64E-6.010. Septage and Food Establishment Sludge

(1) No septic tank, grease interceptor, privy, or other receptacle associated with an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system shall be cleaned or have its contents removed until the service person has obtained an annual written permit (Form DH 4013, 01/92, Operating Permit, herein incorporated by reference) from the DOH county health department in the county in which the service company is located. Permits issued under this section authorize the disposal service to handle liquid waste associated with food operations, domestic waste, or domestic septage. Such authorization applies to all septage produced in the State of Florida, and food establishment sludge which is collected for disposal from onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems.

(2) Application for a service permit shall be made to the DOH county health department on Form DH 4012, 01/92, “Application for Septage Disposal Service Permit, Temporary System Service Permit, Septage Treatment and Disposal Facility, Septic Tank Manufacturing Approval” herein incorporated by reference. The following must be provided for the evaluation prior to issuance of a service permit:

(a) Evidence that the applicant possesses adequate equipment such as a tank truck with a liquid capacity of at least 1500 gallons, pumps, off truck stabilization tanks and pH testing equipment where lime stabilization and land application are proposed, as well as other appurtenances and tools necessary to perform the work intended. Equipment may be placed into service only after it has been inspected and approved by the DOH county health department. Tanks used for the stabilization and storage of septage and food service sludges shall be constructed, sized, and operated in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Stabilization tanks and septage storage tanks shall be constructed of concrete, fiberglass, corrosion-resistant steel, or other equally durable material. Tanks shall be watertight and shall be water tested for leaks prior to placing into service. The stabilization tank shall have a liquid capacity of at least 3000 gallons.

2. Construction of concrete tanks shall be at a minimum equal to that required of concrete septic tanks in Rule 64E-6.013, F.A.C. Fiberglass tanks and tanks of similar materials shall be constructed in accordance with standards found in Rule 64E-6.013, F.A.C.

3. Stabilization tanks shall contain aeration or mixing devices which will ensure thorough agitation or mixing of lime with the waste as specified in Chapter 6, EPA 625/1-79-011, Process Design Manual for Septage Treatment and Disposal, herein incorporated by reference.

(b) The proposed disposal method and the site to be used for disposing of onsite sewage treatment and disposal system septage.

(c) The contractor registration number and certificate of authorization number, if applicable.

(3) When a permit is issued, the number of said permit along with the name of the company, its phone number, and the gallon capacity of the waste storage tank shall be prominently and permanently displayed on the service truck in contrasting colors with 3 inch or larger letters. Use of removable magnetic signs shall not be considered permanent display of vehicle identification information. A septage disposal service permit shall be suspended, revoked or denied by the department in accordance with Chapter 120, F.S., for failure to comply with requirements of this chapter.

(4) After septage or food establishment sludge is removed from an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system, the original lid of the tank shall be put back in place, or be replaced with a new lid if the original lid is broken. The tank lid shall be completely sealed and secured as per paragraph 64E-6.013(2)(i), F.A.C., and the ground backfilled and compacted so that the site is left in a nuisance free condition.

(a) Contents of any treatment tank, including all chambers of a multi-chambered tank, or pump tank shall be removed in their entirety when pumped. Where in the opinion of the person pumping any onsite sewage treatment and disposal system waste receptacle or pump tank, the complete removal of all tank contents may create an unintended problem in regards to the continued use of the system, a complete pumpout is not required. The pumper must document, in writing, to the system owner the reason for the partial pumpout, the gallonage pumped from the system, and what material was left in the tank.

(b) The access to pump a tank must be through the lid of the tank, through the manhole or by moving a sectional lid. Where the tank is chambered, separate chambers must be accessed through the manholes or sectional lid for the chamber being pumped. Pumping shall not be accomplished by entering the tank through inlets or outlets. Where the lid of the tank must be broken in order to gain access for the removal of tank contents, or at anytime when the lid is broken, the lid shall be replaced.

(5) Untreated food establishment sludges, and septage shall be transported to an approved treatment facility in such a manner as to preclude leakage, spillage or the creation of a sanitary nuisance.

(6) Treated septage and sludges shall be transported to the disposal site in such a manner so as to preclude leakage, spillage or the creation of a sanitary nuisance.

