Reclaimed Water Rate Plan Options

Reclaimed water comes from wastewater that’s been cleaned and treated so it can be safely reused for things like watering lawns and landscaping.

Here’s how it works:
1. Wastewater from homes and businesses goes to a treatment plant.
2. Large solids and debris are removed.
3. Microorganisms clean out organic materials and nutrients.
4. The water is filtered and disinfected with chlorine, ozone or UV light.
5. Once treated, it’s sent through a dedicated purple pipe system — separate from drinking water — for irrigation use.

This highly treated water is used for non-drinking purposes, like landscape and agricultural irrigation.

Additional Resources:

• Reclaimed Water FAQs
• Water Fees and Rates

The tiered rate system ensures reclaimed water remains available for everyone and encourages conservation. The goal is to keep costs affordable for typical users, while providing an incentive for higher usage customers to reduce their consumption.

The University of Florida found that an average ¼-acre lawn needs about 15,000 gallons per month. Since Pinellas County bills every two months, that equals 30,000 gallons for one billing cycle. Anything above that falls into the higher Tier 2 rate.

This will depend on how much reclaimed water you use and the rate plan chosen by the Board. Some options focus on a higher base charge, while others put more emphasis on usage. The $14 availability charge remains the same under all proposed options.

Your reclaimed water use is added up over two months. If your total use is 30,000 gallons or less, you stay in Tier 1. If it’s more than 30,000 gallons, Tier 2 rates apply to the extra gallons used over the 30,000-gallon threshold. You can track your usage anytime at myaccount.pinellas.gov.

You can track your reclaimed water usage on the Utilities Customer Portal. By checking your usage regularly, you’ll know how much water you’re using and avoid surprises when your bill arrives.

Yes! You can make sure you’re only watering on the right days and implement water saving practices and tools like using water-efficient sprinklers and fixing leaks quickly. Small changes can make a big difference and help keep your bill lower.

The availability of reclaimed water depends on the existing treatment capacity and distribution pipes in place. Some neighborhoods aren’t near existing systems, and connecting them would require major upgrades.

Even in the same neighborhood, availability depends on how the reclaimed water lines were built. If your street isn’t connected to the system or your property isn’t inside the service area, you may not have access yet.

North County’s plant receives and processes less wastewater, which means less reclaimed water is produced. At the same time, larger lawns in the area create higher demand — especially during dry months. While we use storage ponds to help balance supply, they can run low during long dry periods.

The rate structure doesn’t tell you how much water you can use, but changes how your bill is calculated. Part of your bill is a flat base charge, and the rest depends on how much reclaimed water you use. We recommend watering according to local rules and seasonal guidance provided by Pinellas County Utilities. Water availability can change depending on the weather and system demand.

• Follow your assigned watering days and times.
• Check for leaks in your irrigation system and adjust timers seasonally to avoid wasting water.
• Use Smart Irrigation Systems: Smart timers or sensors adjust watering based on real-time weather conditions, reducing waste.
• Plant Drought-Tolerant Landscaping: Native plants and drought-resistant species use less water and thrive with minimal irrigation. Learn more about Florida-Friendly Landscaping from our local Extension Office.

Pinellas County Utilities staff will review customer feedback and recommend a plan to the Board of County Commissioners for their consideration and decision. We’ll share updates at Pinellas.gov/rcw-options.

Any future changes will go through a public process and require Board of County Commissioners approval. The current proposals don’t increase overall program costs, but adjust how charges are split between the base rate and per-gallon use.

When the reclaimed water program started, demand was low, so reclaimed water was provided to encourage conservation of drinking water. As more people connected and costs grew, rates were needed to cover treatment, maintenance and system improvements. Pinellas County Utilities does not make a profit, instead the rates simply cover the cost of providing the service. The $14 availability fee remains the same in all proposed options.

Check your watering schedule and recent outage notices from Pinellas County Utilities at Pinellas.gov/water-conservation first. If the problem continues, please call us at (727) 464-4000 for assistance.

Visit Pinellas.Gov/Water-Conservation to see how you can save water and money by implementing water conservation and Florida-Friendly Landscaping practices. You’ll find an up-to-date watering schedule, water conservation tips, Florida-Friendly Landscaping guidance and more.