Short answer: Palm Bay Utilities, a city department, supplies water, sewer and reclaimed water to Palm Bay and the Town of Malabar; Republic Services collects trash and recycling for $31.01 a month; Public Works runs the stormwater fee. Rates effective October 1, 2026 start at a $16.44 water base charge and a $26.23 sewer base charge for a standard home meter inside the city. Utilities Customer Care is at 120 Malabar Road SE, (321) 952-3420.
Last verified: October 15, 2026, against the sources listed at the end of this page.
Who provides water, sewer and trash service in Palm Bay?
Palm Bay Utilities, a city department, provides water, wastewater and reclaimed water in Palm Bay and the Town of Malabar, while Republic Services collects solid waste under a city contract.
The Palm Bay Utilities Department, known as PBUD, operates as an enterprise fund under city government, with management and administration by city staff, and serves residents of Palm Bay and the Town of Malabar (About Palm Bay Utilities). Garbage, recycling, bulk and yard waste in Palm Bay are handled by Republic Services, reached at (321) 989-6030 or toll free (844) 737-8254 (City of Palm Bay Trash and Recycling). Drainage is a third service with its own fee, run by the Public Works Department at 1050 Malabar Rd SW, (321) 952-3437 (Palm Bay Stormwater Utility).
Utilities Customer Care sits in the City Hall Annex Building at 120 Malabar Road SE. It is open Monday through Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Thursday 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5 p.m., phone (321) 952-3420, email [email protected] (Palm Bay Utilities Customer Care). A water main break or sewer backup after hours goes to (321) 952-3478, and the automated account line is (321) 733-3069. The Palm Bay Utilities guide walks through the department, its plants and its master plans in more depth.
How much do water and sewer cost in Palm Bay in 2026?
For a standard 5/8 x 3/4 inch home meter inside Palm Bay, the monthly base charges effective October 1, 2026 are $16.44 for water and $26.23 for sewer, plus usage charges per 1,000 gallons.
The residential schedule runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (Palm Bay Residential Rates and Charges). Water is billed in four usage blocks, so each 1,000 gallons costs more as monthly use climbs. Sewer usage is charged on a maximum of 10,000 gallons a month, which caps the sewer side of a large bill. Customers outside the city limits and in the Town of Malabar pay a higher schedule.
| Charge | Inside Palm Bay | Outside city and Malabar |
|---|---|---|
| Water base charge, 5/8 x 3/4 inch meter | $16.44 a month | $18.08 a month |
| Water, first 5,000 gallons | $4.20 per 1,000 gallons | $4.62 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water, 5,001 to 10,000 gallons | $5.44 per 1,000 gallons | $5.98 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water, 10,001 to 15,000 gallons | $7.55 per 1,000 gallons | $8.31 per 1,000 gallons |
| Water, over 15,001 gallons | $9.42 per 1,000 gallons | $10.36 per 1,000 gallons |
| Sewer base charge, 5/8 x 3/4 inch meter | $26.23 a month | $32.79 outside city, $28.85 Malabar |
| Sewer usage, up to 10,000 gallons | $7.62 per 1,000 gallons | $9.53 outside city, $8.38 Malabar |
A Palm Bay home inside the city that uses 5,000 gallons in a month pays $16.44 plus $21.00 for water and $26.23 plus $38.10 for sewer, about $101.77 before stormwater and solid waste, by the arithmetic of the posted schedule. The Palm Bay water and sewer rates guide covers larger meters and commercial charges.
How is Palm Bay water service started and paid for?
New Palm Bay Utilities customers satisfy a deposit, $100 for water and $100 for wastewater on a 3/4 inch meter plus $30 for solid waste, or pay $5 for a credit screening that may waive or reduce it.
Deposits for Palm Bay service are set by meter size and are refunded after 36 months of timely payments; credit screenings are offered only to individuals, not business accounts (Palm Bay Residential Rates and Charges). Bills are paid around the clock through the InvoiceCloud customer portal or by phone at (321) 733-3069, with autopay, pay by text and paperless billing available (Palm Bay Billing and Payments).
