FAQs

Automated collection increases the efficiency of trash collection while improving safety.  Both reduce operating costs and help stabilize rates.  It also improves the cleanliness and curb appeal of our community.

The two-phased approach to conversion will allow us to adjust the staffing levels of Solid Waste without layoffs through a combination of promotions, retirements, transfers, and normal attrition.  Automation also benefits the department’s workforce by reducing the physical labor requirements of waste collection.

If your collection day is changing, you will be notified in advance regarding your new collection days.

No, the cost of a cart, collection, and disposal are included in the monthly rate.

Utilize the second collection day of the week for trash that will not fit in the cart on the first day.  If there is still too much, call for a special pick-up. Four special pick-ups of up to three 30-gallon trash bags weighing under 50 pounds each will be provided annually at no extra cost.  If trash is placed on top of the cart lid or the cart is overflowing, the driver will not service it.

No. The carts provided by the City are designed for the automated trucks and must be used to achieve the benefits of the program.

Household garbage only. No yard waste, furniture, hazardous chemicals, appliances, tires, or construction and demolition material. 

Customers are responsible for washing carts.

The cart should be located within 6 feet of the edge of pavement in front of your residence and no closer than 3 feet from objects (mailboxes, poles, vehicles, trees, other carts, etc.) unless the account is established for front door service.  Do not place the cart in the road or blocking the sidewalk.  Place the cart with the lid opening toward the street (arrows on lid pointing toward the street).

The 2-wheeled cart is designed to roll only when it is tilted and pulled by a person.

If damage is caused by the Solid Waste driver or through normal wear, the City will replace it at no charge.  If damage is caused by the customer or the cart is stolen, a fee of $75 will be assessed on the utility bill for a replacement cart.

The container you currently use for garbage can be re-purposed in several ways:  to hold yard waste or recycling or for storing things.  If you want City staff to dispose of it, place it at your usual collection point on garbage day with a sign on it that says, “TAKE.”  This will notify our staff to dispose of it.

The Solid Waste Department is not permitted to collect hazardous waste.  You may obtain information on disposing of hazardous household chemicals by calling Hillsborough County Solid Waste Management Department at 813.272.5680.

Multi-family units that currently receive service via dumpster will continue to be serviced in the same manner.  If a residence receives curbside collection service, such as a duplex or house with multiple units, the account holder should contact Utilities Billing to request the preferred quantity and sizes of carts.  Appropriate rates will be applied to the account.

Yes, if you are the owner and it is your primary residence. You may need to check with the Zoning Division first to be sure they do not have a problem with the addition. Then you must provide two sets of engineered sealed drawings and two site plans. These plans must show the details of the addition, such as electric, plumbing or air conditioning if applicable.

No, you must hire a licensed contractor for any work done on rental or income producing property.

In accordance with Florida Statutes 489.103.7 if the property you are building/improving is for your own personal use and occupancy, an owner can act as their own contractor. You may also build or improve a commercial building, provided your cost does not exceed $75,000

Yes.

2023 Florida Building Code, 2020 National Electric Code.

In accordance with Florida Statute 713.13, any improvement to real property that exceeds $2,500, $7500 for mechanical work, including materials and labor, a notice of commencement must be filed with the Clerk of Court, and a copy submitted to the Building Department prior to the first inspection.

For all building projects which require a foundation, a foundation survey shall be submitted to the permit clerk for review by the Planning Division prior to slab inspection. The survey shall show the finished floor elevation of the lowest slab, the crown of the nearest road and all setbacks.

There will be a charge of $.15 per page for standard one-sided legal or letter size copies and $.20 for each two-sided copy. If special equipment or paper is required, the City shall charge the estimated actual cost of making the copies. If the request is for certified copies, there will be a charge of $1 per copy.In addition to the actual cost of materials and supplies, a special service charge will be assessed for providing information when the nature or volume of the records requested requires extensive clerical or supervisory assistance by City personnel. For the purposes of this rule, “extensive” means that it will take more than 15 minutes to locate, review for confidential or exempt information, copy and re-file the requested material. The special service charge will be computed to the nearest quarter of an hour exceeding 15 minutes based on the current rate of pay of the person who performed the service and the cost of benefits provided to the employee, and will be assessed when appropriate regardless of the number of individual copies made.

