Fort Lauderdale sets out to answer top questions ( WIlton Manors and Wilton Manors residents are customers of Ft. Lauderdale Water)
By Susannah Bryan South Florida Sun Sentinel
Skyrocketing water bills are sending shock waves through Fort Lauderdale.
Fort Lauderdale has warned residents that steep rate increases are needed to pay for a new $1.4 billion water plant expected to open next year.
But the issue has triggered enough outrage for the city to send out an email blast in early February explaining why water bills are going up and what residents can do if they suspect a problem.
“We understand that higher water bills can be frustrating, and we want to provide clarity on why rates have changed and how you can better manage your water use,” the email said. “While rates have increased, some bill spikes may be due to hidden leaks or changes in household consumption.”
High water bills are the talk of the town, River Oaks resident Sean Fee told the South Florida Sun Sentinel.
“A friend of mine was just complaining to me about the high water bills,” he said. “People don’t realize what’s going to happen once this new water plant is fully online. The bills are going to go up even more. But some people are getting these huge bills and they don’t have a leak. I’m talking about people who normally have a monthly bill of $250 and it shoots up to $1,500.”
From June through mid-February, the city’s FixItFTL/Customer Service Center logged 41 complaints about water bills, city records show. Only two of those complaints remain open. The rest were closed within an average of 2.9 days.
When a complaint rolls in, Fort Lauderdale investigates to ensure there is no pattern of overbilling or faulty readings.
“As we’ve received concerns from neighbors over the past several weeks, we’ve investigated individual bills to ensure there is no pattern of overbilling or faulty readings,” said Acting City Manager Susan Grant. “In each case, our investigations show that the billing is accurate. Water and sewer rates have increased, however, what we’re finding is that increases in consumption are what is causing the higher-than-expected water bills.”
Still, some residents have questioned whether there’s something else going on — including if there’s a systemic problem with the city’s water meters. That includes Robert Ferris Jr., a longtime resident of Fort Lauderdale’s Rio Vista neighborhood who contacted the Sun Sentinel.
“Many increases are random and with no basis at all,” he argued. “Some residents are receiving billings of about $1,000 with no increased usage. It is happening all through the city.”
But in many cases, a hidden leak is to blame for the spike in water usage, city officials say. Even small leaks like running toilets and dripping faucets can waste thousands of gallons of water each month.
The current meters don’t catch those leaks.
But new digital meters are on the way that will sound the alarm when there’s a spike in water usage.
The new meters will make it possible for residents to monitor their real-time water usage and get automated alerts about potential leaks, said city spokeswoman Ashley Doussard.
The $48 million project should wrap up in 2028. The city plans to spend another $21 million on ongoing operations and maintenance.
Fort Lauderdale plans to start installing the new meters in late 2025. It will take two and a half years to replace every meter. Fort Lauderdale is still working out which neighborhoods to tackle first, Doussard said.
The city provided the following answers to key questions residents might have about their monthly water and sewer bill:
Have there been unusual spikes in both water and sewer rates?
“No, but there have been planned changes to the rate structure. Effective Oct. 1, 2024, Fort Lauderdale implemented a rate adjustment to address rising operational costs and infrastructure needs. Water charges increased by 22.5% while wastewater charges rose by 9%. For a typical household using 5,000 gallons per month, this results in an increase from $93.67 to $107.14 in the combined monthly bill. These adjustments are necessary to ensure the continued delivery of safe and reliable water services to our community.”
What is triggering those high rates?
“The primary driver behind the rate increases is the need to fund major infrastructure projects, notably the construction of the Prospect Lake Clean Water Center, which will replace the aging Fiveash Water Treatment Plant.” (Sun Sentinel’s note: The new water treatment plant costs $666 million, but the total comes to $1.4 billion over the course of the 30-year loan.)
“Additionally, the city is investing in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to enhance water usage monitoring and billing accuracy. While operational costs — including electricity, fuel and treatment chemicals — have risen, the focus remains on these critical infrastructure improvements to ensure long-term sustainability and efficiency of our water system.”
What are the city’s water and sewer rates?
“The most recent increase took effect on Oct. 1, 2024. Water rates increased by 22.5% and sewer rates increased by 9%. Additional increases are planned each October through 2028, with adjustments designed to balance infrastructure needs while keeping costs manageable for residents. To help pay for the new water plant, the average monthly residential bill for a 5/8-inch meter and 5,000 gallons of usage will increase from $82.14 in fiscal year 2023 to $130.88 by fiscal year 2028.” (Sun Sentinel’s note: That means the average water user will pay an extra $584.88 a year in five years’ time, with their yearly bill rising from $985.68 a year in 2023 to $1,570.56 a year in 2028.)