(7) The food establishment sludge and contents from onsite waste disposal systems shall be disposed of at a site approved by the DOH county health department and by an approved disposal method. Untreated domestic septage or food establishment sludges shall not be applied to the land. Criteria for approved stabilization methods and the subsequent land application of domestic septage or other domestic onsite wastewater sludges shall be in accordance with the following criteria for land application and disposal of domestic septage.

(a) Land application of domestic septage and sludges shall be permitted provided such septage and sludges have been properly treated by an approved septage-stabilization process, including lime stabilization, and an application using Form DH 4012 has been completed as part of the permitting process. Prior to discharge of septage or food establishment sludge into a stabilization tank, the septage or sludge shall be screened in a pretreatment tank or chamber which contains a final screening method using bar screens having a maximum gap of 1/2 inch or rock screens or other similar mesh material having a maximum 3/4 inch opening. Material retained in the screening process shall be limed, containerized, and disposed of at an approved solid waste disposal facility. Septage or sludge shall pass from the pretreatment tank or chamber to the stabilization tank. Lime stabilization of septage shall be in accordance with processes and designs described in Chapter 6, EPA 625/1-79-011, Process Design Manual for Sludge Treatment and Disposal, hereby incorporated by reference. Facilities approved for septage treatment under this rule shall not receive and treat more than 20,000 gallons of septage or combined septage, grease interceptor, portable restroom or other receptacle waste associated with an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system on any one day and shall not exceed a monthly average of 10,000 gallons of septage or septage and combined domestic waste per day. Stabilization by lime shall raise the pH of the septage to a level of 12 for a minimum of two hours or to a level of at least 12.5 for a minimum of 30 minutes to be deemed sufficient. The pH of the stabilized septage shall be maintained at a level of at least 11 until actual land application, but shall not be landspread until the pH of the stabilized septage has fallen below 12.5. To check the pH of the stabilized septage, a sampling port having an internal diameter of no less than 1/2 inch and no more than 3/4 inch and located no more than 60 inches above the ground surface shall be used to allow sampling of waste tank contents. Lime purchase receipts shall be kept at the place of business for a minimum of 6 months.

1. Use on playgrounds, parks, golf courses, lawns, hospital grounds, or other unrestricted public access areas where frequent human contact is likely to occur is prohibited.

2. Application is limited to sod farms, pasture lands, forests, highway shoulders and medians, plant nursery use, land reclamation projects and soils used for growing human food chain crops. Application methods shall be conducted in a manner which will disperse the treated septage uniformly over the land application site.

a. Pasture vegetation on which stabilized septage or sludge has been applied shall not be cut for hay or silage nor grazed for a period of 30 days from the last application.

b. No human food chain crops except hay, silage, or orchard crops shall be harvested from a land application area for a period of 60 days following the last application of septage or sludges.

c. Domestic septage or sludge shall not be used for the growing or cultivation of tobacco, root crops, leafy vegetables, or vegetables to be eaten raw. Vegetables and fruits which come in contact with the ground surface shall not be grown on land used for septage application for a period of 18 months after the last application of septage or sludge.

d. When applied to unvegetated soils, stabilized domestic septage or sludge shall be incorporated into the soil within 48 hours of application.

(b) No land application of stabilized septage or food service sludge may occur until:

1. The site has been inspected and approved by department personnel.

2. The site evaluation fee has been submitted.

3. An Agricultural Use Plan, Form DH 4012A, 08/09, herein incorporated by reference, has been completed for the proposed application site.

a. Agricultural use plans shall describe the manner in which treated domestic septage and sludges are to be used as part of a planned agricultural operation. Methods of application, proposed crops and their fertilizer needs, vegetative types proposed, erosion management, access control for humans and animals, and anticipated harvesting periods shall be included.

b. Agricultural use plans shall include information on the soil and geologic conditions at the disposal site which could limit the areas available for land application.

4. The plan has been submitted for review and approval to the DOH county health department having jurisdiction.

5. The DOH county health department has granted approval to use the site.

(c) No person shall dispose of domestic septage or sludge by land application unless they have complied with approved treatment and disposal methods described in Rule 64E-6.010, F.A.C. Lime stabilization in the tank of a septage hauling vehicle or in the tank of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system is not an approved septage treatment method.

