Mandatory Connection

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Mandatory connection to City sewer and water applies to developed properties with sewer and/or water lines readily available. Mandatory connection to centralized sewer is regulated by the State of Florida, section 381.00655(1)(a), Florida Statutes.

As of October 1, 2023, there are approximately 1,066 developed parcels where City sewer is available (known as Sewer Available Not Connected or SANC) and 2,344 developed parcels where City water is available (known as Water Available Not Connected or WANC). Of those developed parcels, 289 are neither connected to water nor sewer.

Upon approval of the mandatory connection ordinance on November 2, 2023, and through a phased approach the City will seek mandatory connection beginning in the summer of 2024. The Utilities Department will notify SANC and WANC property owners in writing of the availability of centralized water and/or sewer services. Property owners will have one year from the date of written notification to connect.

This multi-year plan to connect SANC and WANC properties to centralized sewer and water will promote environmental stewardship within the community by working towards eliminating over 32,000 existing septic systems and 12,000 drinking water wells throughout Palm Bay.

Septic-to-Sewer Process

Households within the current SANC Mandatory Connection phase will receive a Notification of Sewer Service Availability and information on how to apply for septic-to sewer funding eligibility.

Eligible homeowners will be contacted by a program representative and provided additional details about connecting to central sewer through an agreement with a pre-approved contractor.

A customer account for sewer service must be established (a $100.00 deposit may apply).

Upon satisfaction of the agreement(s), contractor expenses will be reimbursed by the identified funding source.

Connect with Us

Our Customer Care staff is here to help you navigate Mandatory Connection and is equipped to answer any questions or concerns you have.

For questions about the City's Mandatory Connection ordinance or the availability of water and sewer services in your area, please contact the Palm Bay Utilities Department.

Email: ucs@pbfl.org

Phone: (321) 952-3420

Utilities Customer Service
City Hall Annex Building
120 Malabar Road SE Palm Bay, FL 32907

Customer Care Hours of Operation

Monday - Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Thursday: 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Friday: 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m.

FAQ

What does it mean to convert from septic to sewer?

There are approximately 1,275 homes in Palm Bay that are currently utilizing a septic tank system to collect domestic waste from the property despite having access to a centralized sewer system via a sewer pipe available at their property line. Whereas septic tanks are required to be manually pumped once every 3-5 years at the homeowner’s expense, the City’s centralized sewer system collects waste from homes and pipes it to the City’s wastewater treatment plant.

Why should I convert my septic tank to sewer?

According to Brevard County’s Natural Resources Management Department, there are over 80,000 septic systems in Brevard County, 59,400 of which are located within the Indian River Lagoon watershed where rain/stormwater run-off that discharges to the Lagoon. Connecting to the centralized sewer system reduces algae bloom-feeding nitrogen and phosphorous pollutants in the groundwater that migrate to and negatively impacts the health of the river and its habitants.

Septic systems are commonly used where centralized sewer systems do not exist. When properly maintained, septic systems are often a safe means of disposing domestic waste. However, when septic systems are installed over sand or other poor soils close to the groundwater table or open water, they can be a major contributor of pollutants, nutrients, bacteria, and viruses to the environment. Leaky or poorly maintained tanks and failing drain fields also contribute to water pollution.

What are the benefits to connecting to sewer?

There are many tangible and intangible benefits of connecting to the centralized sewer, to include:

City sewer services are more reliable and require less homeowner maintenance than septic systems.
Septic systems are statutorily required to be maintained at the homeowner’s expense. The typical cost to pump a septic tank is approximately $250-$400 per occurrence. Additional services and maintenance costs also apply.
Current regulatory requirements for septic systems have become much more restrictive. Replacement or repair of aged septic systems may be more costly or possibly prohibited. If your septic system fails and centralized sewer exists at your property line, a permit to replace the septic tank is less likely to be approved, requiring connection to centralized sewer.
Connection to centralized sewer may contribute to increased property values, especially if a property has the liability of a non-compliant or aging septic system.
Disabling septic systems and connecting to centralized sewer will reduce impacts to potable water wells and groundwater quality. This will alleviate concerns of potential groundwater contamination and possible enforcement actions.

What are the estimated monthly sewer costs?

The monthly, centralized sewer cost is typically based on average monthly water consumption. For locations connected to centralized sewer but not to the centralized potable water system, a flat sewer use fee applies. City of Palm Bay sewer rates can be found at www.pbfl.org/s2s by clicking the link titled Residential Rates & Charges.

Is there funding available to help me pay for this conversion?

Yes! On December 1, 2022, Palm Bay City Council approved $420,000 in State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to assist eligible low-income households connect to City sewer.

Click Here to apply.

Additionally, the City sought and secured State appropriations totaling $2,100,000 during the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 legislative session to assist with septic-to-sewer conversions and will seek an additional $5 million in appropriations during the 2024-2025 state legislative session.

The City will continue to coordinate with the Save Our Indian River Lagoon (SOIRL) Program to leverage available “quick connect” grant funds for residents as those funds are made available.

Palm Bay City Council authorized waivers of utilities-related fees for eligible SANC and WANC properties for connection to City sewer and/or water. Fees waived include main line extension charges and impact Utilities impact fees, totaling approximately $5,670.40 for sewer and $3,553 for water per household.

The City has and continues to seek funding opportunities to offset the cost burden to private property owners.