A cost change took effect this year: from June 22, 2026, Palm Bay Utilities adds a 3.5% or $2.95 minimum fee to credit and debit card payments and a flat $1.95 fee to electronic check (ACH) payments. Water and sewer accounts are billed monthly and also carry the stormwater and sanitation charges, in cycles printed at the top of each bill. The Palm Bay guides to starting or stopping water service, to the water bill and payments, and to connecting to city water and sewer cover transfers, move outs and new connections step by step.
When is trash picked up in Palm Bay and what does it cost?
Republic Services collects Palm Bay garbage twice a week and recycling once a week, with bulk and yard waste pickup and no volume limits, for a residential charge of $31.01 a month.
Each Palm Bay home gets one trash cart and one recycling cart in a 35, 65 or 95 gallon size, and carts go to the curb by 5 a.m. on collection day (City of Palm Bay Trash and Recycling). Exchanging a cart costs a one time $57.30, $59.71 or $62.09 depending on size. Since October 1, 2025 Republic Services no longer empties unregistered extra carts; an extra cart is registered with Utilities at (321) 952-3420 and, under fees effective October 1, 2026, costs $57.30 to $62.09 by size plus $11.69 a month.
Holidays shift some routes. Collection on Veterans Day, Wednesday, November 11, 2026, and on Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2026, moves to the next scheduled service day, and Thanksgiving collection on Thursday, November 26, 2026 moves to Saturday, November 28. The Palm Bay trash and recycling guide covers what goes in each cart and how bulk pickup works.
Where does Palm Bay tap water come from, and how are outages announced?
Palm Bay tap water is groundwater from forty-two city wells, drawn from the Floridan Aquifer at 850 feet and from surficial aquifers at 35 to 85 feet, and treated at two plants by lime softening and reverse osmosis.
The two Palm Bay water treatment plants can treat about 7 million gallons a day, and the water is chlorinated before it enters the distribution system (About Palm Bay Utilities). On the sewer side, Palm Bay Utilities treats about 3.6 million gallons of wastewater a day through nearly 300 miles of sewer lines, over 4,500 manholes and over 100 lift stations, and about 11 miles of reclaimed water lines supply irrigation water to businesses, residents and a park. A new water reclamation plant is being built to serve reuse demand in the southern part of the city.
The 2026 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report, which covers testing on the Palm Bay system during 2025, is posted, and older reports going back ten years are available from Customer Care at (321) 952-3420 (Palm Bay Water Quality Report). When a main break or repair drops pressure, the city issues a boil water notice: a small outage gets printed notices hung on each front door, and an outage affecting 150 customers or more is announced through media releases, with e-notification registration available for immediate notice (Palm Bay Boil Water Notices). The Palm Bay guides to drinking water quality and lead, to boil water notices, and to reclaimed water and the irrigation schedule go further.
What is the Palm Bay stormwater fee, and why did the bill change in 2026?
The Palm Bay Stormwater Utility fee pays for the pipes, ditches, canals and ponds that drain the city, charged by equivalent residential unit (ERU), with a maximum rate of $14.76 per ERU set by Council on July 6, 2017.
The Palm Bay fee took effect October 1, 2010, moved to the property tax bill in 2017 under Resolution 2017-19, and returned to city utility billing on October 1, 2020 (Palm Bay Stormwater Utility). The 2017 maximum, set by Resolution 2017-28, is the latest rate the Public Works page states. The charge follows the demand each parcel places on the drainage system, not the parcel's taxable value, and credits for on site detention or retention are available through a Public Works application that must be renewed every five years.
The newest change is the billing cycle. Palm Bay customers who received quarterly bills for Republic Services and stormwater were moved to monthly bills: the last quarterly bill went out 04/23/2026 and the first monthly bill 07/23/2026 (Palm Bay Residential Rates and Charges). The Palm Bay stormwater utility fee guide and the swales and canals guide explain the ERU math and drainage upkeep. Last verified: October 15, 2026, on the City of Palm Bay Utilities website.
Which Palm Bay utilities guide answers which question?
