, F.S., the Florida
Legislature has determined that it is in the public interest to promote
alternative water supplies and brackish water demineralization as an
alternative to withdrawals of groundwater and surface water. Within subsection
,
F.A.C., the terms "demineralization concentrate" and "concentrate" are used
synonymously.
(a) The following provisions
apply to all facilities that discharge demineralization concentrate, as defined
in subsection
62-620.200(11),
F.A.C.:
1. During preliminary siting
considerations, it is recommended that water supply utilities or entities that
propose to operate demineralization facilities evaluate concentrate disposal
options potentially available in the project area.
2. Discharge of demineralization concentrate
shall not commence until an individual wastewater treatment facility or
activity permit or permit revision authorizing the discharge has been issued by
the Department in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.
3. Direct discharge of concentrate to waters
shall require an individual wastewater facility permit under this Chapter using
DEP Application Form 2DC Permit to Discharge Demineralization Concentrate, as
referenced in subsection
62-620.910(18),
F.A.C.
4. Blending of concentrate
with wastewater from a Department permitted wastewater facility for purposes of
treatment or disposal shall require a separate permit for the concentrate
discharge unless the receiving wastewater facility permit is revised in
accordance with the requirements of subsection
62-620.200(25) or
(50), F.A.C., to incorporate all aspects of
concentrate treatment or disposal and provide reasonable assurance that the
discharge will meet applicable water quality standards.
5. Demineralization concentrate and reclaimed
water may be blended, provided that the requirements in Rule
62-610.865, F.A.C., Blending of
Demineralization Concentrate with Reclaimed Water, are met. Requirements for
permitting, monitoring, operation, and other activities associated with the
concentrate, reclaimed water, and blending of demineralization concentrate with
reclaimed water that impact water quality shall be in accordance with Rule
62-610.865, F.A.C. If a single
municipality or utility owns and operates both the water treatment facility
that generates the concentrate and the domestic wastewater facility that
produces the reclaimed water, a separate discharge permit is not required for
the concentrate discharge facility, in accordance with paragraph
62-610.865(7)(b),
F.A.C. In this case, however, the domestic wastewater permit must be revised to
incorporate all aspects of demineralization concentrate blending, in accordance
with the requirements of Rule
62-610.865, F.A.C.
6. A facility that discharges
demineralization concentrate to ground water solely using underground injection
wells for disposal shall not be required to obtain a permit under Chapter
62-620, F.A.C. However, the facility shall obtain an Underground Injection
Control (UIC) permit that will include requirements for effluent and
groundwater monitoring pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 62-528,
F.A.C.
7. Except for facilities
that discharge concentrate solely using underground injection wells for
disposal, as provided in subparagraph
62-620.625(6)(a)
6., F.A.C., a facility that discharges demineralization concentrate to
groundwater under this chapter shall establish a groundwater monitoring plan in
accordance with the requirements of Rule
62-522.600, F.A.C. The
groundwater monitoring plan shall include an evaluation of background water
quality in the receiving water. Dimensions for the zone of discharge shall be
in accordance with the requirements of Rules
62-522.400 and
62-522.410, F.A.C.
8. Except as provided for small water utility
businesses in paragraph
62-620.625(6)(b),
F.A.C., demineralization concentrate effluent discharged to surface waters
shall be monitored for the following parameters: flow; dissolved oxygen; pH;
hydrogen sulfide; specific conductance; total dissolved solids; color; aluminum
(marine waters only); bromide; calcium; chloride; copper; fluoride; iron;
magnesium; potassium; sodium; combined radium 226 and 228; gross alpha particle
activity (including radium 226, but excluding radon and uranium); nitrate as
nitrogen; nitrite as nitrogen; un-ionized ammonia as nitrogen; ammonia-ammonium
as nitrogen; total nitrogen; total organic nitrogen; total phosphorus; and
ortho-phosphate. Requirements for toxicity monitoring shall be in accordance
with paragraph
62-620.625(6)(c),
F.A.C.
9. Except as provided for
small water utility businesses in paragraph
62-620.625(6)(b),
F.A.C., demineralization concentrate effluent discharged to groundwater shall
be monitored for the following parameters: flow; total dissolved solids;
chloride; fluoride; sodium; nitrate as nitrogen; nitrite as nitrogen; combined
radium 226 and 228; and gross alpha particle activity (including radium 226,
but excluding radon and uranium).
10. Except as provided for small water
utility businesses in paragraph
62-620.625(6)(b),
F.A.C., demineralization concentrate facilities discharging to groundwater,
other than UIC disposal, shall monitor the following parameters at groundwater
monitoring wells: total dissolved solids; chloride; sodium; nitrate as
nitrogen; nitrite as nitrogen; combined radium 226 and 228; and gross alpha
particle activity (including radium 226, but excluding radon and
uranium).
11. If the result of a
gross alpha particle activity analysis in demineralization concentrate
effluent, or at a groundwater monitoring well, is less than 5 Picocuries/liter,
analysis for radium 226 and 228 shall not be required for that
sample.