Could a leak be causing your high water bill?
“Some residents have reported higher-than-normal water use. In many cases, a hidden leak may be the culprit. Even small leaks can waste thousands of gallons of water each month. A running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons per hour. That’s nearly 4,800 gallons per day! This can add hundreds of dollars to a monthly bill.”
Other common household leaks include:
Dripping faucets: A slow drip can waste up to 3,000 gallons per year.
Irrigation system leaks: A broken sprinkler head can waste hundreds of gallons per watering cycle.
Pipe leaks under sinks or inside walls: These often go unnoticed but can cause spikes in your bill.
Why is Fort Lauderdale buying new meters?
“The city is transitioning to Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to provide residents with improved meter reading and billing accuracy. This state-of-the-art technology will offer real-time water usage data and provide automatic alerts for sudden consumption spikes, allowing customers to investigate and resolve potential leaks quickly. The new system will also modernize the city’s infrastructure, allowing for more efficient meter reading without the need for manual checks.”
Do residents have to pay to replace a bad meter?
“The city does not charge customers to replace faulty water meters. Customers can request a test of their water meters. If the meter fails the test, the city does not bill the customer. If the meter is found to be fully functional, the customer will only be charged a $16 testing fee.”
One couple in Bay Colony turned to the city for help after getting bills they considered out of the norm.
The city investigated and sent them the following response:
“Your average monthly water consumption over the past 12 months has been approximately 16,800 gallons. Your December bill of $724.72 was based on 21,000 gallons of usage, which included the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Holidays often contribute to higher water consumption due to increased household activity and guests. Your January bill of $589.31 was based on 17,000 gallons of usage, which covered the New Year’s holiday. This usage is back down closer to your typical average. Recently, the city implemented updated water rates, increasing water charges by 22.5% and sewer charges by 9%. I believe the rate adjustments, rather than a significant increase in usage, is the primary factor in the higher billing amounts.”
Water and sewer usage charges vary based on consumption.
“Seasonal trends, like increased irrigation during dry season, guests or holiday-related activities, can contribute to higher-than-expected bills,” said Grant, the acting city manager. “Some cases also indicate leaks or irrigation systems running longer than expected, which can significantly impact usage. Additionally, like other municipal water suppliers, we use a tiered system where higher consumption moves into higher rate tiers. This can sometimes cause sticker shock when water use increases.”
Grant recommends that homeowners looking to lower their water bills install a separate irrigation meter that will categorize outdoor water usage differently and prevent it from being included in higher-tiered indoor usage rates.
Mayor Dean Trantalis said he has heard plenty of complaints about the price spike in water bills and expects to hear more.
While water bills are increasing across the board due to the higher rates, some residents are seeing unusual spikes in both the water and sewer rates, the mayor said.
Trantalis attended a recent neighborhood meeting in Bay Colony and got an earful.
“A lot of people were complaining,” he said. “We took a look at one lady’s bills and it was really weird. The water bill was not that high. It was the sewer bill. It was thousands of dollars. Something is triggering these high rates. We need to find the root of the cause.”
Sometimes people don’t realize a leak is to blame for their astronomical bill, Trantalis said.
One man told the mayor he got a huge water bill. He was sure there was no leak — until they found one in a water pipes underground.
“The sooner we get those new meters in the better,” Trantalis said. “The meter will trigger an alarm if there is any unusual water use. And we’ll know there’s a problem instead of waiting a month to get the water bill.”
Fort Lauderdale does have a High Use Bill Adjustment Program that can provide relief to customers who are able to verify leaks or unexplained high consumption.
If a repaired leak caused the high bill, residents can apply for an adjustment. Receipts showing proof of repairs is required. If a leak is suspected but not yet identified, the city recommends the homeowner get an inspection from a licensed plumber.
Residents with questions can contact Utility Billing at 954-828-5150 or send an email to UtilityBilling@fortlauderdale.gov if they need help applying for billing adjustments, understanding their bill or setting up a separate irrigation meter to lower costs.
Susannah Bryan can be reached at sbryan@sunsentinel.com. Follow me on X @Susannah_Bryan
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