(d) Land application of septage shall occur only in accordance with paragraph 64E-6.010(7)(a), F.A.C., unless prohibited by the DOH county health department due to a brief condition which creates a potential for a sanitary nuisance as exemplified in paragraph 64E-6.010(7)(l), F.A.C.

(e) All septage and food establishment sludge haulers regulated by Chapter 64E-6, F.A.C., are to maintain a collection and hauling log at the treatment site or at the main business location which provides the information listed below. Records shall be retained for five (5) years.

1. Date of septage or waste collection;

2. Address of collection;

3. Indicate whether the point of collection is a residence or business and if a business, the type of business;

4. Estimated volume, in gallons, of septage or waste transported;

5. Receipts for lime or other materials used for treatment;

6. Location of the approved treatment facility;

7. Date and time of discharge to the treatment facility; and

8. Acknowledgement from treatment facility of receipt of septage or waste.

(f) All Department of Health-regulated septage treatment facility operators shall maintain permanent records of the septage or waste receipt, treatment and discharge. Records shall be retained for five (5) years. At a minimum, these records shall include the following.

1. Date and time of each load of septage or waste is received;

2. Name of company from which the septage or waste is received;

3. Identification of the truck from which the septage or waste was received;

4. Signature from the driver acknowledging delivery of the septage or waste;

5. Quantity of septage or waste received;

6. Date and time of discharge of each load of treated septage or waste;

7. Name of the company which received the treated septage or waste from the treatment facility;

8. Signature from the driver of the truck which received the treated septage or waste; and

9. Quantity of treated septage or waste discharged to the truck.

(g) A summary of the total volume of septage applied to each site shall be submitted to the DOH county health department quarterly.

(h) Domestic wastewater systems residuals shall not be mixed with septage for treatment and disposal at department approved sites.

(i) Septage which contains toxic or hazardous waste must be disposed of in accordance with the rules of the Department of Environmental Protection.

(j) The land application area shall not be located closer than 3000 feet to any Class I water body or Outstanding Florida Water as defined in Chapter 62-302, F.A.C. or 200 feet to any surface water bodies except canals or bodies of water used for irrigation purposes which are located completely within and not discharging from the site. The land application area shall not be located closer than 500 feet to any shallow public water supply wells, nor closer than 300 feet to any private drinking water supply well. The application area shall be no closer than 300 feet to any habitable building and a minimum of 75 feet from property lines and drainage ditches.

(k) The land application site shall have a minimum 24 inches of unsaturated soil above the ground water table at the time of septage or sludge application. The seasonal high ground water table for the site may be indicated in the Agricultural Use Plan by soil survey maps. If the wet season high ground water table is within 2 feet of the surface or is not determined in the Agricultural Use Plan, the water table encountered at the time of septage or sludge application shall be determined by use of a monitoring well.

(l) Septage or sludge shall not be applied during rain events of sufficient magnitude to cause runoff, or during periods in which surface soils of the land application area are saturated. The land application area shall have sufficient buffer areas or stormwater management structures to retain the runoff from a ten-year one-hour storm on the site. Sufficient septage storage capacity shall be provided for periods of inclement weather and equipment failure. Facilities shall be designed, located, and operated to prevent nuisance conditions and avoid site run-off.

(m) Land application area topographic grades shall not exceed 8 percent.

(n) The land application area and an area 200 feet wide adjacent to, and exterior of, the land application area boundary shall contain no subsurface fractures, solution cavities, sink holes, excavation core holes, abandoned holes, or any other natural or manmade conduits which allow contamination of ground water. Determinations of site conditions shall be made as part of a geophysical examination of the property by qualified persons.

(o) Florida water quality criteria for groundwater and surface water shall not be violated as a result of land application of septage or sludge. Water quality testing of application areas may be required if the department determines that septage application not conforming to this rule is evident. If water quality violations are indicated, the site owner shall suspend land application activities.

(p) A layer of permeable soil at least 2 feet thick shall cover the surface of the land application area.