12. Except as provided for
small water utility businesses in paragraph
62-620.625(6)(b),
F.A.C., demineralization concentrate discharges shall be monitored at the
following frequencies:
|
Flow, pH, and dissolved oxygen
|
Daily
|
|
Radioactive substances
|
Quarterly
|
|
Other parameters
|
Monthly
|
|
Groundwater monitoring wells
|
Quarterly
|
13.
The Department shall increase or decrease monitoring requirements based on the
initial characteristics of the source water and receiving water provided with
the permit application in order to protect receiving water quality, as
necessary.
14. In accordance with
Section 403.061(11)(b)4., F.S., mixing zones for chronic toxicity may be
permitted in Outstanding Florida Waters for demineralization concentrate
discharges permitted under this section provided that the failure of any whole
effluent toxicity test on concentrate discharged by the facility meets the
criteria of Sections 403.0882(4)(a) and
(b), F.S.
(b) The following provisions apply only to
small water utility businesses:
1. Discharge
of demineralization concentrate from small water utility businesses is presumed
to be allowable and permittable in all waters provided that the conditions of
Sections 403.0882(6)(a)1., 2., and 3., F.S., are met.
2. Small water utility businesses that
discharge demineralization concentrate to groundwater, and which meet the
criteria referenced in subparagraph
62-620.625(6)(b)
1., F.A.C., shall not be required to have more than: one upgradient, one
downgradient intermediate, and one downgradient compliance monitoring
well.
3. All small water utility
businesses that meet the criteria in subparagraph
62-620.625(6)(b)
1., F.S., shall:
a. Meet the following
effluent limitations on an annual average basis, pursuant to Section
403.0882(6)(a)1., F.S.:
|
Carbonaceous Biochemical Oxygen Demand, Five Day
(CBOD5)
|
5 mg/l
|
|
Total Suspended Solids
|
5 mg/l
|
|
Total Nitrogen as N
|
3 mg/l
|
|
Total Phosphorus as P
|
1 mg/l
|
b.
Monitor demineralization concentrate discharged to surface water for the
following parameters, except that toxicity testing shall be conducted in
accordance with paragraphs
62-620.625(6)(c) and
(d), F.A.C.: concentrate discharge flow; pH;
dissolved oxygen; total suspended solids; total nitrogen; total phosphorus; and
carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand.
c. Monitor demineralization concentrate
discharged to groundwater, at a minimum, for the following parameters:
concentrate discharge flow; total dissolved solids; sodium; total nitrogen;
nitrate as nitrogen; total phosphorus; and carbonaceous biochemical oxygen
demand. If the result of a total nitrogen analysis is less than 3 mg/l,
analysis for nitrate shall not be required.
d. Monitor the following parameters at
groundwater monitoring wells: total dissolved solids; sodium; and nitrate as
nitrogen.
4. Small water
utility businesses that discharge demineralization concentrate to waters, and
which do not meet the presumption of permittability and allowability in
subparagraph
62-620.625(6)(b)
1., F.A.C., shall:
a. Monitor
demineralization concentrate discharged to surface water for the following
parameters: concentrate discharge flow; pH; dissolved oxygen; radioactive
substances (combined radium 226 and 228); radioactive substances (gross alpha
particle activity including radium 226, but excluding radon and uranium); total
nitrogen; total phosphorus; carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand; total
suspended solids; and fecal coliforms, if fecal coliforms are present in the
source water. Toxicity testing shall be conducted in accordance with paragraph
62-620.625(6)(c),
F.A.C.;
b. Monitor demineralization
concentrate discharged to groundwater for the following parameters: concentrate
discharge flow; total dissolved solids; sodium; chloride; radioactive
substances (combined radium 226 and 228); radioactive substances (gross alpha
particle activity including radium 226, but excluding radon and uranium); total
nitrogen; nitrate as nitrogen; nitrite as nitrogen; total phosphorus; and
carbonaceous biochemical oxygen demand; and,
c. Monitor the following parameters at
groundwater monitoring wells: total dissolved solids; chloride; sodium; nitrate
as nitrogen; nitrite as nitrogen; radioactive substances (combined radium 226
and 228); and radioactive substances (gross alpha particle activity including
radium 226, but excluding radon and uranium).
5. All small water utility businesses that
discharge demineralization concentrate to waters shall be monitored at the
following frequencies:
|
Flow, pH, and dissolved oxygen
|
Daily
|
|
Radioactive substances
|
Annually
|
|
Other parameters
|
Quarterly
|
|
Groundwater monitoring wells
|
Semi-annually
|
(c) The following provisions apply to
toxicity testing at all facilities that discharge demineralization concentrate
to surface waters, except as provided by paragraph
62-620.625(6)(d),
F.A.C.:
The provisions of Section
403.0882(4),
F.S., and paragraph 62-4.244(3)(d),
F.A.C., apply to all facilities that discharge demineralization concentrate to
surface waters where the failure of a whole effluent toxicity test is
predominantly due to naturally occurring constituents in a source water and
where ionic imbalance is demonstrated. Facilities whose failure of whole
effluent toxicity testing is not due to ionic imbalance may be permitted in
accordance with Department rules, including applicable moderating provisions,
such as variances, exemptions, and mixing zones.