The customer service center has been operating for years out of leased space at the Brandon Crossings Shopping Center on Falkenburg Road, south of State Road 60. On Monday (Nov. 9), the service center will be open for business a half-mile north at WRS' new Brandon Support Operations Complex on Falkenburg, just south of the county's Animal Services shelter.

During the move on Friday, customers who need to speak with Customer Service may do so by calling (813) 272-6680, or in person at the Northwest Customer Service Center, 15610 Premiere Drive in Northdale. As usual, bill payments may be made online at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/water, or by phone at (813) 276-8526.

The new customer service center will be open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The full-service facility will offer a wide range of services, including accepting payments, establishing new accounts and assistance with bill questions.

Customers will notice many conveniences in the new service center that were designed with them in mind. For instance, the new location includes a larger lobby and customer waiting area, more cashiers' windows, after-hours payment drop box, and a "first" for WRS - a drive-through window.

The new office building and warehouse complex will offer a permanent home to several other WRS functions, allow the department to terminate leases at several locations in the Brandon area, and increase efficiency by consolidating certain operations in one location. On an interesting note, the new complex is receiving its electricity directly from the county's Resource Recovery Facility next door. The direct hookup is expected to save WRS approximately $9,300 a month on its power bill.

The address of the new customer service/support building is 332 N. Falkenburg Road.