All costs shall be paid in advance prior to making copies or allowing inspection. If the advance payment differs from the amount determined after the actual copies or inspection charges are determined, any overcharge shall be refunded and any amount still owed by the requestor must be paid before the records may be inspected or copied.

The City may also charge for the costs of mailing the requested records including the cost of the envelope and the postal service charge.

If the request is for digital files, the City Clerk shall charge in advance for the actual cost of researching and producing the copy, if applicable. This includes any applicable special service charges and the costs of any electronic storage media type devices such as CDs, flash drives, etc.. used to store information requested.

Sealed bids, proposals, or replies, until notice of an intended decision or 30 days after opening.A public record that was prepared by an agency attorney (including an attorney employed or retained by the agency or employed or retained by another public officer or agency to protect or represent the interests of the agency having custody of the record) or prepared at the attorney's express direction, that reflects a mental impression, conclusion, litigation strategy, or legal theory of the attorney or the agency, and that was prepared exclusively for civil or criminal litigation or for adversarial administrative proceedings, or that was prepared in anticipation of imminent civil or criminal litigation or imminent adversarial administrative proceedings, until conclusion of the litigation or administrative proceedings.

Records, information, photographs, audio and visual presentations, schematic diagrams, surveys, recommendations, or consultations or portions thereof relating directly to the physical security of a facility or revealing security systems.

The social security numbers of all current and former employees which numbers are held by the employer are confidential.

Medical information pertaining to a prospective, current, or former officer or employee, which, if disclosed, would identify that officer or employee is exempt.

Personal identifying information of a dependent child of a current or former officer or employee, which dependent child is insured by a group insurance plan.

Any information revealing undercover personnel of criminal justice.

The home addresses, telephone numbers, social security numbers, and photographs of active or former law enforcement personnel; the home addresses, telephone numbers, photographs, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such personnel; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such personnel.

The home addresses, telephone numbers, and photographs of firefighters certified in compliance with s. 633.35; the home addresses, telephone numbers, photographs, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such firefighters; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such firefighters.

The home addresses, telephone numbers, and photographs of current or former human resource, labor relations, or employee relations directors, assistant directors, managers, or assistant managers of any local government agency or water management district whose duties include hiring and firing employees, labor contract negotiation, administration, or other personnel-related duties; the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such personnel; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such personnel.

The home addresses, telephone numbers, and photographs of current or former code enforcement officers; the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and places of employment of the spouses and children of such personnel; and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by the children of such personnel.

The audit report of an internal auditor prepared for or on behalf of a unit of local government becomes public record when the audit becomes final.

Any data, record, or document used directly or solely by a municipally owned utility to prepare and submit a bid relative to the sale, distribution, or use of any service, commodity, or tangible personal property to any customer or prospective customer.

Active criminal investigative information and intelligence.

Other exemptions may apply in specific circumstances.

All members and their terms are provided through this link: Mayor and City Commission

Each person addressing the City Commission shall give his name and address in an audible tone for the records and, unless further time is granted by the commission, shall limit his address to three minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to the Commission as a body and not to any member. No person, other than the Commission and the person having the floor, shall be permitted to enter any discussion, either directly or through a member of the commission, without the permission of the presiding officer. No question shall be asked a Commissioner except through the presiding officer.

Click on the following link to take you to the appropriate section of our code regarding this subject:

Sec. 2-45. - Manner of addressing commission; time

Click on the following link to take you to the appropriate section of our code regarding this subject: Article VII - Sec. 1. Time of holding elections

Not from the surrounding agricultural industry which has greatly added to the City's growth, but from Henry Bradley Plant. In 1884, Henry B. Plant extended the South Florida Railroad into the town and one year later, when the town was incorporated, it was renamed in his honor.

Yes. All vehicles shall be operable and have a current legal tag or it shall be removed from the property.

The City does not install speed bumps as a traffic calming measure. Other measures such as policing to deter speeding should be performed if a speeding problem has been found.
When complaints are received about speeding in a particular area, the City will install speed measurement devices to examine if a speeding problem exists. Upon review of the results of the measurements the City will then examine solutions.

