1. Insulate Exposed Pipes
   Start by identifying pipes in cold or unheated spaces, like basements, garages, crawl spaces, or exterior walls. These are the first to freeze when temperatures drop. Adding insulation helps maintain water temperature and keeps lines from icing over.

2. Cover Outdoor Fixtures and Drain Seasonal Lines
   Outdoor faucets, spigots, and water lines are especially vulnerable. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, shut off outdoor water valves, and install foam faucet covers for extra protection. If you have seasonal plumbing, like irrigation systems or exterior hose bibs, drain them completely before winter. Empty pipes can’t freeze, so a little prep now can save a lot of repair later.

3. Maintain Consistent Indoor Heat
   Even when your building isn’t occupied, keep indoor temperatures above 55°F. Consistent heat keeps water flowing and helps prevent pipes from freezing in hidden or unheated spaces. If you close your business for the holidays or weekends, resist turning the thermostat too low. It’s better to pay a little more for heat than to pay a lot more for repairs.

4. Let Faucets Drip and Open Cabinet Doors
   Letting faucets drip during extreme cold keeps water moving, making it less likely to freeze. Opening cabinet doors under sinks allows warm air to circulate around pipes, especially in kitchens or bathrooms that sit along exterior walls.

5. Protect Above-Ground Backflows
   Be sure to provide adequate insulation to prevent backflows from freezing.

6. Have a Plan for Emergencies
   If a pipe freezes, keep the faucet open to relieve pressure and use a hair dryer or heating pad to thaw it slowly. Never use an open flame. If a pipe bursts, shut off the main water supply immediately and call a licensed plumber. Acting quickly can minimize water damage.

The Board of Directors approved a rate increase in water and sewer service and usage rates and a rate restructure effective October 2025.

The increase is reflected in your November bill.

Please visit our  Employment page under Inside SWUCI tab.

We have no openings at this time.

How to shut off your water meter

Locate your water meter. Water meters are typically installed inside black meter boxes placed on the street side of your property flush with the ground.Remove the black lid of the meter box. A standard screw driver can be used to lift the lid around the rectangular edges.  The meter may be below dirt or sand, which can be carefully moved to uncover the meter.

There should be an owner’s valve after the meter. There are various types and when on, the handle should be in line with the pipe.  Turn across the pipe ¼ turn to shut off.

If the owner’s valve is broken or rusted off, you can turn the water off before the meter, in an emergency.  The owner’s valve is the owner’s responsibility; please replace it if necessary.

On the street side of the meter, locate the round knob. This is the main shut-off valve, also referred to as the curb stop. The bar in the middle is in line with the pipe.  To turn it off, turn it one quarter turn so the bar is across the pipe; the hole in the tab will line up with the hole below, this means it is off.

Below is a picture of a meter. The owner’s valve on the left is on; the curb stop on the right is also on.

Below is a picture of a meter. The owner’s valve on the left is off; the curb stop on the right is also off. 

Below are pictures of another type of owner’s valve:

In this position the water would be flowing.

In this position the water is off.

Gulfcoast Underground will be installing cleanouts on the existing sewer service lines beginning Tuesday August 9^th in the area of Pritchard Rd. They will continue with the installations in areas throughout Forest Shore Dr and Holiday Rd over the course of the next 4 weeks. These cleanouts will be placed at the property right of way. Any areas impacted will be repaired by the contractor when all work is complete. Crews will be taking before pictures and videos to make sure all property impacted is placed back in like conditions. Crews will be placing door hangers on homes where this work will take place. There will be no charge to SWU members.  Please call our office if you have any additional questions that can’t be answered by our site personnel.

Please be sure to update your phone number, mailing address and email address should we need to contact you regarding a leak or other important information regarding your account.

You may call our office, complete the change address section on your payment stub, reply to an e-bill or email admin@swuci.org to make these changes.

Please keep at least 5 feet of clearance around fire hydrants. Easy access is a priority in the event of a fire.

• Trim all plants, trees and weeds so the hydrant is clearly visible and accessible from all angles.
• Report missing caps or damaged fire hydrants immediately.
• Never park in front of a fire hydrant.

Go paper free with our e-Bill service! With e-Bill, you get the same information that’s on your paper bill e-mailed right to your computer, no time delay waiting for it to arrive by mail.

EFT ensures you never miss a payment! EFT saves you time, checks and postage. You still get a bill sent to you for your review, then you can file it and be done. With EFT, we will deduct the amount due from your bank the first business day of the month.

Email us at info@SWUCI.ORG if you are interested in this benefit.

Contact us for more information or download the Electronic Funds Transfer form here.