Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 62-600.520 - Discharge to Surface Waters - (Coastal and Open Ocean)
(1) Outfalls for all facilities shall not
discharge reclaimed water or effluent to coastal or open ocean waters which
does not meet, at a minimum, applicable secondary treatment and pH criteria
contained in Rules
62-600.420
and
62-600.445,
F.A.C. Where applicable, discharges to coastal waters shall be subject to the
limitations of Rule
62-4.242,
F.A.C., regarding Outstanding Florida Waters, subsection
62-600.510(5),
Rule
62-302.530,
F.A.C., regarding discharge to Class II waters, and subsection
62-600.510(6),
F.A.C., regarding waters contiguous to or tributary to Class II waters, and
Section 403.086, F.S., regarding the discharge of domestic wastewater through
ocean outfalls.
(2) Outfalls for
all facilities shall not discharge effluent or reclaimed water to Class III
coastal waters which has not also received basic disinfection prior to the
discharge. Outfalls for all facilities shall not discharge effluent to open
ocean waters without also being disinfected to the extent necessary to achieve
Class III microbiological standards contained in Rule
62-302.530,
F.A.C., at the edge of the mixing zone established pursuant to subsection
62-600.520(3), F.A.C. If basic disinfection is not provided, the preliminary
design report shall affirmatively demonstrate the level of disinfection that is
more appropriate.
(3) Mixing zones
for effluent discharges via ocean outfalls may be established as follows:
(a) All coastal water discharge facilities
shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Rule
62-4.244,
F.A.C.
(b) All open ocean water
discharge facilities shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Rule
62-4.244,
F.A.C., except that:
1. Appropriate dimensions
of the mixing zone, for effluents having received treatment in accordance with
subsections 62-600.520(1) and 62-600.520(2), F.A.C., and discharged from new
facilities or modifications of existing facilities, shall be established by the
permittee pursuant to the provisions of subsection 62-600.520(5),
F.A.C.
2. Mixing zone criteria
currently applicable to existing facilities shall be modified if necessary to
meet Department rules by order of the Secretary, pursuant to subsection
62-600.520(5), F.A.C.
(4) Alternative levels of treatment shall be
allowed for ocean outfall discharges to open ocean waters provided the
following are met:
(a) The Secretary issues an
order, upon petition of an affected permittee and after public hearing, that
specifies alternatives to treatment requirements of subsection
62-600.420(2),
and rule 62-600.520, F.A.C.; and mixing zone requirements of rule
62-4.244,
F.A.C.; and,
(b) Such order shall
remain in effect as long as applicable water quality criteria specified in
chapter 62-302, F.A.C., are met and the effluent meets statutory treatment
requirements; however:
(c) Such
order shall be issued only after affirmative demonstration by the Petitioner of
the following:
1. Granting the order is in the
public interest; and,
2. Compliance
with minimum treatment standards and requirements in subsection
62-600.420(2),
and rule 62-600.520, F.A.C., for these discharges is not required to assure
adequate protection of public health and the marine environment; and,
3. Granting the order will not interfere with
existing uses or the designated uses of the receiving waters or contiguous
waters, or otherwise impair the recreational use, bathing waters, or economic
values associated with the area potentially affected by the discharge;
and,
4. There is no reasonable
relationship between the economic, social, and environmental costs of
compliance with the treatment requirements and the benefits associated
therewith; and,
5. Oceanographic
features influencing the effects of the proposed discharge support the proposed
level of treatment and any proposed extent of the mixing zone; and,
6. The facility will be constructed (where
applicable) and operated so that there is no occurrence of inadequately treated
wastewater reaching contiguous coastal waters; and,
7. An acceptable monitoring program for the
discharge has been proposed and would be implemented by the
permittee.
(5)
Discharges from outfalls to coastal recreation waters shall meet the criteria
for enterococci established in 40 C.F.R. Part 131.41 , as codified on July 1,
2020, which is hereby adopted and incorporated by reference
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-13448.
(6) The discharge of domestic wastewater
through ocean outfalls is prohibited after December 31, 2025, except as a
backup discharge that is part of a functioning reuse system or other wastewater
management system authorized by the department. A backup discharge may occur
only during periods of reduced demand for reclaimed water in the reuse system,
such as periods of wet weather, or as a result of peak flows from other
wastewater management systems, and must comply with the advanced wastewater
treatment requirements of Section
403.086
(10)(b), F.S. Discharges for maintenance purposes require prior approval by the
department.
Notes
Rulemaking Authority 403.051, 403.061, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088 FS. Law Implemented 403.021, 403.051, 403.061, 403.062, 403.085, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088, 403.859 FS.
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