Listed below are the City requirements for driveway installations:

All portions of the driveway within the right of way shall be constructed of 3000 psi concrete with fiber and shall be a minimum 6" thick.
No steel shall be used to construct the driveway within the right of way.
Properties requiring culverts shall provide a minimum 15" concrete pipe with mitered end sections. Larger pipe sections maybe required and shall be evaluated on a case by case basis.
All driveways shall be sloped towards the roadway. No driveway shall be approved that directs runoff towards the home. Inverted driveways are not allowed.
Driveway aprons will be installed with crack control joints at the extent of the right of way, along the roadway and along sidewalks. All joints shall be full depth using pressure treated wood. No saw cuts allowed.
Where driveway aprons meet the roadway the contractor shall saw cut the asphalt to provide a straight line to place the wood joint.
Other materials such as pavers may be approved for driveways within the right of way. Please contact the Engineering Department for further details.
No laterals, cleanouts, water service lines or meter boxes shall be installed within or under the driveway.
City requires an inspection of the concrete forms prior to pouring of the concrete. Twenty four hour notice is required to schedule a pre pour inspection.

Once the Finance Department receives the approved invoice from the department, payment should be processed within two weeks. If you have questions concerning the payment of the invoice, first contact the issuing department to determine if they have forwarded the invoice to the Finance Department for your payment. If so, then contact the Finance Department at (813) 659-4200 ext. 4166.

In most cases yes. Contact Plant City Business Tax office at (813) 659-4200 ext. 4155.

General Services Department
813-707-2282

Please complete a 311 incident report.

In order to file a claim please contact Risk Management at (813) 659-4200 ext 4104.

No, the library only offers black and white printing.

The Mary Noel Moody community can be reserved for not for profit groups who have an approved application on file and are offering a cultural, educational, or informational program or meeting that is free and open to the public.

No we do not.

Patrons can check out 35 items per card.

Yes. You must show your photo ID at the service desk to receive a temporary guest pass.

The default PIN number is the last four digits of the phone number that is attached to your library card account.

Pavilion reservations are available for a nominal fee. Search for pavilions from our home page or go to the Pavilions Rental web page for details: https://www.plantcitygov.com/parksrec/page/pavilion-rentals

The Plant City Tennis Center, 120 North Wilder Road, has six Hydrogrid clay courts and four hard courts. Contact the facility at (813) 707-7485 to make reservations or obtain more information.

The Plant City Tennis Center is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 12:00 noon and from 2:00 to 9:00 pm, Saturdays from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm and Sunday from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm, weather permitting. Contact the Tennis Center at (813) 707-7485 to confirm hours due to inclement weather or to make reservations.

Anyone can file a police report by contacting the police department at (813) 757-9200 and request an officer, or come to the police department in person.

You can visit the Records Unit, Monday through Friday 7:00 am - 5:00 pm. (see the Records Unit page for pricing)
-You can also purchase at Buy Crash

The City's Purchasing Department posts all Bid and RFP opportunities to the City's website(PlantCityGov) as well as Bidsync.com (Bidsync). Keep in mind that you must register for free at Bidsync in order to receive automatic notifications.

The City of Plant City has partnered with a third party notifcation system, Bidsync.com for automatic bid notification. Registration is free to receive bid notifications from the City. The system allows you to register for up to 50 commodity codes that pertain to your business and notifies you via e-mail address whenever bid, proposal or quote oppotunties in one of these commdity categories is utilized by the City. The City's free registration landing page can be accessed at this link. Bidsync

The City has a published brochure on "How to do Business with the City"

No.  By default, the search results will show matches for any word within the phrase.  In this example, you would receive results for all web pages and documents that contained either the word alarm or the word permit or both.

In order to search on an exact phrase, enclose your search phrase in quotations.  The search results for "alarm permit" will show matches for that exact phrase.

Yes, our personnel will pick up dead animals within the City limits on roadways and right of ways. We do not pick up dead animals on private property.

Used oils (petroleum and vegetable based) can be brought to the City’s Used Oil Collection Center located at Victoria St. and Plant Ave. Used oil filters may also be dropped off at this location.

