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Each development or community will have a different water and sewer/septic utility requirement. Never presume anything when purchasing property and verify what utilities are required for your property. Below are descriptions of typical systems you are likely to encounter.
What they are: A septic tank is simply a large tank buried in the yard. The tank might hold 1,000 gallons or more of water. Fresh wastewater flows into the tank at one end and leaves the tank at the other. The tank looks something like this in cross-section:
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Pros: Low monthly cost. Florida’s sandy soil allows these systems to work well. In general you will not have to make any big changes to your lifestyle if you are not accustomed to a septic system. Some changes you will have to make is not sending items such as cooking oils and hygiene products down the drain.
Cons: Require a larger lot and, if central sewer comes into your area, you may be required to hook up therefore forfeiting the cost of the septic system.
Initial Cost: $1,500 to $3,500 for a standard system.
Usage Cost: Pump out
system every 2-5 years @ $75-$100 each time.
What they are: This is simply a four to eight inch pipe that is pounded into the ground until it hits a water source. A pump is put at one end of the pipe and water is brought into the home.
Pros: Lower (per gallon) water usage cost then central water systems. Good for irrigation systems.
Cons: Expensive to install and can be costly to maintain. May require additional costly purification equipment.
Initial Cost: $1,500 to $2,500 for an 80 to 100 foot-long well.
Usage Cost: $5 to $15 a month to run the pump. Pump will need replacing every three to five years cost is about $300. Additional costs if water purification equipment is necessary.
What they are: Commonly called “city water,” it is a central water system maintained and sold by a utility company.
Pros: Nothing to maintain. Low basic water usage cost.
Cons: Costly usage cost if used for an irrigation system.
Initial Cost: Hookup fees range greatly from area to area. Expect to see hookup fees from $100 to $1,000.
Usage Cost: $25 to $50 a month for water only usage. Expect more in you have a sprinkler system.
What they are: Just like septic systems, sewer system are completely gravity-powered. Pipes from each house or building flow to a sewer main that connects to the primary sewer line.
Pros: Nothing to maintain.
Cons: High monthly usage cost. Can be expensive if you have an irrigation system. (If you do have an irrigation system and have to have a sewer system you might want to consider either an irrigation well or a second irrigation only water meter.)
Initial Cost: Hookup fees range greatly from area to area. Expect to see hookup fees from $100 to $1,000.
Usage Cost: Cost is generally 2 ˝ times whatever your water bill is.Last Updated: March 01, 2005 10:43 PM
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