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1. What is Reclaimed Water?

Reclaimed water is the result of wastewater which has been highly treated and disinfected and reused. Reclaimed water is essentially free of bacteria and viruses. Reclaimed water is ideal for irrigation, but not suitable for human or animal consumption.

No negative effects have been noted or reported as a result of exposure to reclaimed water. However, remember that: (1) irrigation should occur at a time when human or animal contact is least likely; and (2) the effectiveness of any program relies on people, equipment and good common sense.

2. Why use Reclaimed Water?

Reclaimed Water Helps You Conserve! - As the demand for fresh water increases in Florida and around the globe, the challenge to develop alternative water sources to satisfy future needs has become critical. Using reclaimed water reduces the demand on the Floridan Aquifer, our primary fresh water source. Reclaimed Water for Irrigation is Required - by the St. Johns River Water Management District as a condition of the City's Consumptive Use Permit for withdrawal of fresh water from the Floridan Aquifer for public consumption. Reclaimed Water Helps You Save Money - After the initial investment for connection, irrigating with reclaimed water may significantly reduce your monthly utility bill. Additional savings come from delaying the costs for the City to research and develop new fresh water sources. Reclaimed Water Helps You Save the Environment - by reducing the discharge of effluent to the river and through recharging the groundwater supply.

3. How to Connect to the Reclaimed Water System?

Step 1: Apply for a Connection Permit

You may request an application or obtain one from the Utility Billing Department. Once completed, the application is processed by customer service for fee and payment. Contact the Utility Billing Department at 626-7051 for more information.

Step 2: Pay Connection Fee

A one time connection fee determined by meter size will be collected by the City of DeLand Customer Service Division. The fee must be paid in full prior to issuance of the connection permit.

Step3: Select a Contractor

You must choose an Irrigation or Plumbing Contractor licensed to perform the activities in Volusia County, or perform the work yourself if you are a homeowner. Please contact the Volusia County Department of Health Eng. Department at 386-274-0787 to verify that the contractor meets the County's license requirements.

Please note that FDEP regulations require reclaimed piping and sprinkler heads to be purple in color and a backflow prevention device must be installed on each potable water connection.

Step 4: Obtain Service

After the work has been completed, a plumbing inspection must be requested from the Volusia County Health Department. If the connection requires no modifications, the Utilities Division will be notified. After notification, a service technician will activate your system. Billing will be effective as of that date. After connection, you will be charged the current applicable rate per 1000 gallons used. Reclaimed is currently exempt from the St. Johns River Water Management District's and County watering restrictions.

Uses Not Permitted

• No consumption of reclaimed water (Human or Animal)
• No connection to a dwelling for toilet flushing or other household usage.
• No interconnection with another water source.
• No sprinkling of edible crops (watering of roots is acceptable).
• No use for body-contact recreation.
• No use through non-lockable hose bibbs, faucets, couplers or hoses, etc.
• No filling of swimming pools.
• No sharing a common reclaimed service or connection between properties.
• No filling of decorative pools or fountains.
• No supplying air cooling systems (A/C units).
• No residential washing of equipment such as cars, boats, driveways, structures, etc.

Payments

• Payments can be made in person on the first floor of City Hall at 120 South Florida Avenue, DeLand, FL - Monday through Friday (8 am - 5 pm).
• Drop boxes are located near the entrance of City Hall, south of City Hall at the rear of the Fire Department and in the Customer Service lobby on the first floor of City Hall
• Payments can be mailed to City of DeLand, P.O. Box 2919, DeLand, FL 32721-2919
• Payments can be made by phone using MasterCard, VISA or check by calling 386-626-7051
• Payments can be made on the internet using MasterCard, VISA. Make online utility bill payments.
• Automatic bank payment is available by completing the authorization form.

Returned Payments

A charge will be assessed for any returned payment in accordance with Florida State Statue 68.065. A 24-hour notice is provided to satisfy the returned payment and related charges prior to disconnection of service. This notice is provided on the first returned payment only. Subsequent returned payments will result in immediate disconnection of service without notice. Delinquent fees apply. Once service has been disconnected for a returned payment, the full balance on the account must be paid including any fees.

Late Charges

A $10 late fee will be added to your account if your payment does not reach our office by 8 am on the day after the due date indicated on the front of your bill. The City does not recognize the postmark date as the date of payment.

Payment Extensions

The City offers one payment extension per twelve months to all Utility Billing customers. If eligible the extension would give the customer two weeks from the due date that appears on the bill to pay the amount due. If payment is not received by the agreed upon date service will be disconnected and a $50 fee will be added to the balance due. The past due balance and $50 fee must be paid in full before reconnection of service.

Delinquent Charges / Turn-Offs

A $50 delinquent charge will be added to your account if payment does not reach our office by 8 am six days after the due date indicated on the front of your bill and is subject to immediate disconnection of service. The date service will be disconnected is also shown on the front of your bill. Once service has been disconnected, the total amount due on your account, including any late or delinquent charges, and excluding any charges that have not reached their scheduled due date, must be paid in full by 4 pm for same day reconnection. Payments received after 4 pm will be reconnected the next business day or will be assessed an additional fee for same day reconnection.

Non-Receipt of Utility Bill

In the event that you do not receive your utility bill, please contact Customer Service at 386-626-7051. Failure to receive a bill does not relieve the customer from payment obligation nor charges for late or delinquent payments.

Liens

Per Florida Statute 159.17, unpaid balances billed to property owners constitute a lien against the property. The City also files paper liens against the property to further document the lien. Once a lien is place on a property it will start to accrue lien interest until paid in full. Additional fees apply.

Water Meters

Meters are read via radio signal and can be read from a mile or more away. It is not necessary for service personnel to physically visit the property to read the meter. Meters are read approximately every 30 days. Reading dates may vary due to holidays, weekends, severe weather or other unusual conditions. Meters measure water used in gallons. For billing purposes, readings are rounded downward and consumption is billed in whole thousands of gallons. Sewer charges are based on water consumption.

Meter Tampering

Customers are responsible for the meters on their accounts. Unauthorized access to water or damage to equipment will result in a meter tampering fee of $200 plus equipment replacement costs and labor charges.

Deposits

Customers who are tenants are required to place a deposit on all new accounts. The Utility Account Application/Change Form must be completed. Deposits are returned as a credit on the account after a period of three years of good standing. Multiple delinquencies on an account will result in additional deposit requirements. Download the Utility Account Application/Change Form (PDF)

Change of Address

It is the customer's responsibility to notify the City of any mailing address changes. If your mailing address has changed, please contact Customer Service at 386-626-7051 with the proper information. Any utility changes must be confirmed in writing either by letter, fax or visiting our office during normal business hours.

Contact Information

The City will attempt to notify customers of payment due dates via telephone. It is the customer's responsibility to update their contact information with the City. The City will make every attempt to contact customers with the information provided but cannot guarantee that calls will be received.

Going Green Incentives

Customers who choose to receive bills via the internet and choose not to receive a paper bill receive a $1 credit each month on their bill. Customers who choose not to receive a paper bill and also sign up for Automatic Bank Payment receive an additional $1 credit each month on their bill. In order to receive any incentives, you must be signed up to not receive a paper bill. Contact Customer Service at 386-626-7051 for more information. Click here to download the Automatic Bank Payment form.