The sub-meter program is offered to the Department’s customers in order to obtain a reduction on the sewer portion of their bill. The sub-meter can be used for irrigation, cooling towers, or when filling a swimming pool.

The amount of water used through the sub-meter is then deducted from the usage on the Department's domestic main water meter and billed sewer on the difference, thereby allowing the customer to obtain a savings on their account.

Sub-meters are purchased from the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department at 3071 SW 38th Ave in the Customer Services Lobby and picked up from the storeroom located in the same building. The price is based on the meter size, beginning at $43.30 for the 5/8" meter, which is the most commonly used size. Please note that you can only buy the sub-meters with cash, money order, cashier's check or regular check; credit cards are not accepted for sub-meter purchases.

The customer is responsible for the proper installation of the sub-meter. Written information is  provided at the time of purchase, along with the Department’s terms and conditions the customer  must agree to in order to obtain a sub-meter. The customer is expected to follow all of the  instructions and adhere to the Department’s guidelines pertaining to a proper sub-meter installation.

No, the Department cannot make any recommendations. It is advised that the customer look  through the phone book under plumbing or irrigation companies, and then decide which company  to use for the sub-meter installation.

After the meter installation is completed following the Department’s guidelines, the customer must  call the sub-meter inspector at (786) 552-8806 for final inspection to determine that the sub-meter  installation was  done properly. After the installation is approved by the inspector and the meter is  activated on the customer’s account, a $50.00 inspection fee will be posted to the customer’s  billing account.

It is the customer’s responsibility to maintain the sub-meter within Department standards at all  times. If the customer fails to make any necessary maintenance needs with a sub-meter, the meter  will be removed from the Department’s billing system.  Maintenance issues would be, for example:  the box full of dirt, the sub-meter box cover needs to be replaced, the area around the sub-meter is  not clear and accessible, or if a sub-meter has been in use for a long period of time and has  become defective the customer must replace it with a new meter. Sub-meters are to be replaced  after every 10 years of active service.