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.

Visit www.pbfl.org/s2s and click on the link for the Palm Bay public map for City water and sewer service. Once there, simply enter your home address or zoom in to find your property. You may need to wait for the webpage to load. Click on your property and follow the prompt box for “Water/Sewer Available”. You may need to click the arrow in the prompt box if there are multiple pages of information.

If you have trouble using the self-service maps, you may also contact the City of Palm Bay’s Utilities Department at (321) 952-3420 to determine sewer connection availability to your home, or email arpa@pbfl.org.

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.

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.
• Converting to sewer now with ARPA grant funding will save you money as compared to connecting later without grant funding.

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.  

No, participation is non-binding until prior to issuance of a notice to proceed to the contractor for construction. By submitting an application, the homeowner is merely expressing an interest in applying for grant funds to cover the full cost to convert from septic to sewer.

City of Palm Bay will cover the total cost associated with connecting to centralized sewer under the ARPA Septic to Sewer Program.  Homeowners participating in the ARPA Septic to Sewer Program will authorize the Contractor to apply for all required permits and carry out all construction tasks. The City of Palm Bay will be responsible for ensuring services are rendered and providing a final inspection of work prior to final payment. Upon issuance of a Notice to Proceed from the City of Palm Bay, the contractor will be required to contact all appropriate agencies having jurisdiction, to include, but not limited to, the City of Palm Bay and the Florida Department of Health.  

The Contractor shall be required to file the necessary permit application and fee with the Florida Department of Health-Brevard County (FDOH) to abandon or crush septic tanks.

The Contractor shall be required to apply for and pay for all necessary City permits (i.e. building permit, right-of-way permit if applicable, etc.) to connect to the City’s centralized sewer system. The Contractor shall be required to provide copies of all permits to the homeowner once the permit is issued. While Palm Bay City Council agreed to waive all utilities related fees, the Homeowner is still required to complete and file all necessary documentation and follow the required procedures as set forth by the Palm Bay Utilities Department.  Homeowners can begin that process here Start / Stop Service | City of Palm Bay, FL (palmbayflorida.org)  Select Residential Application for Services and submit this form to Palm Bay Utilities Department.  

Homeowners can expect the project to be completed within 30 days to 180 days from the executed agreement date, between the City and the Contractor selected for their property.  

The Florida Department of Health is the authority in Brevard County to determine if a septic tank will be abandoned, crushed, removed from the property and required to be filled.  Homeowners can expect this portion of the project to be completed within 3 days to 30 days.  For questions regarding the permitting process, fees and required inspections performed by the Florida Department of Health, please visit Construction Permits | Florida Department of Health in Brevard (floridahealth.gov) or call (321) 633-2100.   Florida Department of Health Brevard County will provide a final close out of the permit to abandon the septic. 

City of Palm Bay’s Building Department is the authority to ensure the construction of plumbing lines are installed correctly from the property to connect to the City’s Sewer System.  Permit applications are available online, Building (Permits/Inspections) | City of Palm Bay, FL (palmbayflorida.org).  Homeowners can expect this portion of the project to be completed within 7 days to 30 days.

Property owners will need to sign a permit-to-enter to allow design consultants to start planning the connection on each parcel. Prior to construction, any impacts to properties will be explained, and the contractors will work with owners to minimize impacts and preserve important landscaping features, whenever possible. Contractors will restore conditions to as good as or better than before. Existing septic tanks will be emptied and disabled and filled with material to avoid reuse in the future. Tanks will NOT be removed—they will be abandoned in place. Any maintenance of the new sewer connection and related equipment on private property will be the responsibility of property owners.

No. The ARPA grant funds are available to eligible residential connections. 

As older septic systems fail, replacement may not be permitted under current State regulations. Regulatory enforcement could require owners to connect if the home is close enough to an existing sewer line.

The City anticipates approximately 30 days from pre-qualification to grant award and estimates 180 days from contractor’s notice to proceed to final inspection. 

ARPA funds will cover the cost of more than one septic tank. 

There’s no obligation to connect, but if you desire (or are required) to do so later, you will be required to pay for the complete conversion costs yourself. This can cost $12,000 or more. 

1. If in the future a homeowner decides to connect on their own, without going through the ARPA Septic to Sewer Program, it would be the responsibility of the homeowner to find a certified and licensed septic contractor, apply for permits with the Florida Department of Health for Brevard County, and
2. Homeowners would need to find a certified and licenses plumber to install lines to connect to the City’s sewer system.
3. Homeowner would be responsible to pay all rates and fees to connect to the City’s Utilities Department. 
4. Homeowner would be responsible to pay all permitting fees with the Building Department for inspections and final out of the plumbing work.