of consumption for this billing. Each unit is equal to 1,000 gallons.
Q. How can I cut back on my water consumption?
A. More water goes down the drain in an ordinary day’s routine than most of us realize. (For instance, 40 percent of the pure water used in the average house is flushed down the toilet.) Consequently, most households can save gallons of water everyday by combining a few minor plumbing installations with simple lifestyle changes. Of course, every household is different. The following list is only an indicator, providing an approximation of your home’s water use and how it can be reduced.
- Install an ultra low-flow toilet to decrease the gallons of water used per flush from 5 or 6 gallons per flush to 1 or 2 gallons.
- Low-flow shower heads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute as opposed to 6 to 8 gallons used with a regular shower head. Also, you can save water by taking a bath rather than a shower.
- Brush your teeth with a glass of water drawn for rinsing rather than leaving the water running while brushing.
- Use a garden hose with a restrictor to cut down usage by 5 gallons per minute.
- Repair faucet drips right away. Even a small leak can cause at least 2 gallons of usage per day.
- Periodically check your toilets for a leak. Leaks cannot always be detected by a running toilet. A good test is to place a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. Then wait a few hours. If any food coloring appears in the toilet bowl, you have a leak.
Q. Does the City of Gulf Breeze offer senior- or low-income discounts?
A. Currently the City of Gulf Breeze offers a program for customers 65 years of age and older. After a six (6) month history of satisfactory payments, seniors can sign up for the following privileges:
- Return of water, sewer, and gas deposits.
- One free gas turn off or on per calendar year.
- 10 percent reduction in garbage rates billed by the City (this is for City residents only).