Any citizen can report an inoperable street light by doing one of three things:

1.  Contact Stormwater, Streets and Traffic Division at 813-707-7200.

2.  Assistant City Manager's Office at 813-659-4200 Extension 4157.

3.  Citizens can report inoperable street lights to TECO directly by calling 813-223-0800 or by going to TECO's website and entering the 10 digit number on the utility pole. 

Water can evaporate from the drain traps of unused plumbing fixtures. Therefore, the day prior to any testing, property owners should pour water down all drains of plumbing fixtures that are not regularly used. This will ensure that the P-traps are full to prevent smoke from entering the house through their sewage drainage system within the structure. P-trap refers to the shape of the drain pipe which holds water preventing air, odors, and smoke from entering the residence.

There is no need to be at home, but it may be helpful in the event that areas need to be ventilated.

The smoke testing process involves isolating manageable sections of the sewer system and then blowing smoke through that section of the sewer system. If there are any defects in the main sewer pipes or private sewer laterals serving individual homes, or if there are illegal storm drain cross connections, the smoke will rise to the surface and reveal these problems. Utilities Maintenance will carefully document their findings and notify, if necessary, individual property owners as to the results.

The smoke is not harmful to pets. The smoke used is a non-toxic substance that is harmless to humans, pets, food, and material items. If smoke does enter the building, it will clear in a few minutes with proper ventilation.

After all the data is collected and organized, the Utilities Maintenance staff will begin notifying property owners if there appears to be a problem with either their sewer lateral, possible storm drain cross connections, or sewer leaks inside the structure. Staff will work with each property owner to help them understand the issues and further, to make recommendations as to how these problems might be resolved. Simultaneously, if there are detected problems within our sewer system, the city will endeavor to have these repaired in a timely manner.

The schedule calls for Utilities Maintenance to begin testing in Plant City May 9th. and finish by May 11th, 2017. The schedules for subsequent years will be posted each year.

Smoke testing is the industry standard and an efficient, cost-effective way to locate and identify leaks and the source of stormwater infiltration problems in the sanitary sewer system. The specific product has been used successfully for over 30 years throughout the United States. The smoke manufactured specifically for testing is EPA endorsed and is a non-toxic, non-staining substance that is generally considered to be harmless to humans, pets, food, and material items

The City began the injection of fluoride (hydrofluosilicic acid) on March 1, 2013. The optimum amount of fluoride for dental health as recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Dental Association (ADA), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) – Health Department and the Hillsborough County Health Department is 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The City of Plant City is following the recommendation of these agencies.

Currently the only chemicals used in our water system are chlorine (in the form of sodium hypochlorite, used for disinfection) and a polyphosphate (used for corrosion control), fluoride for dental health (in the form of hydrofluosilicic acid). Monitoring, adjustments, and sampling are performed according to standards; and the facilities are monitored through a SCADA system at the Operations Control Center, which is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

When testing to see if the problem is in the hot or cold water, turn on only the cold water, then turn off the cold water and turn on only the hot water (if you have a lever handle, make sure you turn the handle all the way to the appropriate side and do not blend water). If the odor is only on the cold water side, please call our Operations Control Center at 813-757-9172. If the odor is on the hot water side only (usually a rotten egg smell), you will need to flush your water heater to remove the odor. This flushing may also increase the efficiency and life of your water heater, as most manufacturers recommend flushing at least annually with some more frequently.

You shouldn’t buy bottled water for health reasons since the City’s water meets all the federal and state drinking water standards. If you want a different taste, you can buy bottled water, but it costs about 1,000 times as much as municipal drinking water. Remember that the US bottled-water industry is less regulated than municipal drinking water. The US Food and Drug Administration only requires that the bottled water be clear and safe for human consumption without imposing specific water quality requirements, and the quality of the finished product is not monitored. 
What do the various labels on bottled water mean?
“Sparkling water” is water that was made bubbly by adding the gas carbon dioxide from an outside source.
“Natural sparkling water” has enough natural carbon dioxide to be bubbly without any other chemicals being added.
“Mineral water” is water containing more than 500 milligrams per liter of dissolved inorganic chemicals (minerals) such as calcium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate.
“Natural water” has no minerals added or removed.
“Spring water” comes from a spring, water flowing out of the ground, with no minerals added or removed.
“Purified water” has all of the minerals and chemicals removed.
“Distilled water” is made by boiling water, then catching the steam and cooling it back into water.

