Customers

Reading Your Bill

Your City of Lakeland utility bill provides a comprehensive breakdown of charges for all applicable services, including water and wastewater. This section provides an explanation of the key components of your water bill.

All Service Charges	Lists all applicable charges on your bill
Water Service Charges	Details the cost of water usage
Message Center	Displays important updates or notifications from the utility provider
In-Person Payment Barcode	Barcode for store employee to scan if paying bill in person
Water Usage Comparison	Compares your current month's usage with last month and the same month from the previous year
Wastewater Fees	Fees based on water usage, up to a maximum of 12,000 gallons
Bar Chart	A graphical representation of your water usage for each month over the past year

Below is a detailed explanation of how to understand your bill.

Page 1: Overview of Charges

On the first page of your bill, you will see the total charges amount, which is broken down into categories such as electric, water, and other services.

Water Charges: This includes charges for all drinking water (including irrigation) used on your property (sinks, showers, pool, etc.).
Wastewater Charges: These charges are categorized under “Other Services” and are based on your water usage (up to 12,000 gallons max for residential customers).

This page also includes a barcode if you wish to pay in person. Your bill can be paid with cash at Walmart, CVS, Dollar General, Speedway, 7-Eleven, Family Dollar, Walgreens, Pilot Flying J, and TravelCenters of America. There are various other ways you can pay your bill as well, such as Online, Automatic Bank Draft, Kubra EZ-Pay, Phone, Drop Box, or Mail.

The water bill image shows various sections, including charges and payment options. The sections highlight key billing information, helping customers track their water consumption and understand pricing structures.

Page 2: Detailed View of Charges

Water Service

This section provides a comprehensive view of your water usage.

It includes details on your current month's usage, last month's usage, and your usage during the same month last year. A bar chart is also included to help you visualize your water usage over the past through months. This allows you to track patterns and identify trends in your water use throughout the year.

The total water service charges on your bill are broken down into the following categories:

Base Charge, which is a fixed fee for water service
Taxes, which are applied as required
Water Consumption Charges, which are based on the amount used

The City of Lakeland operates on an Increasing Block Rate pricing structure to encourage conservation. Under this system, the unit price of water increases as consumption increases. Visit lakelandgov.net/rates for more details.

Wastewater Service

Customers are billed wastewater fees based on water usage. If your water usage exceeds 12,000 gallons as a residential customer, the excess is not included in wastewater charges. For further information, visit lakelandgov.net/rates.

The water bill image shows various sections, including charges, a usage comparison, and a bar chart. The sections highlight key billing information, helping customers track their water consumption and understand pricing structures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Where can I find more information?

There is more information available from Wastewater and Water departments. For more insights, you can also visit the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) WaterSense Understanding Your Bill page.
Why is my water usage so high?
The two most common reasons for high water consumption are leaks and irrigation.
- 60% of residential water usage in Florida takes place outside, specifically through high volume irrigation. Check out ways to reduce your irrigation on our Outdoor Savings page.
- 10% of homes have leaks that waste 90 gallons or more per day! Check out the EPA WaterSense Leak Facts page for more information on ways to track down and fix leaks.
Other potential sources of high consumption include pressure washer cleaning, filling a pool, washing vehicles, laundry loads, long showers, and new sod or plants.
What can I do to reduce my water usage?
- Follow the watering schedule (it’s the law).
- If you need help saving water, visit our conservation tips page.
- Sign up for a FREE Learn and Grow workshop. Click here for more information.
- See if you qualify for a FREE sprinkler system check-up to identify and correct potential inefficiencies.
Where will I receive important communications?

Check the Message Center on your bill for key updates. You may also receive notifications via email or phone. To update your contact information, call Lakeland Electric's Customer Service Line at (863) 834-9535 or visit the customer portal. It's important to keep contact information up to date because that is how boil water notices are communicated, using the primary contact listed on file.
Why is wastewater more expensive than water?

Wastewater fees are higher than Water fees in most cities and the City of Lakeland is no exception. As you can imagine, the process to treat wastewater is much more involved.

Additionally, the pipes that carry wastewater to the plant become blocked on a regular basis. Things like "flushable" wipes, diapers, and rags mix with used cooking oil to create fatbergs in the pipes. This is why it is important to only put the 3 p's down the drain and to either toss your used cooking oil in the trash or take advantage of our CORE program.
Are billing credits or adjustments available for filling up my pool?

Yes, if a residential related customer needs to drain and fill their pool, they may request a one-time per calendar year credit for wastewater for the month in which the pool is filled. Credit requests are approved and processed by Finance Customer Billing. To submit a credit request, please email FinanceCustomerBilling@lakelandgov.net.