Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department warns community about individuals requesting access to your homes to sample water

The Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) has been informed that individuals are misrepresenting themselves to customers as being affiliated with the department and acting as contracted companies requesting access to their homes to sample their drinking water. WASD handles all water sampling in-house and never uses third parties to collect samples in our distribution system or at customers’ properties.

“We want customers to be aware that this is happening,” said WASD Director Roy Coley. “We strive to offer the best service we can, not only by providing safe drinking water to our customers, but also ensuring that they remain safe.”

Please be aware that water sampling at residences is mostly the result of customers requesting this service from the department. Also, the standard operating procedure for WASD lab technicians is to take the water samples from outside the home, unless specifically needed or requested by the homeowner to take samples from within the property.

Other tips to ensure your safety include:
•    WASD employees wear properly marked County uniforms and have County issued IDs, as well.
•    WASD employees also drive properly marked County vehicles when performing department business.
•    If you have questions about the identification of a WASD employee, please call Customer Service at 305-655-7477, during office hours or the Emergency Communications Center after hours at 305-274-9272.

In other instances where private companies attempt to solicit water sampling, they leave door hangars and/or testing kits requesting that customers contact them with the ultimate goal of selling and installing water filtration systems at homes. Water filters are NOT needed when using Miami-Dade’s safe and high-quality drinking water.

“I want everyone to know that Miami-Dade County’s water is excellent and meets all national drinking water standards,” said Director Coley. “We test the water at our accredited labs more than 150,000 times a year. If you ever have a question about the quality of your drinking water, you should contact our Lab Division staff directly.”
Should you have questions about your water quality or want to request water sampling, please call 786-552-4738 for those who live north of Southwest Eighth Street and 786-552-4181 if you live south of Southwest Eighth Street.
WASD also issues its Water Quality Report every year. You can review the most recent issue here. 
It is the priority of the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department to provide safe, reliable service to its customers. For additional information about Department services and programs, visit the WASD website.