Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-610.472 - Supplemental Water Supplies for Non-Potable Reuse Projects

(1) Rule 62-610.472, F.A.C., applies to non-potable reuse projects for which complete permit applications involving the use of supplemental water supplies were received by the Department on or after August 8, 1999. Rule 62-610.472, F.A.C., shall also apply to any existing reuse system which proposes to add a new supplemental water supply or to expand the facilities, structures, or pumps used for an existing supplemental water supply; however, these rule requirements shall only apply to the expanded or modified portion of the project. Incorporation of a supplemental water supply into the reuse system shall require a permit modification.

(2) Other water supplies may be used by the permittee to supplement the supply of reclaimed water for non-potable reuse projects. Surface waters, ground waters, treated stormwater, and drinking water may be used to supplement the reclaimed water supply for non-potable reuse projects.

(3) Supplemental surface water and stormwater supplies for non-potable reuse projects.

(a) Surface water supplies may be used to supplement the reclaimed water supply, if all of the following conditions are met:

1. Disinfection is provided and the fecal coliform and TSS limits established for high-level disinfection in subsection 62-600.440(5), F.A.C., are met for the treated surface water or stormwater supply before mixing with the reclaimed water. Operating protocols and reject storage facilities are not required for the supplemental water supply.

2. The applicant shall provide an affirmative demonstration that the quality of the resulting mixture of reclaimed water and treated surface water or stormwater will be acceptable for the permitted uses of the reclaimed water within the reclaimed water distribution system. The following factors shall be evaluated in assessing the acceptability of the mixture of reclaimed water and supplemental water:

a. The mixture shall not harm vegetation or crops grown in the reuse system.

b. The mixture shall enable compliance with ground water standards at the edge of the zone of discharge.

c. Public health shall be protected.

3. A one-way flow device shall be provided on each surface water or stormwater supply line to prevent backflow of reclaimed water into the surface water or into the stormwater treatment facilities. This does not have to be an approved device as listed in Rule 62-555.360, F.A.C. A check valve, flap valve, or other device may be used.

4. Continuous monitoring for disinfectant residual shall be performed on the disinfected surface water or stormwater supply at a point before mixing with the reclaimed water. Fecal coliforms and TSS shall be monitored at this point in accordance with the schedule established in Chapter 62-600, F.A.C., for high-level disinfection facilities, based on the permitted capacity of the largest domestic wastewater treatment facility providing reclaimed water to the reuse system.

5. The supplemental water supply pipes and appurtenances shall be color coded and marked to differentiate them from the reclaimed water and potable water facilities.

(b) Subparagraphs 62-610.472(3)(a) 1. through 5., F.A.C., shall apply to situations involving the introduction of stormwater or surface water directly into a reclaimed water distribution system. Cases involving storage of reclaimed water in lakes and ponds which are part of a stormwater management system are described in, and regulated by, Rules 62-610.464 and 62-610.830, F.A.C., and are not subject to Rule 62-610.472, F.A.C., shall not apply to system storage and reclaimed water distribution facilities that are on the property of and are operated by the user of reclaimed water (such as a golf course or farm).

(c) Stormwater may be introduced into the sanitary sewerage system to augment the supply of reclaimed water, if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The resulting mixture of stormwater and domestic wastewater receives the full level of treatment and disinfection required by Part III of this chapter.

2. The applicant provides an affirmative demonstration that the sewerage system and treatment facilities have sufficient capacities to accommodate the added volumes of stormwater.

3. Introduction of stormwater into the sewerage system shall be limited to dry-weather, low-flow conditions in the sanitary sewerage system.

(d) Monitoring for Giardia and Cryptosporidium.

1. For treatment plants having capacities of 1.0 mgd or larger, the permittee shall sample the reclaimed water for Cryptosporidium and Giardia as follows:

a. Sampling shall be conducted at one time during each two-year period. Intervals between sampling shall not be greater than two years. The sample results shall be submitted to the Department on or before November 28 of each even numbered year using Form 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., Pathogen Monitoring, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13373).

b. Samples shall be taken at a point after treatment of the supplemental water supply (before blending with reclaimed water).

2. For treatment plants having capacities less than 1.0 mgd, the permittee shall sample the reclaimed water for Cryptosporidium and Giardia as follows:

a. Sampling shall be conducted at one time during each five-year period. Intervals between sampling shall not be greater than five years. The sample results shall be submitted to the Department on or before November 28 of each even numbered year using Form 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., Pathogen Monitoring, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13373).

b. Samples shall be taken at a point after treatment of the supplemental water supply (before blending with reclaimed water).

3. Samples shall be taken during peak flow periods between the months of August and October.

4. If the wastewater treatment facility uses chlorination for disinfection, samples collected for analysis of Giardia and Cryptosporidium shall be dechlorinated.

5. A grab sample of TSS that is representative of the surface water or treated stormwater as it is added to the reclaimed water system shall be taken during the period when pathogen samples are collected. In addition, record the lowest total residual chlorine observed during the period when pathogen samples are collected.

