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Frequently Asked Questions
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- General
- Billing
- Starting a New Service
- Water
- Wastewater
- Stormwater
- Reclaimed Water
- Regulatory Compliance
How Do I Locate Underground Utility Lines If I Am Doing Large Scale Excavation?
Underground lines, both on and off your property, can be easily damaged by digging equipment. To ensure community safety Underground Utilities Division provides locator services for our lines. You can contact the free line locate service at "CALL SUNSHINE" (Previously U.N.C.L.E.) at 1-800-432-4770 for your utilities locating services (also phone, cable TV, FPL, etc.)
What Is An Easement?
An easement is the right afforded a person, company, or agency, to make limited use of another's real property. Utility companies obtain easements for the installation and maintenance of power lines, telephone or television cables, gas lines, and water, and sewer mains. Residents and business owners must check with local utilities to be sure there are no easements along the proposed fence line or construction improvement. Also, check your mortgage survey, deed, or plat of the subdivision for easement information.
Who Do I Call If I Have A Question About My Bill?
All billing is handled through Water Office of the Finance Department. They can be reached at
954-921-3241.
How Can I Pay My Water Bill?
What If I Can't Pay My Bill By The Due Date?
Please contact the Water Office to discuss your specific needs at 921-3241.
Will A Malfunctioning Meter Cause Me To Receive A Large Bill.
Typically water meters do not run fast when malfunctioning. Rather they will usually run slow when they start to fail.
How Is My Bill Calculated, And What Does It Cost Me To Get Service?
The basis for all billing requirements can be found in the City of Hollywood
Code of Ordinances. Visit the On-Line code for up to date information on utility charges.
How Do I Read My Meter?
Please go to the Reading Your Water Meter Fact Sheet for information.
Application for Service
If you live in or planning to move to an area serviced by the City of Hollywood,
the Water Office staff can help you with your water and sewer needs. Contact
them at (954) 921-3241 to have service established or discontinued and for
billing information or water metering requirements. If your only option is to
apply for water and sewer service online, click
here for information.
2003
Water Quality Report (latest available)
How Many Gallons Of Water Are In A Cubic Foot Of Water?
There are 7.48 gallons of water in one cubic foot.
Is Our Water Hard Or Soft?
Our water is very soft. Numerically it would be expressed as 2 grains per gallon or as 35 milligrams per liter.
Is The Drinking Water Filtered?
Yes.
Where Does Our Drinking Water Come From?
The Biscayne Aquifer, is the main source of water for the City. It is located one to two-hundred feet below ground. Additional wells have been installed into the Floridan Aquifer which is approximately 900-feet underground. The latter water is much more brackish and requires a greater level of treatment before it can be provided as drinking water.
Is It Safe To Use Tap Water In My Fish Tanks?
The Water Treatment Plant uses chlorine and ammonia to disinfect the water. This is important so humans don't get waterborne diseases. Chloramines can be lethal to fish, however, so it's important to adequately dechlorinate water before it's added to an aquarium.
Can Water Cause Hair To Turn Green?
The most common cause of "green hair" is a chemical reaction that occurs when copper leaches into water from copper plumbing within your home, and these copper compounds react with blond hair. "Green hair" may also occur when blond hair has contact with the high chlorine dosages or copper sulfate used in pools and spas for algae control. Hair tints, dyes, and permanents can significantly alter the chemical structure of hair and cause it to react adversely with other chemicals such as chlorine. Using special shampoos designed for swimmers or for color-treated or permed hair may be helpful.
When Should I Water My Lawn?
Please visit the Irrigation Restrictions page for information concerning watering schedules for within the city.
How Do I Get a New Meter, Or Get My Old Meter Repaired?
To get a new meter or have a meter repaired, contact the Water Office at 921-3241.
Is the City Responsible for the Repair of My Service?
The Public Utilities Department is responsible for maintaining the service up to and including the meter, which is generally near the property line. Any repairs required from the meter into a building are the responsibility of the owner.
Should I be Concerned About Radon in My Water?
NO. In our lab testing, radon was non-detectable in our potable water.
Do We Test Our Water For Impurities?
