Extensive damage caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene has left Florida’s West coast communities facing the monumental task of clearing massive amounts of storm debris. Tampa officials estimate that the consecutive hurricanes last month generated approximately one million cubic meters of waste throughout the city.

This enormous volume of debris littering Tampa’s streets has created unforeseen challenges for the municipality. According to city authorities, the accumulation of storm-related refuse is obstructing access to water meters, preventing accurate readings. As a result, the city cannot precisely determine individual residents’ water usage and corresponding bills.

To address this issue, Tampa has resorted to sending out estimated utility bills until the debris can be cleared and normal meter reading operations can resume.

Residents seeking additional information or clarification can contact the Utilities Call Center at (813) 274-8811, available Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.