This stain comes from a chemical called copper; the copper is probably present in your home plumbing and is being dissolved into the drinking water. Check with your local hardware store for stain removal products.

Toilet flushing is by far the largest single use of water in a home. Most toilets use from 4 to 6 gallons of water for each flush. On the average, a dishwasher uses about 50 percent less water than the amount used when washing and rinsing by hand.

Sudden drops in water pressure may indicate plumbing problems that need immediate attention, improperly maintained or faulty water conditioners can also restrict water flow. Frozen pipes and problems with water mains can also disrupt water flow. Small leaks usually won't cause a pressure drop but those same faulty fittings could suddenly burst. If you experience low water pressure, you can call our Utilities Maintenance Division (if before 5:30pm) at 813-757-9288, and if after 5:30pm call the Utilities Operations Division at 813-757-9191.

The City’s drinking water is supplied from ground water from the Floridan Aquifer using 4 wells that are drilled to depths ranging from 730 – 1,200 feet.

We have found that a majority of the water quality concerns we respond to are actually related to water heaters. All manufacturers recommend water heaters be flushed at least annually. Some recommend more frequent flushing. Your use may require more frequent flushing. Running the hot water from one of your sinks for an extended period of time will not properly flush the water heater. It must be drained from the bottom to remove the sediments causing the problems. See your owner’s manual for instructions on how to flush your water heater correctly, as less than a thorough attempt may magnify the problem and improperly done could damage the water heater.
Another source of odor can be sink drains or screens on faucets. Remember to clean these regularly

In order to ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water system, the City of Plant City Utilities Operations Division routinely monitors the distribution system according to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. Highly trained, state licensed professionals collect and test samples throughout the water distribution system on a monthly basis. Our water production program is a continuing commitment toward assuring adequate and safe drinking water supplies for the citizens of Plant City. We have over 120 sample locations throughout the City that we monitor; your house may be one of these sampling points. A representative from our staff may knock on your door prior to taking the sample to alert you of our presence. If you are home, we are asking that any outside dogs be temporarily taken inside for our safety. We are also asking that customers please keep the area around the outside spigots cleared from weeds, shrubs, or debris so that the best sample can be taken. A staff member will show you which spigot is used for sampling on the day the sample is pulled, or you may call our office at 813-757-9191 for more information. For your safety, you should be aware that our staff will be in a City uniform and will never ask to come inside your home. Also, our staff will never try to sell you anything. All of our tests are performed by a laboratory certified by the State of Florida to perform drinking water analysis.

If the leak has affected your bill (5,000 gallons) over your average bill, you may qualify for an adjustment. Options listed below to submit your Adjustment Form and Supporting Documents.

• Save the adjustment form and supporting documents to your Desktop & Upload to the Utility Billing Drop Box by Clicking Here to Submit Request, which is located at the bottom of the form
• Bring the form and supporting documents to the Utility Billing Department at 302 W Reynolds Street, Plant City FL 33563
• Fax the form and supporting documents to (813) 659-4236

A Customer Service Representative will contact you by email confirming that your request is being processed.

Contact Customer Service at 813-659-4222 or review online if you are registered with Paymentus

Payments are processed:

• City Hall:  302 W Reynolds St
• Online:  http://ipn.paymentus.com/cp/cpfl
  • You can make a one-time payment or register for an online account through Paymentus
    • An online account allows you to make payments at ease; set your account to receive bills via email only; view your history and more
• Pay by Phone (Interactive Voice Response):  1-833-273-3890 Toll Free
• Mail:  P O Box C, Plant City, FL 33564-9003 

Fill out the attached Solid Waste Container Form and submit it by using one of the following options:

• Save the Request to your Desktop & Upload to the Utility Billing Drop Box by Clicking Here to Submit Request, which is located at the bottom of the form
• Fax the form to (813) 659-4236
• Bring it to the Utility Billing Department at 302 W. Reynolds Street, Plant City, FL 33563

A Customer Service Representative will contact you by email confirming that your request is being processed.

