Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-565.530 - Pathogen Requirements for Potable Reuse Systems

(1) The applicant must provide reasonable assurance that the treatment techniques being used reduce the combined health risk of acute gastroenteritis for consumers drinking the water to less than 1 in 10,000 annually. The treatment technique requirements consist of installing and properly operating filtration and disinfection water treatment processes that reliably achieve:

(a) For Giardia lamblia cysts: a 12-log reduction between the raw wastewater and the finished drinking water with at least 50 percent reduction achieved between a point where the source water is not subject to recontamination and a point downstream;

(b) For Cryptosporidium oocytes: a 12-log reduction between the raw wastewater and the finished drinking water with at least 50 percent reduction achieved between a point where the source water is not subject to recontamination and a point downstream; and

(c) For enteric viruses (including rotaviruses and noroviruses): a 14-log reduction between the raw wastewater and the finished drinking water with at least 50 percent reduction achieved between a point where the source water is not subject to recontamination, exposed during treatment to the open atmosphere and a point downstream.

(2) For the purpose of meeting the requirements of subsection (1) above, log reduction credits for every point of treatment barrier from the domestic wastewater treatment facility, environmental buffer, ATWF and PWS may be included in calculation of the total log reduction credits achieved for each of Giardia lamblia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocytes, and enteric viruses. Aerators and other facilities that are protected against contamination from birds, insects, wind borne debris, rainfall, and drainage are not considered to be exposing water to the open atmosphere and possible viral contamination.

(3) An applicant shall propose values for log reduction value credits in its engineering report based on engineering analysis, pilot studies, available research, and guidance.

(4) Membrane filtration systems, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, or alternative membrane treatment technologies shall be awarded additional pathogen log reduction value credits by conducting a Department-approved direct integrity test in accordance with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2005 Membrane Filtration Guidance Manual, (adopted and incorporated by reference in paragraph 62-565.300(1)(c), F.A.C., effective February 26, 2025). The Department shall approve credits if the results of direct integrity tests and other associated technical data support the proposed direct integrity tests suitability and sensitivity for the proposed pathogen and membrane filtration technology. For example, this may take the form of a daily pressure decay test for Cryptosporidium and Giardia removal by ultrafiltration (an example of a direct integrity test), and online monitoring of sulfate removal by reverse osmosis as a surrogate parameter for enteric virus removal.

(5) Ultraviolet (UV) systems shall comply with the treatment and operational requirements set forth in Rules 62-565.560, 62-565.570, and 62-565.580, F.A.C.

(6) During full-scale operation of the oxidation process designed pursuant to subsection 62-565.560(7), F.A.C., the applicant shall continuously monitor the surrogate and operational parameters established pursuant to paragraphs 62-565.560(7)(c) or 62-565.560(7)(d), F.A.C. The applicant shall implement, in full-scale operation, the oxidation process, as designed pursuant to subsection 62-565.560(7), F.A.C.

(7) Potable Reuse Systems with significant deficiencies related to the treatment process shall not receive the log reduction value credits in subparagraph 62-550.817(2)(b) 2., F.A.C., without Department approval. The Department will notify the permittee of such systems in writing of any Department-assigned log reduction value credits that are lower than the credits shown in subparagraph 62-550.817(2)(b) 2., F.A.C. The Department will assign reductions in log reduction value credits according to the criteria in the Department's "Compliance Manual for Subpart H systems," (adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-550.817(2)(b) 3., F.A.C.).

(8) Potable Reuse Systems shall meet the requirements of subsections 62-565.530(1)(a) through (c), F.A.C., by:

(a) Determining CTcalc, as defined in Rule 62-565.200, F.A.C.;

(b) Estimating log-inactivation for the CTcalc for Giardia lamblia cysts and enteric viruses; and

(c) Showing that 95 percent of the daily measurements taken each month meet or exceed the minimum log-inactivation disinfection requirements set forth in Rule 62-565.530, F.A.C.

(9) A violation of the requirement set forth in Rule 62-565.530, F.A.C., is a treatment technique violation.

(10) If, in any daily measurement, log-inactivation levels are insufficient to meet the requirements established in this rule, the operator shall take immediate steps to increase disinfection levels.

(11) The permittee must use a minimum of three separate critical control points for pathogen reduction including one disinfection control point and one filtration control point.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-565.530

Rulemaking Authority 403.861(9), 403.064(17) FS. Law Implemented 403.852(12), 403.861(7), 403.853(6), 403.861(17), 403.064(17) FS.

Adopted by Florida Register Volume 51, Number 028, February 11, 2025 effective 2/26/2025.