Frequently Asked Questions

Construction water can be provided through rental of a hydrant meter. Apply for a hydrant meter in person at the Customer Service Department located at 50 Bridge Street. Email Customer Service or call at or 904-825-1037 for more information.

The City will not be responsible for proper sizing of utility services for specific buildings and/or uses. This should be determined by the architect, engineer, plumber or builder. Hydraulic calculations may be required to prove correct sizing of service. The Availability Request form should be used to inquire about relocation of existing services or upgrade of a smaller water service to a larger one.

Water Tap & Meter Sizes

• 1 inch tap with 3/4 inch water meter (typical single-family residential service)
• 1 inch tap with 1 inch water meter
• 2 inch tap with 2 inch water meter (typical commercial service)
• 4 inch tap with 3 inch water meter
• 4 inch tap with 4 inch water meter
• 6 inch tap with 6 inch water meter
• 8 inch tap with 8 inch water meter
• 10 inch tap with 10 inch water meter

3 Inch Taps

3 inch taps on City water mains are prohibited. However, 3 inch water meters are allowed. - Customer may install a 4 inch tap, then reduce down to a 3 inch meter. No half-size or odd-size water meters or taps are permitted. All 2 inch and larger water services require an above-ground backflow device regardless of use.

Fire Sprinkler Service

Fire protection water services may not be shared with any other type of service line - domestic, landscape irrigation, etc. Services are required to be separate, dedicated taps from the City water main, in accordance with City Code section 26-34(a). 

Fire Sprinkler Size

Minimum size for fire sprinkler service is a 2 inch tap and service line with a 2 1/2 inch backflow device with bypass meter. The City's "point-of-service" will be the valve installed at the right-of-way line before the backflow device. Customer's contractor is responsible for all pipe and fittings to connect and install the 2 1/2 inch backflow. Note, a 2 1/2 inch backflow is the smallest device available with a bypass meter. This eliminates the significant cost and space requirements for a large in-ground meter. 

Sanitary Sewer Service

• Typical gravity sewer tap is 6 inches.
• Typical pressurized sewer service tap is 2 inches.
• For Commercial pressurized sewer connections, professional engineering plans and calculations along with permitting through the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) will be required.

The City may allow double or combined services on a case-by-case basis; however, individual water meters are always required. Refer to City utility details for "Manifold Installations".

New Construction

All new construction or substantial renovations (cost estimate for renovation amounting to 50% or more of building value) must install a separate water service and a separate sewer service for each residential or commercial unit, when it is feasible to do so.

Water service taps may not be split for different uses. Separate domestic, fire sprinkler and/or landscape irrigation taps are required from the City water main.

The installation and/or utilization of "master meters" is not allowed in the City utility system according to the City’s Consumptive Use Permit (CUP) for drinking water from the St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD). The CUP permit states, The use of master meters to supply potable water to any multi-family or multi-unit structure (excluding hospitals, hotels) constructed after the date of permit issuance is prohibited. All individual service connections must be metered. The intent of this requirement, combined with the City’s tiered rate structure, is to encourage water conservation. All residential dwelling units are required to have individual water meters.

City Code Section 26-32

City Code Section 26-32 (b) states, Water service lines supplying more than one building from a single water meter are prohibited, except when specifically approved by the city manager. The City will make this decision with the best interest in mind for the Utility and the customers to be served.

City Code Section 26-34

Regarding fire services, City Code Section 26-34 (a) states, No connections of any kind are allowed to a fire protection service other than those necessary for fire protection. All water used for purposes other than fire protection must be taken from a separate metered tap connected directly to the city main. No person is allowed to use a fire system connection for any purpose other than actually extinguishing a fire.

To request a fire hydrant flow test, complete Section I of the Fire Flow Test Request form (PDF). Submit the form with a check payable to the City of St. Augustine to the Public Works Department:
P.O. Box 210
St. Augustine, FL 32085

Schedule

Fire flow tests will typically be scheduled within two weeks from receipt of the request, but may take up to four weeks depending on workload and scheduling.

For utility work on commercial, institutional, redevelopment and subdivision projects, City crews typically do not self-perform this type of work. Generally, such work is deemed to be anything more than service connections for a typical single-family house. For all projects, the City reserves the right to assess the scope in terms of difficulty, design and permitting, equipment, personnel and workload, and determine if City resources will be utilized for the work (or some portion thereof). When the customer/developer is responsible for utility work (determined through the Availability Request process), then civil engineering plans, review and approval by Public Works will be required, and a Florida licensed and bonded underground utility contractor must perform the work to City specifications at customer/developer’s cost. Refer to the City Construction and Dedication Requirements checklist (PDF) for more information.

Generally, the City does not fund or install line extensions or utility upgrades. A permit application and complete set of civil engineering construction plans meeting City requirements is required to be submitted directly to the Public Works Department for review of proposed utilities. New utilities may only be installed in open and improved public rights-of-way or easements as approved by the City.

Developer's Responsibility

The developer is responsible for:

• Approvals
• Associated costs required for the utility work for the subject property
• Construction
• Design
• Materials
• Permitting
• Professional land surveying
• Right-of-way restoration
• Testing

Acceptance of Utilities

The developer is responsible for owning and maintaining all of the remaining utilities on the customer side of the meters and on the subject property. Following acceptance of utilities by the City, the City will own and maintain domestic water lines up to and including:

• Fire hydrant lines up to and including public hydrants
• Fire protection taps up to the property line or backflow device
• Meter assemblies
• Sanitary sewer manholes, mains and service lines up to the first cleanout on the sewer tap or at the property line

Inspection

The City will inspect utility construction by the developer’s Florida licensed and bonded underground utility contractor. The developer, consultants and contractors must adhere to the City’s current Construction and Dedication Requirements in effect at the time of construction. Utilities that are not constructed to City standards and specifications will not be placed in service.

Plan Submittals

Visit the Development and Utility Connections page for help with plan submittals and requirements.

City utilities can only be installed in public rights-of-way that are opened and improved, or in City tracts or utility easements. Such tracts or easements are only as approved in advance by the City Manager and City Public Works Department on a case-by-case basis. Refer to the City's Standards Manual (PDF) for specific information. Email Public Works Permits for the City's legal form requirements for easements.

All rights-of-way, tracts and easements shall be improved and maintained to provide continuous access. No City utilities shall be constructed in any unimproved area.

City Utility Location

Ample clear space between mains and such improvements shall be provided as determined in advance by City staff. City utilities shall not be located along side or rear lot lines. No City utilities shall be located under any structure or feature, including:

• Buildings
• Embankments and berms
• Recreation courts
• Retention ponds
• Swimming pools