Reclaimed Water

About Reclaimed Water

Reclaimed water is a product of treated wastewater collected from your homes, businesses, and the by-product water from the city's reverse osmosis water treatment plant. The wastewater flows through sewer mains and pumping stations within in the city's service area to the city owned and operated advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.

Customers in the City of Dunedin can count on high quality reclaimed water suitable for landscape irrigation. Reclaimed water is treated through advanced technical processes designed by engineers, operated by highly skilled and licensed city staff, and tested in sophisticated laboratory processes.

Conserving Reclaimed Water

  • Water early in the morning: By watering early in the morning, you can help reduce evaporation and ensure that the limited supply of reclaimed water is used efficiently.
  • Water deeply and infrequently: Watering deeply and infrequently can help conserve water by encouraging deep root growth and reducing runoff, which means you'll need less reclaimed water overall.
  • Adjust your sprinklers: Adjusting your sprinklers can help ensure that the reclaimed water is used only where it's needed, which can reduce waste and preserve the limited supply.
  • Use drip irrigation: Drip irrigation is a highly efficient way to deliver water directly to the roots of your plants, which can reduce the amount of reclaimed water needed for irrigation.
  • Use native plants: Using native plants can help conserve water because they are adapted to the local climate and require less water than non-native plants. By choosing these plants, you can help ensure that the limited supply of reclaimed water is used efficiently.
  • Use mulch: Adding mulch around your plants and trees can help retain moisture in the soil, which means you'll need less reclaimed water for irrigation.
  • Adjust watering based on weather: By adjusting your watering schedule based on weather conditions, you can avoid over-watering your landscape and help conserve the limited supply of reclaimed water.

By using reclaimed water, we conserve our potable drinking water. But we must remember reclaimed water is also a limited resource. By following these tips and tricks, you can help ensure that the reclaimed water is used efficiently and effectively, while still keeping your landscape healthy and beautiful.

Reclaimed Water Consumer Confidence Reports

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) establishes strict regulations which limit the amount of contaminants in reclaimed water. A Reclaimed Water Consumer Confidence Report (CCR),required by FDEP, is available to reclaimed customers every year and lists contaminants present in the source water for reclaimed water.

2022-reclaimed-water-consumer-confidence-report.pdf(PDF, 108KB)  

Rates

The amount of reclaimed water allocated to a customer is based on 0.8 inches of water per week multiplied by the customer's pervious acreage (total acreage minus the area of the house, pool and driveway). Irrigate within assigned dry season allocation to avoid paying $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of over-used reclaim water. The allocation table below shows how pervious acreage ranges determine your property's allocation. If you have questions about your allocation, please contact the Water Department at (727) 298-3100

Step 1.Rates

  • 0-15,000 gallons = $0.50 per thousand gallons
  • 16,000-125,000 gallons = $0.25 per thousand gallons
  • Over 125,000 gallons = $0.10 per thousand gallons

Step 2.Acreage and Allocations

  • 0.01-0.16 acres = 14,000 gallons or less
  • 0.16-0.19 acres = 17,000 gallons or less
  • 0.19-0.21 acres = 18,000 gallons or less
  • 0.21-0.25 acres = 22,000 gallons or less
  • 0.25-0.29 acres = 25,000 gallons or less
  • 0.29-0.50 acres = 43,000 gallons or less
  • 0.50-1.10 acres = 96,000 gallons or less
  • 1.10-10 acres = 869,000 gallons or less
  • 10-30 acres = 2,607,000 gallons or less
  • 30-100 acres = 8,689,000 gallons or less

 

Map & Schedule

Step 1.Interactive Map

Step 2.Schedule

  • Monday, Thursday, Saturday - Zones 1 @ 5-7 a.m., 2 @ 7-9 a.m., 3 @ 6-8 p.m., 4 @ 8-10 p.m.
  • Tuesday, Friday, Sunday - Zones 5 @ 5-7 a.m., 6 @ 7-9 a.m., 7 @ 6-8 p.m., 8 @ 8-10 p.m.
  • No watering is to be done on Wednesdays or between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m.

     

FAQs
What is an Allocation, how is it determined, and why is it important?

The Allocation is the amount or volume of reclaimed water available to customers during the Dry Season (February thru June) to which the surcharge fee does not apply. 

How is it determined?

The allocation is based on 0.8 inches of water per week (3.2 inches per month) multiplied by the amount of pervious acreage (total acreage minus the area of the house, patio, sidewalk, driveway, etc.) on a customer's property.

Why is it Important?

