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.
New 11-27-89, Amended 1-30-91, Formerly 17-600.520, Amended 10-11-13, 2-8-16, 9-27-21, 1-16-22.
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