6. EPA Method 1623.1, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subsection 62-610.100(7), F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021), http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13382) or other approved methods in accordance with Rule 62-160.330, F.A.C., for reclaimed water or nonpotable waters, adjusted appropriately to accommodate the detection limit requirements, shall be used. Methods previously allowed for EPA's ICR shall not be used. The full requirements of the approved method, including quality assurance and quality control, are to be met. Quality assurance and sampling requirements in Chapter 62-160, F.A.C., shall apply.

Two concentrations of Giardia and Cryptosporidium shall be recorded in Part III of Form 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., Pathogen Monitoring (adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13373):

1. Total cysts and oocysts shall be enumerated using EPA Method 1623.1, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subsection 62-610.100(7), F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13382) or other approved methods in accordance with Rule 62-160.330, F.A.C.

2. Potentially viable cysts and oocysts shall be enumerated using the DAPI staining technique contained in EPA Method 1623 or similar enumeration techniques included in other approved methods. Cysts and oocysts that are stained DAPI postive or show internal structure by D.I.C. shall be considered as being potentially viable. If the laboratory reports separate values for DAPI positive and for cysts or oocysts having internal structure, the larger of the two concentrations will be reported as being potentially viable.

7. If the number of potentially viable cysts of Giardia reported exceeds 5 per 100 liters or oocysts of Cryptosporidium reported exceeds 22 per 100 liters, a subsequent sample shall be taken and analyzed using EPA Method 1623.1, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subsection 62-610.100(7), F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021, http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13382) or other approved methods in accordance with Rule 62-160.330, F.A.C. This subsequent sample shall be collected within 90 days of the date the initial sample was taken, analyzed for both Giardia and Cryptosporidium, and the results of the subsequent analysis shall be submitted to the Department within 60 days of sample collection using Form 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., Pathogen Monitoring, (adopted and incorporated by reference in subparagraph 62-610.300(3)(a) 4., F.A.C., effective August 8, 2021). http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13373).

(4) Supplemental ground water supplies for non-potable reuse projects.

(a) Ground water supplies may be used to supplement the reclaimed water supply, if all of the following conditions are met:

1. The applicant shall provide an affirmative demonstration that the quality of the resulting mixture of reclaimed water and ground water will be acceptable for the permitted uses of the reclaimed water within the reclaimed water distribution system. This shall include an evaluation of the factors contained in subparagraph 62-610.472(3)(a) 2., F.A.C. This shall include an analysis of the ground water source for all of the parameters included in the ground water quality standards listed in Chapter 62-520, F.A.C.

2. An approved backflow prevention device, as described in Rule 62-555.360, F.A.C., shall be provided on the pipe from each well connected into the reclaimed water system.

3. Monitoring of the ground water supply shall be conducted quarterly for fecal coliforms, unless additional monitoring is required by paragraph 62-610.472(4)(b), F.A.C. At the end of the first year of operation, monitoring of the ground water supply shall be reduced if the applicant provides an affirmative demonstration that the ground water supply meets the high-level disinfection criteria for fecal coliforms and that public health will be protected.

4. The supplemental water supply pipes and appurtenances shall be color coded and marked to differentiate them from the reclaimed water and potable water facilities.

(b) If the initial analysis of the ground water supply reveals that the ground water supply does not meet ground water quality standards in Chapter 62-520, F.A.C., the parameters for which the ground water standards are not met shall be added to the quarterly monitoring of the ground water supply.

(c) For purposes of subsection 62-610.472(4), F.A.C., water withdrawn at a springhead shall be considered as "ground water."

(5) Drinking water supplies. Drinking water from a public water supply system may be used to supplement the reclaimed water supply, if all of the following conditions are met:

(a) An air gap separation, as described in Rule 62-555.360, F.A.C., shall be provided on each connection from the public water supply system into the reclaimed water system.

(b) The reuse permit shall not include requirements for monitoring of the drinking water supply.

(c) The supplemental water supply pipes and appurtenances shall be color coded and marked to differentiate them from the reclaimed water facilities.

(d) The number of connections from the public water supply system into the reclaimed water system shall be minimized.

(6) A consumptive use permit for the use of surface water or ground water to supplement the reclaimed water supply may be required by the appropriate water management district. A consumptive use permit from the water management district shall not be required at the time of application for a permit from the Department. The permittee shall be responsible for securing any needed consumptive use permits from the water management district before using ground water or surface water to supplement the reclaimed water supply.

(7) Facilities used to connect supplemental water supplies into the reclaimed water distribution system shall be located and documented in the record drawings for the reuse system.

Notes

Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-610.472

Rulemaking Authority 403.051, 403.061, 403.087 FS. Law Implemented 403.021, 403.051, 403.061, 403.062, 403.085, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088 FS.

New 8-8-99, Amended by Florida Register Volume 47, Number 144, July 27, 2021 effective 8/8/2021, Amended by Florida Register Volume 51, Number 028, February 11, 2025 effective 2/26/2025.

New 8-8-99, Amended 8-8-21.