At current rates, filling a new Pettit fiberglass pool with the customer’s garden hose usually runs about $100–$200 — as long as you get a bill variance (sewer adjustment) from your utility so the sewer portion of that water is removed from the bill. That holds for fiberglass pools in Pasco County, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando, and Citrus — whether your lot is in New Port Richey, Tampa, Clearwater, Spring Hill, or Inverness. Without that adjustment, the same gallons can cost more because many utilities bill sewer from the water meter even when the water never entered the sewer.
Call 727-847-7665 or request a free estimate.
Why the sewer line on the bill matters
City and county utilities usually measure all water leaving the meter. Indoor use that goes down a drain is true sewer. A pool fill is not — that water sits in the shell. Most utilities still charge for the water. Many will credit or exclude the sewer (wastewater) portion for a documented first-time pool fill if you ask and provide proof. That credit is what brings a typical hose fill into the roughly $100–$200 range we see for Pettit customers at current rates.
Skip the adjustment and you can pay water plus sewer on tens of thousands of gallons. Gallon counts vary by model; see interior gallons on each fiberglass pool product page (for example the Splash lists about 3,500 gallons; larger models hold more).
How to request a pool-fill / sewer credit
Process differs by utility, but the pattern is the same:
- Note the meter reading before you open the hose and after the pool is full (photo both).
- Keep your pool permit number and the fill date.
- Contact your water/sewer provider within the window they allow and ask for a pool fill billing adjustment or wastewater allowance.
- Attach proof (permit copy, photos, invoices if required).
- Pay any current bill on time while the request is reviewed — many utilities say a request is not a guarantee and past-due balances can still disconnect service.
Utilities in the counties we serve
- Pasco County Utilities — Offers a Pool Billing Adjustment Request Form. Guidelines state high water use for a first-time pool fill is still paid (often at the Tampa Bay Water unitary rate), and if documentation shows the water did not flow to the county sewer, the County may credit the sewer portion. Submit the form with a copy of the pool permit for a first-time fill.
- City of Tampa Utilities — Policy is to charge for water used regardless of purpose. Tampa notes you may be eligible for a partial wastewater (sewer) allowance associated with a pool filling; contact the Utilities Call Center at (813) 274-8811 (City of Tampa Utilities FAQs). Many single-family accounts also have a sewer max / lawn credit that caps wastewater charges in normal months — ask whether your account already has one and how a large fill is treated.
- Pinellas County Utilities — Allows a one-time exclusion to the conservation fee, up to $25, for filling swimming pools when you submit required proof (Pinellas County Water FAQs). That is a conservation-fee exclusion, not a full sewer wipeout — call (727) 464-4000 and ask what sewer treatment applies to your first fill.
- Hernando County Utilities — Use the county’s customer adjustment / service-request process for unexpected high use and ask specifically about a pool-fill sewer credit. Requirements and forms change; confirm with the utility before fill day.
- Citrus County / city utilities — Inverness, Crystal River, Homosassa, and Beverly Hills parcels may sit on county or city water. Ask your provider for a first-fill sewer or wastewater adjustment before you open the hose.
Your parcel may be served by a city utility, a county utility, or a private provider. Check the provider name on your bill, not only your mailing city.
Hose fill vs. well vs. water truck
Pettit’s typical first fill uses the customer’s garden hose once the shell is ready. A private well can reduce or avoid a city water charge if the well can supply the volume. Water trucks are an option when hose pressure is too low or a utility restriction limits outdoor use — truck pricing is separate and varies by vendor. Ask your coordinator which path fits your lot before dig week.
For the bigger ownership picture, see what a fiberglass pool costs in Tampa Bay and our payment schedule. Financing: Starting at $400 a month W.A.C. — financing options.
Pool-fill cost FAQs
How much does it cost to fill a new pool with a garden hose?
At current rates, Pettit customers typically see about $100–$200 when the pool is filled with the customer’s garden hose and the utility removes the sewer portion of that water from the bill. Without a sewer adjustment, the same fill can cost more because sewer is often billed from the water meter.
What is a pool-fill sewer variance or bill adjustment?
It is a request to your water/sewer utility to credit or exclude the sewer (wastewater) charge on water that filled the pool and never entered the sewer system. You still pay for the water itself in most programs.
How do I request the adjustment?
Call or use your utility’s pool-fill or billing-adjustment form. Pasco County Utilities has a Pool Billing Adjustment Request Form. City of Tampa Utilities may allow a partial wastewater allowance — call (813) 274-8811. Pinellas County Utilities offers a limited one-time conservation-fee exclusion for pool fills. Have your account number, fill date, and pool permit ready.
Can I fill from a well?
If you have a private well and it is legal and practical for the volume, well water can avoid a city water charge. Confirm well capacity and any local rules before relying on it for a first fill.
Who fills the pool on a Pettit install?
The first fill is typically done with the customer’s hose once the shell is set and ready. Ask your project coordinator which day to open the hose and when to file the utility adjustment.
Questions before fill day?
Fiberglass pool installation across Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, Hillsborough and Pinellas — including New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, Tampa, and Hudson. Citrus County homeowners in Inverness, Crystal River, Homosassa, and Beverly Hills are welcome too. See our service areas hub for every city we cover from Port Richey.
Call 727-847-7665 or contact us online. Pettit Fiberglass Pools, 6651 Industrial Ave, Port Richey, FL. Warranty details are on our site.