(q) Unless required by law to be limited by phosphorous, application rates of septage and food establishment sludges are limited by the nitrogen content of the waste.

1. Where the application rate is limited by nitrogen content, the maximum annual surface application rate of total nitrogen is 500 pounds per acre during any 12-month period. Application of septage shall be applied as evenly as possible during the 12 month period to ensure maximum uptake of nitrogen by the crops used. This equates to 6 dry tons or 40,000 gallons of typical septage per acre per year. However, if the following formula, based on the annual uptake of nitrogen for a given crop is used, the 40,000 gallons of septage applied per acre per year shall be increased if the nitrogen content of the septage will not exceed the nitrogen uptake of the crop.

AAR = N ÷ 0.0026

AAR is the annual application rate in gallons per acre per 365 day period; and N equals the amount of nitrogen in pounds per acre per 365 day period needed by the crop or vegetation grown on the land. Application methods shall be conducted in a manner which will disperse the treated septage uniformly over the land application site.

2. Where the application rate is limited by phosphorous, the maximum annual surface application rate of total phosphorous is 40 pounds per acre during any 12 month period. Application of septage shall be applied as evenly as possible during the 12 month period to ensure maximum uptake of phosphorous by the crops used. This equates to 2 dry tons or 12,000 gallons of typical septage per year. However, if the following formula, based on the annual uptake of phosphorous for a given crop is used, the 12,000 gallons of septage applied per acre per year shall be increased if the phosphorous content of the septage will not exceed the phosphorous demand of the crop.

AAR=P0.0076 if the crop demand is calculated for P2O5.

AAR=P0.0033 if the crop demand is calculated for P.

AAR is the annual application rate in gallons per acre per 365 day period; and P equals the Crop Phosphorous Demand in pounds per acre per 365 day period calculated for the crop or vegetation grown on the land. Application methods shall be conducted in a manner which will disperse the treated septage uniformly over the land application site.

(r) Permanent records of actual application areas and application rates shall be kept. These records shall be maintained by the site owner, lessee, or the land applicator for a period of five years, and shall be available for inspection upon request by the department or by DEP. An annual summary of the total septage or sludge applied shall be provided with the annual update to the Agricultural Use Plan. Records shall be kept and shall include:

1. Location of the septage treatment facility from which each load of treated septage is obtained.

2. Date and time the treated septage was obtained from the treatment facility.

3. Dates of septage or sludge land application.

4. Weather conditions when applied.

5. Location of septage or sludge application site.

6. Amounts of septage or sludge applied.

7. Specific area of the site where septage or sludge was applied.

8. pH of stabilized septage or sludge being applied.

9. Soil groundwater table when septage was applied.

10. Vegetational status of application area.

(s) Food establishment sludges may be discharged into permitted domestic wastewater treatment facilities pursuant to the requirements of Chapter 62-600, F.A.C.

(t) Application of food establishment sludge to the land shall be permitted if such food establishment sludge has been properly treated by lime stabilization, or by any other process which produces similar kills of microorganisms and has been approved by the State Health Office.

(u) Mixing of unstabilized food establishment sludge with stabilized septage prior to land application is not permitted.

(v) Food establishment sludge shall be blended with septage and treated prior to land application. The ratio of food establishment sludge to septage shall be no greater than 1:1.

(8) Stabilization tanks and septage storage tanks may be located at regional stabilization facilities, at sites owned by the disposal service or at sites owned by the owner or lessee of the septage land application site.

(9) Potable water supplies located at the stabilization tank and septage storage tank site shall be provided with back flow prevention devices to prevent potential contamination of water supplies.

(10) All materials incorporated herein may be obtained from the Bureau of Environmental Health at www.MyFloridaEH.com or 4052 Bald Cypress Way, Bin A08, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1713.

Rulemaking Authority 381.0065(3)(a), 489.553(3) FS. Law Implemented 381.0065, 386.041, 373.4595 FS. History–New 12-22-82, Amended 2-5-85, Formerly 10D-6.52, Amended 3-17-92, 1-3-95, 5-14-96, Formerly 10D-6.052, Amended 3-22-00, 5-24-04, 11-26-06, 6-25-09, 4-28-10, 7-16-13.