Water Remetering - Laws & Tips

Your bill may only cover water and sewer from within your unit, as measured by your unit’s water meter. Water and sewer consumption for common areas and facilities such as community pools are the responsibility of the property owner. The property owner cannot disconnect your water service and cannot bill you for usage of water service by previous resident.

Your bill must show all of the following information:

• Total amount due for water service used and applicable taxes
• Bill due date
• Name and address of the resident to whom the bill is issued
• Date and meter reading of the period for which the bill is rendered
• Name of the company providing you with the bill and the address and telephone number of the contact person you can call in case of a billing dispute
• Name, address and telephone number of the party to whom payment is to be made
• Total gallons or CCF (equivalent to 100 cubic feet) of water service being billed and how it has been computed
• Prior and current meter readings
• If your bill has been estimated, it must state that it has been estimated
• Telephone number of the Office of Consumer Protection Mediation Center, 786-469-2333, and a statement that indicates they may be contacted if you are unable to settle your dispute with your property owner or remeterer

You must be given at least 15 days to pay your bill. If your due date falls on a holiday or weekend, you may make your payment on the next business day after the due date.

If you pay your bill late, you may be charged a late fee not to exceed 10 percent of your total bill. It must be disclosed on your bill.

You cannot be billed any charges other than water, sewer, applicable taxes, and late fee charges provided that it is disclosed in the bill.

If a dispute arises concerning your bill or water service, you must inform your property owner, in writing, the specific reason for the dispute. Your property owner is required to investigate promptly and report the results to you in writing within 30 days.

If your bill is found to be in error, a corrected bill must be issued and the property owner or remeterer must adjust your bill. If you were undercharged, you may be billed for the amount under-billed for a period not to exceed six months. If the under billing is $25 or more, the property owner must offer you a deferred payment plan option for the same length of time as that of the under billing.

If you feel your water meter is defective, your property owner must, upon a reasonable written request from you, test the accuracy of your submeter. If you wish, you may watch the test, or you can send a representative. The test must be made during normal business hours (normally, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.). If the meter test indicates that your water meter is accurate, you may be charged a reasonable testing and plumbing charge. If your meter is defective, no charge can be made to you for making the test.

Your property owner is required to keep the following records for 12 months:

• Water and Sewer Department bill
• Calculation for the billing
• All meter readings, resident billings and meter test results for the individual units

Water Remetering

Properties that have been remetered and companies that bill remetered properties must register with Miami-Dade County and comply with regulations.