Yes, extensively. The Utilities Laboratory maintains a testing program that exceeds state and federal regulations. We test for pesticides, heavy metals, bacteria, volatile organic compounds, etc. Testing is conducted at various locations within our system.
Who can I call to get my water tested, or if I have a quality complaint?
Call the Utilities Laboratory at 921-3434.
Who can I call if I have questions about my water?
Call the Water Treatment Plant at 967-4230.
Who Is Responsible For Finding And Fixing Leaks In My Water Service?
The utility's responsibility ends at the meter, however, we will try and help you locate problems on your side of the meter if you request it.
What Is Reverse Osmosis And Membrane Softening?
These are forms of water treatment where we pump water through membrane systems (super fine filter screens) to remove impurities from the water. For more information, visit our "membrane treatment" portion of our plant tour.
What Is A Cross-Connection?
A cross connection is a physical interconnection between the drinking water and possible sources of contaminated water. In the home, typical cross-connections may be from garden hoses, dishwashers, and heating systems.
What Is "Hard" Water?
It's water high in minerals -- some of which are essential for health. However, laundry washed in hard water may not seem as clean. Water softeners may help, but because they add sodium, they should not be attached to water lines used for cooking or drinking. Note: bottled mineral water is extremely "hard."
Is Bottled Water Safer Or Healthier To Drink Than Tap Water?
Not necessarily. The safety of bottled water and tap water initially depends on the source of the water. Monitoring and source protection, treatment and testing ultimately determine the quality of the finished product. For the first time, the 1996 Authorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires that bottled water be monitored and tested in the same rigorous manner that tap water has been subject to for years. Your tap water consistently meets drinking water standards, it is not necessary to use either bottled water or a home water treatment device to have safe water to drink. Of note: 50% of bottled water manufacturers get their water from the same sources as municipal water departments. Bottled water costs about 1,000 times more than tap water and most of that pays for product packaging and advertising Because bottled water is not required to be date stamped, its quality can deteriorate over time. Any bacteria in the water at the time of bottling can continue to grow.
In recent years, the popularity of bottled water and has increased dramatically. There are approximately 700 brands of bottled water sold in the United States alone. The most common kinds are spring water, mineral water, purified water, sparkling water, and well water. Considered a food product, bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), while tap water, a utility product, is regulated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The re-authorized Safe Drinking Water Act of 1996 requires that the FDA establish regulations for bottled water equivalent to those for tap water.
Will Using A Home Water Treatment Device Make My Water Safer Or Healthier?
Not necessarily. The EPA does not recommend home treatment devices as a substitute for public water treatment because of the difficulty in monitoring system performance. Home treatment devices are not tested or regulated by the federal government. Some, however, are tested by independent laboratories. If you want to use a water treatment device, carefully choose one according to the water conditions in your area. Also be aware that a device needs to be properly maintained. If regular maintenance is not performed properly, water quality problems can actually result.
What is the Safe Drinking Water Act?
In the early 1900's, states began to monitor and regulate water systems. Water professionals worked closely with researchers and health officials to develop standards to protect public health. In 1974, the federal government created uniform national requirements for public water supplies by passing the original Safe Drinking Water Act. It directed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish standards and requirements to protect consumers from harmful contaminants in drinking water. In 1986, the SDWA was updated with additional regulations aimed at improving water quality. The 1996 reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act strikes a balance among federal, state, local, urban, rural, large and small water system requirements that improve the protection of public health and bring reason and good science to the regulatory process.
One of the provisions of the newly updated Safe Drinking Water Act requires that the Food and Drug Administration establish regulations for bottled water. The law specifies that the regulations for bottled water are to be no less stringent than those issued for public water systems. It also requires EPA to study the feasibility of informing consumers of bottled water content.
The Safe Drinking Water Hot-line phone number is 1-800-426-4791, for more information about the SDWA, call the EPA toll-free Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Are There Standards For Taste, Odor And Appearance?
Yes, we test and monitor drinking water to meet two types of standards. The primary standards, called MCL's are set to protect human health and the secondary standards concern aesthetic considerations such as taste, odor and appearance. Health and aesthetic aspects are the driving forces behind drinking water regulations.