Contact Customer Service to provide the location, your new contact information and the date you are requesting services to be discontinued by choosing one of the following options:

• In person:  Utility Billing Department, City Hall, 302 W Reynolds St
• Email:  customerservice@plantcitygov.com
• Mail:  P O Box C, Plant City, FL  33564-9003
• Phone:  813-659-4222
• Fax:  813-659-4236

Monthly

Contact Customer Service at 813-659-4222 and one our representatives will be happy to assist.

The tag is letting you know that we were unable to leave the water on as requested. The meter was indicating movement, so we turned it back off at the meter until you contact us.  Our contact number is 813-659-4222 during business hours and 813-757-9172 after business hours.

If you do not receive your bill within one week of its normal arrival time, contact Customer Service at 813-659-4222 for the bill amount or to request a copy of your latest billing statement.

Failure to receive your bill will not prevent discontinuation of service.

• Services could be disrupted
  • To have services restored, payment for past due balances and fees are required before 4:00 pm during normal business hours
  • Payments made via phone or website would require that you contact Customer Service before 4:00 pm for service restoration
    • If not, services are restored next business day
• Account could be terminated
  • Contact Customer Service at 813-659-4222

Contact Customer Service

• Website:   Utility Billing Rates
• Phone:     813-659-4222
• Email:      customerservice@plantcitygov.com
• In Person: City Hall, Utility Billing Department, 302 W Reynolds St

Water can evaporate from the drain traps of unused plumbing fixtures. Therefore, the day prior to any testing, property owners should pour water down all drains of plumbing fixtures that are not regularly used. This will ensure that the P-traps are full to prevent smoke from entering the house through their sewage drainage system within the structure. P-trap refers to the shape of the drain pipe which holds water preventing air, odors and smoke from entering the residence.

There is no need to be at home, but it may be helpful in the event that areas need to be ventilated.

The smoke testing process involves isolating manageable sections of the sewer system and then blowing smoke through that section of the sewer system. If there are any defects in the main sewer pipes or private sewer laterals serving individual homes, or if there are illegal storm drain cross connections, the smoke will rise to the surface and reveal these problems. Utilities Maintenance will carefully document their findings and notify, if necessary, individual property owners as to the results.

The smoke is not harmful to pets. The smoke used is a non-toxic substance that is harmless to humans, pets, food, and material items. If smoke does enter the building, it will clear in a few minutes with proper ventilation.

After all the data is collected and organized, the Utilities Maintenance staff will begin notifying property owners if there appears to be a problem with either their sewer lateral, possible storm drain cross connections, or sewer leaks inside the structure. Staff will work with each property owner to help them understand the issues and further, to make recommendations as to how these problems might be resolved. Simultaneously, if there are detected problems within our sewer system, the city will endeavor to have these repaired in a timely manner.

The schedule calls for Utilities Maintenance to begin testing in Plant City May 9th. and finish by May 11th, 2017. The schedules for subsequent years will be posted each year.

The City began the injection of fluoride (hydrofluosilicic acid) on March 1, 2013. The optimum amount of fluoride for dental health as recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), American Dental Association (ADA), Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) – Health Department and the Hillsborough County Health Department is 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). The City of Plant City is following the recommendation of these agencies.

Currently the only chemicals used in our water system are chlorine (in the form of sodium hypochlorite, used for disinfection) and a polyphosphate (used for corrosion control), fluoride for dental health (in the form of hydrofluosilicic acid). Monitoring, adjustments, and sampling are performed according to standards; and the facilities are monitored through a SCADA system at the Operations Control Center, which is staffed 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.

When testing to see if the problem is in the hot or cold water, turn on only the cold water, then turn off the cold water and turn on only the hot water (if you have a lever handle, make sure you turn the handle all the way to the appropriate side and do not blend water). If the odor is only on the cold water side, please call our Operations Control Center at 813-757-9172. If the odor is on the hot water side only (usually a rotten egg smell), you will need to flush your water heater to remove the odor. This flushing may also increase the efficiency and life of your water heater, as most manufacturers recommend flushing at least annually with some more frequently.

