Older home in Port St. Lucie? Septic, sewer and well water: what owners need to know

Many homes on the older east side of Port St. Lucie were built decades ago. Some still send waste to a septic tank in the yard. Some still pull drinking water from a private well. If that is your house, this guide explains your choices, the real costs, and the state rules that matter here.

The city will switch your home from septic to sewer

Port St. Lucie Utility Systems runs a Septic to Sewer Conversion Program. The goal is to protect the North Fork of the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon. The city says more than 11,000 homes and businesses have connected since 1999. That is about 350 a year. As of August 31, 2025, the city counted 12,501 septic tanks still in use.

The city does most of the work. It supplies the materials and labor to tie your plumbing into its low-pressure sewer line. A contracted electrician puts in a control box for a small grinder pump. A city crew runs the sewer line, takes the old septic tank out of service, and puts new sod down. The city says the whole process takes 4 to 6 weeks. After that, the city maintains the system, so you no longer pay to pump a septic tank.

What it costs

The price depends on where you live. Some streets sit inside a city special assessment area. Others do not. Here are the city’s sewer-only prices for a standard home, from its current rate sheet:

• Inside a special assessment area: $9,445 paid in full, or $78.71 a month for 10 years.
• Outside a special assessment area: $11,417 paid in full, or $95.14 a month for 10 years.
• Due when you apply: a $110 sewer deposit plus a $45.50 recording fee.

The 10-year plan has no interest and no credit check. Every owner on the deed must sign, and the signatures must be notarized. Once you connect, you get a monthly water and sewer bill. The city says the average bill for a two-person home using 5,000 gallons is $97.60.

On a well? The city also connects homes to city water. Water-only service is $7,335 inside a special assessment area or $8,045 outside, with the same 10-year, no-interest option. Doing water and sewer together costs $16,780 inside an assessment area.

The state septic rules that apply here

In 2023, Florida passed House Bill 1379. It changed the rules for septic tanks in areas with a state clean-up plan. These plans are called Basin Management Action Plans, or BMAPs. The City of Port St. Lucie is listed in the state’s St. Lucie River and Estuary BMAP, which covers land that drains to the North Fork.

Here is what that plan says for homes on one acre or less:

• No new regular septic system may be put in where city sewer is available.
• Where sewer is not available, a new system must be a special nitrogen-reducing type that removes at least 65% of the nitrogen.
• If the utility sends you written notice that sewer is available, you must connect within 365 days.
• If your septic system needs a repair and sewer is available, the state can require you to connect within 90 days of its notice.

You may have heard about a 2030 deadline. That rule is real, but it covers the Indian River Lagoon Protection Program. That area includes the North, Central and Banana River lagoon plans. The state says the Central plan runs south only to near the Fort Pierce Inlet. In those areas, existing septic systems must connect to sewer or be upgraded by July 1, 2030. Port St. Lucie falls under the St. Lucie River plan instead. Some homes north of the inlet in St. Lucie County may be in the lagoon area. The state has a map to check any address.

If you keep your septic tank

A septic tank works quietly until it doesn’t. A little care saves money and keeps waste out of the river.

• Have the tank pumped about every 3 to 5 years. Big families may need it more often.
• Flush only toilet paper. Even “flushable” wipes cause trouble.
• Keep grease, cooking oil and medicines out of drains.
• Park cars and trucks away from the tank and drainfield.
• Do not plant trees with deep roots near the drainfield.
• Fix leaky faucets and run the washer only when full.

Warning signs of a failing system include soggy ground, a bad smell in the yard, and sewage backing up into the house. Call for help quickly if you see them.

If you drink well water

The Florida Department of Health strongly recommends testing a private well for bacteria and nitrate at least once a year. It suggests testing for lead every three years. The state says lab tests usually cost about $20 to $30 per sample. Health staff may collect samples at your home for about $30 to $40 more. A well near a septic drainfield is one more reason to test.

What to do

1. Find out if sewer or city water is on your street. Call the Port St. Lucie Connection Support Office at 772-873-6400 or email utility@cityofpsl.com.
2. Ask whether your home is inside a special assessment area. That sets your price.
3. Check if your lot is in a state septic clean-up area on the state map at floridadep.gov/BMAPs-ARP-OSTDS.
4. If you plan to keep your septic tank, write down when it was last pumped. Septic permit records can be searched on the county health department website, stlucie.floridahealth.gov.
5. Test your well once a year. Call the Florida Department of Health in St. Lucie County, Environmental Health, at 772-873-4931.
6. Already on city sewer and hear a pump alarm? The city answers 772-873-6400 day and night.