The allocation determines the overall size (number of customers) the Reclaimed Water System can sustain and provides for a base line of irrigation usage for each property.  The allocation is important to the customer as it could affect the utility bill during the dry season if the allocation is exceeded.  Customers who exceed their dry season allocation will incur an over use surcharge fee of $2.00 per thousand gallons of overuse.

Can Reclaimed Water be used to water my garden?

Reclaimed Water can be used for edible crops that will be peeled, skinned, cooked or thermally processed before consumption.  Reclaimed Water must not come into direct contact with plants, vegetables or fruit that are eaten raw.

Can I use drip irrigation with Reclaimed Water?

Yes.

Does Reclaimed Water smell?

No.

Can I have a hose bib or a garden hose connected to Reclaimed Water?

No, to avoid water cross connections  hose bibs and garden hoses are not allowed.

What are the gallons per minute flow for Reclaimed Water Meters?
  • 1"    Meter =  25 gpm
  • 1.5" Meter = 175 gpm
  • 2"    Meter = 250 gpm 
What is Reclaimed Waters pound per square inch (PSI) pressure?

55-60 PSI

What does it cost to hook-up to Reclaimed Water?

Captial Cost Recovery Fees (CCRFs) are collected for all new Reclaimed Water Connections.  CCRFs can be paid in full at the time of installation, paid off anytime after installation or financed for 20 years at 7% interest.  Call the Water Division at (727) 298-3100 for more information.

How do I connect to Reclaimed Water?

Call the Water Division at (727) 298-3100 to determine if Reclaimed Water is available for your property.

Reclaimed Water in Dunedin

Customers in the City of Dunedin can count on high quality reclaimed water suitable for landscape irrigation. Reclaimed water is treated through advanced technical processes designed by engineers, operated by highly skilled and licensed city staff, and tested in sophisticated laboratory processes.

The utilization of the city's reclaimed water for landscape irrigation is safe for the protection of the environment and the public health. The city's reclaimed water program is an important component in the conservation of groundwater needed to sustain your drinking water supply for future years.

Reclaimed water is a product of treated wastewater collected from your homes, businesses, and the by-product water from the city's reverse osmosis water treatment plant. The wastewater flows through sewer mains and pumping stations within in the city's service area to the city owned and operated advanced Wastewater Treatment Facility.

This facility operates 365 days a year, 24-hours a day, and is operated by technically skilled operators, mechanics, and electricians committed to providing city customers with superior reclaimed water quality. There, the wastewater moves through numerous treatment processes to remove odor, oils and grease, organic matter, solids, nitrogen, phosphorus, metals, bacteria and other contaminants.

The resulting reclaimed water meets all state standards for use as landscape irrigation water. Reclaimed water is then pumped to customers and to four storage tanks located throughout the city.

Cross Connection Control "Protecting You"

In accordance with the city's Cross-Connection Control Program, the Water Division installs a backflow prevention assembly at homeowners' water meters in all subdivisions having reclaimed water service.

A backflow prevention assembly is a mechanical assembly that meets standards as set forth by the American Water Works Association, the American Society of Sanitary Engineers and the Foundation for Cross-Connection and Hydraulic Research. These installations protect you by preventing the backflow of potential contaminants or pollution from customers' plumbing back into the public water supply.

Every backflow prevention assembly is tested each year to insure proper working conditions. The Water Division staff repairs or replaces all faulty assemblies at no additional cost to the customer.

Annually, the Water Division staff conducts tests for each customer's reclaimed water irrigation system and their drinking water plumbing to insure that these systems remain separate and a cross-connection has not occurred.

For additional information concerning reclaimed water and cross-connection control contact the Water Division.

 

Updates

Water & Irrigation Restrictions and Fines

No watering on Wednesday OR between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. daily!

Please only irrigate within your assigned dry season allocation to avoid paying $2.00 per 1,000 gallons of over-used reclaimed water and do not water during the hours of 9 am to 6 pm and 10 pm to 5 am daily and all day on Wednesday. These periods are specifically designated to fill the storage tanks and perform system maintenance. Should you have any questions concerning your watering schedule please contact the Water Division at 298-3100.

Reclaimed Water Availability

Please be aware, due to extremely dry weather patterns and high demand, the City can interrupt reclaimed water service to replenish the supply for existing customers. Currently there is a moratorium on new reclaimed watermain construction although there are a limited number of reclaimed water connections available along existing reclaimed watermains. To find out if reclaimed water is available at your location, contact the Dunedin Water Division (727) 298-3100.

Contact Us

1401 County Road 1
Dunedin, FL 34698
(727) 298-3100
(727) 298-3237 Fax

Hours of Operation
Monday - Friday, 7 a.m. - 4 p.m.

After Hours Emergency (24/7)
(727) 462-0534

 

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