Frequently asked questions about water quality:
A. Call your local water company and ask them to send you a copy of their most recent water quality report. The report should include a list of the contaminants they must monitor and the standards they must meet.
A. Yes, public water utilities test and monitor drinking water to meet two types of standards. The primary standards, called Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCLs), are set to protect human health and the secondary standards aesthetic consideration such as taste, odor and appearance. Health and aesthetic aspects are the driving force behind drinking water regulations.
A. In most cases when there are problems, your utility will make the correction before you even know there's a problem. Sometimes, though, problems do arise in a single house or neighborhood. If you have good reason to suspect a problem, and are serviced by Okaloosa County Water and Sewer, call us at (850) 651-7171 for a home water analysis.
A. No, EPA does not recommend home treatment devices as a substitute for public water treatment because of the difficulty in monitoring their performance. Home treatment devices are not tested or regulated by the federal government. Some, however, are tested by independent laboratories. If you want to use a water treatment device, carefully choose one according to the water conditions in your area. Also be aware that a device needs to be properly maintained or it could cause water quality problems.
A. Not necessarily. Some people use home water filters to improve the taste, smell and/or appearance of their tap water, but it may not make the water safer or healthier to drink.
A. Yes. If regular maintenance is not performed properly, water quality problems can result.
A. Not necessarily. The safety of bottled water and tap water initially depends on the source of the water. Monitoring and source protection, treatment and testing ultimately determine the quality of the finished product. For the first time, the 1996 Reauthorization of the Safe Drinking Water Act requires that bottled water be monitored and tested in the same rigorous manner that tap water has been subject to for years. The Federal Drug Administration oversees bottled water, but it is not subject to the same rigorous monitoring and testing as tap water.Water & Sewer -
OCWS Phone:
(850) 651-7171 or (850) 423-1579
(To reach office staff during business hours)
IVR Phone System:
(850) 651-7171 or (850) 423-1579
Receive account information or make a payment.
System is available daily from 5:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
OCWS Emergency Phone –
(850) 651-7174 or (850) 423-1576
(Non-business hours, Weekends & Holidays)
Email: waterinformation@myokaloosa.com
Visit the Contact Us page for OCWS Office and Drop Box Locations
MSBU Street Lights - (850) 423-4830
(Public Works Department for Street Light issues)
Garbage and Recycling questions:
Waste Management
(850) 301-2822, Monday – Friday
(850) 275-0020, Saturday
Jeff Littrell, Director
1804 Lewis Turner Boulevard
Suite 300
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547
Phone: (850) 651-7172
W & S Employee Commute Program
302 N. Wilson St. - Suite 302
Crestview, FL 32536
1250 N. Eglin Parkway, Suite 100
Shalimar, FL 32579
Call 850-689-5050 or 850-423-1542 for all departments.