You shouldn’t buy bottled water for health reasons since the City’s water meets all the federal and state drinking water standards. If you want a different taste, you can buy bottled water, but it costs about 1,000 times as much as municipal drinking water. Remember that the US bottled-water industry is less regulated than municipal drinking water. The US Food and Drug Administration only requires that the bottled water be clear and safe for human consumption without imposing specific water quality requirements, and the quality of the finished product is not monitored.

What do the various labels on bottled water mean?

“Sparkling water” is water that was made bubbly by adding the gas carbon dioxide from an outside source.

“Natural sparkling water” has enough natural carbon dioxide to be bubbly without any other chemicals being added.

“Mineral water” is water containing more than 500 milligrams per liter of dissolved inorganic chemicals (minerals) such as calcium, sodium, chloride, and sulfate.

“Natural water” has no minerals added or removed.

“Spring water” comes from a spring, water flowing out of the ground, with no minerals added or removed.

“Purified water” has all of the minerals and chemicals removed.

“Distilled water” is made by boiling water, then catching the steam and cooling it back into water.

This stain comes from a chemical called copper; the copper is probably present in your home plumbing and is being dissolved into the drinking water. Check with your local hardware store for stain removal products.

Toilet flushing is by far the largest single use of water in a home. Most toilets use from 4 to 6 gallons of water for each flush. On the average, a dishwasher uses about 50 percent less water than the amount used when washing and rinsing by hand.

Sudden drops in water pressure may indicate plumbing problems that need immediate attention, improperly maintained or faulty water conditioners can also restrict water flow. Frozen pipes and problems with water mains can also disrupt water flow. Small leaks usually won't cause a pressure drop but those same faulty fittings could suddenly burst. If you experience low water pressure, you can call our Utilities Maintenance Division (if before 5:30pm) at 813-757-9288, and if after 5:30pm call the Utilities Operations Division at 813-757-9191.

The City’s drinking water is supplied from ground water from the Floridan Aquifer using 4 wells that are drilled to depths ranging from 730 – 1,200 feet.

We have found that a majority of the water quality concerns we respond to are actually related to water heaters. All manufacturers recommend water heaters be flushed at least annually. Some recommend more frequent flushing. Your use may require more frequent flushing. Running the hot water from one of your sinks for an extended period of time will not properly flush the water heater. It must be drained from the bottom to remove the sediments causing the problems. See your owner’s manual for instructions on how to flush your water heater correctly, as less than a thorough attempt may magnify the problem and improperly done could damage the water heater.

Another source of odor can be sink drains or screens on faucets. Remember to clean these regularly

In order to ensure the safety and quality of our drinking water system, the City of Plant City Utilities Operations Division routinely monitors the distribution system according to federal and state laws, rules, and regulations. Highly trained, state licensed professionals collect and test samples throughout the water distribution system on a monthly basis. Our water production program is a continuing commitment toward assuring adequate and safe drinking water supplies for the citizens of Plant City. We have over 120 sample locations throughout the City that we monitor; your house may be one of these sampling points. A representative from our staff may knock on your door prior to taking the sample to alert you of our presence. If you are home, we are asking that any outside dogs be temporarily taken inside for our safety. We are also asking that customers please keep the area around the outside spigots cleared from weeds, shrubs, or debris so that the best sample can be taken. A staff member will show you which spigot is used for sampling on the day the sample is pulled, or you may call our office at 813-757-9191 for more information. For your safety, you should be aware that our staff will be in a City uniform and will never ask to come inside your home. Also, our staff will never try to sell you anything. All of our tests are performed by a laboratory certified by the State of Florida to perform drinking water analysis.

The City of Plant City's (City) Water Reclamation Facility collects wastewater from homes, industrial facilities and commercial businesses.  The City's Industrial Pre-Treatment Section regulates industrial and commercial facilities.

Regulations establish responsibilities to implement standards to control polluntants from industrial facilities.  The wastewater from these facilities is closely monitored and must meet specific requirements before it is discharged to the City's wastewater collection system. 

• Ph:  813-659-4298, Ext. 4902
• Hours:  8 AM - 5 PM