Eleven Palm Bay utilities guides cover the section, from the water and sewer rates guide to the swales and canals guide, each answering one question in depth.
| Question | Key fact | Palm Bay guide |
|---|---|---|
| Who runs the water system? | Palm Bay Utilities, an enterprise fund | Palm Bay Utilities guide |
| What does water and sewer cost? | $16.44 water and $26.23 sewer base, from October 1, 2026 | Water and sewer rates guide |
| How is the bill paid? | InvoiceCloud portal or (321) 733-3069 | Water bill and payments guide |
| How is service started or stopped? | $100 water and $100 sewer deposit on a 3/4 inch meter | Start or stop water service guide |
| How does a septic home connect? | Customer Care, (321) 952-3420 | Connecting to city water and sewer guide |
| Is the water safe? | 2026 report covers 2025 testing | Drinking water quality and lead guide |
| Is there a boil water notice? | Door hangers, or media releases at 150 or more customers | Boil water notices guide |
| When can lawns be watered? | About 11 miles of reclaimed lines | Reclaimed water and irrigation schedule guide |
| When is trash collected? | Twice weekly trash, weekly recycling, $31.01 a month | Trash and recycling guide |
| What is the stormwater charge? | Maximum $14.76 per ERU | Stormwater utility fee guide |
| Who maintains drainage ditches? | Public Works, (321) 952-3437 | Swales and canals guide |
Every Palm Bay guide in the list links from the related content block below this answer, and each cites the city page it was checked against.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the water bill in Palm Bay, Florida?
From October 1, 2026, a Palm Bay home inside the city with a standard meter pays a $16.44 water base charge and a $26.23 sewer base charge each month, plus usage. The first 5,000 gallons of water cost $4.20 per 1,000 gallons and sewer usage is $7.62 per 1,000 gallons.
Who picks up trash in Palm Bay?
Republic Services collects Palm Bay trash twice a week and recycling once a week under a city contract, with bulk and yard waste pickup included. The residential charge is $31.01 a month, and Republic Services customer service is (321) 989-6030.
What is the Palm Bay Utilities phone number?
Palm Bay Utilities Customer Care answers at (321) 952-3420 and sits at 120 Malabar Road SE. After hours water and sewer emergencies go to (321) 952-3478, and automated account information and payments are at (321) 733-3069.
Is there a fee to pay the Palm Bay water bill by card?
Yes. Since June 22, 2026, Palm Bay Utilities charges 3.5% or a $2.95 minimum on credit and debit card payments and a flat $1.95 on electronic check (ACH) payments.
Where does Palm Bay get its drinking water?
Palm Bay drinking water comes from forty-two city wells tapping the Floridan Aquifer at 850 feet and surficial aquifers at 35 to 85 feet. Two Palm Bay plants treat it by lime softening and reverse osmosis, about 7 million gallons a day in capacity.
Sources
- Residential Rates and Charges, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/start-stop-service/residential-rates-charges Used for: deposits by meter size, water and sewer rates effective October 1, 2026, quarterly to monthly billing notice
- Trash and Recycling, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/services/city-services/trash-and-recycling Used for: Republic Services, $31.01 monthly residential service, cart sizes and fees, extra carts, 2026 holiday schedule
- Contact Utilities Customer Care, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/contact-utilities-customer-service Used for: Customer Care address, hours, phone, after hours emergency line
- Stormwater Utility, City of Palm Bay Public Works https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-f-to-z/public-works/stormwater/stormwater-utility Used for: stormwater utility history, ERU rate, billing, Public Works contact
- About Palm Bay Utilities, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/about-palm-bay-utilities Used for: service area, wells, aquifers, treatment, plant capacities, sewer and reclaimed system
- Boil Water Notices, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/boil-water-notices Used for: how boil water notices are issued
- Water Quality Report, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/water-quality-report Used for: 2026 Annual Drinking Water Quality Report covering 2025
- Billing and Payments, City of Palm Bay https://www.palmbayfl.gov/government/city-departments-a-to-e/customer-service/billing-and-payments Used for: payment portal, card and ACH fees from June 22, 2026, billing schedule
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