How Do I Connect To Sewer If My House Is On A Septic System?
The first step is to call the Engineering Support Services Division at (954) 921-3930 to determine if your home is close enough to a sewer system to connect. The engineers will evaluate the feasibility of getting your home served by analyzing maps of the City's sewer system.
What Happens To The Water I Flush?
Sanitary sewage wastewater normally flows by gravity through underground pipes to the wastewater treatment plant where the water is treated physically, chemically, and biologically before being discharged back to the environment.
What Are Pumping Stations For?
The neighborhood collection systems are is mostly "gravity driven" - water flows downhill, even in the very flat areas of the City. The wastewater is then collected at area lift stations where it is pumped into a system of force mains that lead to the wastewater treatment plant.
How Does The City Treat Wastewater?
At the plant, wastewater from the collection system enters the Preliminary Treatment Facility which screens out large objects and lets sand and gravel settle out of the wastewater. The water flows into tanks to be mixed with pure oxygen and secondary sludge. In these "aeration" tanks, bacteria consume more pollutants. Next, in the sedimentation clarifiers, clumps of dead bacteria and pollutants are allowed to settle out as "secondary sludge". About 30% of the secondary sludge is returned to the Aeration Tanks, and the rest is dewatered and further processed. The wastewater is then treated with a chlorine solution. This solution is similar to household bleach. The "effluent" is then either discharged to the ocean, or further treated for use as reclaimed water.
Pure oxygen is used because of space limitations. The plant is hemmed in by residential neighborhoods In order to deal with the continuously arriving flow, without using more space for aeration tanks, pure oxygen is mixed with the wastewater. This allows much faster bacterial growth and purification.
Does What I Put Down the Drain Effect My Service?
Sewer lines are clogged daily by people who dispose of such things as grease, motor oil, eggshells, coffee grounds, and kitty litter down drains, toilets, garbage disposals, and sewer manholes. Help us keep your plumbing bills, and future rate increases down by observing the following helpful hints:
- No grease down drains - cooking oils, fats, etc.
- No motor oils down drains or city storm drains.
- No egg shells down the disposal or drains - should be disposed of in solid waste bins.
- No kitty litter down drains - gritty materials sink, causing blockages in the line.
- No coffee grounds down disposals or drains.
Also remember, it is illegal to dump some products, like anti-freeze, and other chemicals into the sewers.
Flood Zone Determinations
For flood zone, flood plain, or FEMA questions you can call the Public Utilities Flood Determination Line at 921-3939. Leave your name telephone number, and a brief description of your question, and we will return your call as soon as possible.
What's The Storm Water Fee, And What's It For?
The storm water fee is used by the City to improve the storm drainage system. Our flat terrain, limited creeks and ponds, and inadequate man-made drainage facilities make flooding after thunderstorms all too common. The fee is assessed based on the amount of runoff from the property.
Who Do I Call About Storm Sewer Problems?
Storm sewers are maintained by the City in which they are located. Storm sewers are identified as the large grates in streets and near curbs. In Hollywood, contact the Flood Line at 921-3939 for non-emergency issues, or call 921-3288 for emergencies.
What Are The Advantages Of Reclaimed Water Over Well Water?
For lawns and other landscaping, reclaimed water contains the fertilizing properties of nitrogen and phosphorus, ideal for growing lush Florida lawns. Well water can leave unsightly orange stains as a result of iron in the water, not found in reclaimed water.
How Does The City Deal With Industrial Polluters?
Our Industrial Pretreatment Program works with businesses in City of Hollywood service area to determine if they are at risk of causing excess demand on the treatment facilities. Businesses found to be at risk are issued permits spelling out the limits on pollutants likely to be in their wastewater. The businesses must have their discharges tested at stated intervals and report on the test results. They are also subject to unannounced testing, performed by Industrial Pretreatment staff. Fines can be assessed if necessary to enforce compliance.
Did You Know?
In 1991, Florida enacted a statute governing automatic sprinkler systems. It says, in part,
"Any person who purchases an automatic lawn sprinkler system shall install a rain sensor device or switch which overrides the irrigation cycle when adequate rainfall has occurred."
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