The Department is proposing amendments to Chapter 62-600, F.A.C., to ensure the proper collection and transmission of domestic wastewater.

 

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

RULE NOS.:RULE TITLES:

62-600.200Definitions

62-600.520Discharge to Surface Waters - (Coastal and Open Ocean)

PURPOSE AND EFFECT: The Department is proposing amendments to Chapter 62-600, F.A.C., to ensure the proper collection and transmission of domestic wastewater.

SUMMARY: Proposed amendments to Chapter 62-600, F.A.C., include definitions related to collection systems and provisions for ocean outfall discharges based on section 403.086, F.S.

SUMMARY OF STATEMENT OF ESTIMATED REGULATORY COSTS AND LEGISLATIVE RATIFICATION:

The Agency has determined that this will not have an adverse impact on small business or likely increase directly or indirectly regulatory costs in excess of $200,000 in the aggregate within one year after the implementation of the rule. A SERC has not been prepared by the Agency with respect to these proposed rules.

The Agency has determined that the proposed rules are not expected to require legislative ratification based on the statement of estimated regulatory costs or if no SERC is required, the information expressly relied upon and described herein: Based on the Department’s economic review, the proposed rules do not increase regulatory costs directly or indirectly and the rules will not have an adverse impact on small business.

Any person who wishes to provide information regarding a statement of estimated regulatory costs or provide a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative must do so in writing within 21 days of this notice.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY: 403.051, 403.061, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088, F.S.

LAW IMPLEMENTED: 403.021, 403.051, 403.061, 403.062, 403.085, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088, 403.859, F.S.

IF REQUESTED WITHIN 21 DAYS OF THE DATE OF THIS NOTICE, A HEARING WILL BE SCHEDULED AND ANNOUNCED IN THE FAR.

Pursuant to the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, any person requiring special accommodations to participate in this workshop/meeting is asked to advise the agency at least 5 days before the workshop/meeting by contacting: Maurice Barker, Senior Program Analyst, Division of Water Resource Management, [phone] or by email at [e-mail]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1(800)955-8771 (TDD) or 1(800)955-8770 (Voice).

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE PROPOSED RULE IS: Maurice Barker, Senior Program Analyst, Division of Water Resource Management, MS 3545, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, FL 32399, [phone] or by email at [e-mail].

 

THE FULL TEXT OF THE PROPOSED RULE IS:

PART I GENERAL

62-600.200 Definitions.

Terms used in this chapter shall have the meanings specified below.

(1) through (30) No change.

(31) “Infiltration” means groundwater that enters a collection/transmission system, including service connections, through defective pipes, pipe joints, connections, service connections, manholes, or pump stations.  Infiltration does not include, and is distinguished from inflow. Infiltration is generally observed during seasonally high ground water conditions.  

(32) “Inflow” means surface water and stormwater that enters a collection/transmission system through service connections, from sources such as roof leaders, cellar drains, yard drains, area drains, drains from wet areas, foundation drains, cross connections between storm sewers and sanitary sewers, catch basins, stormwater, surface runoff, manhole covers, or drainage. Inflow does not include permitted industrial discharges into the collection system or the intentional introduction of water into a collection system to supplement reclaimed water supplies, and is distinguished from, infiltration. Inflow is generally observed during wet weather and in coastal communities, during some high tide flooding events. 

(33)(31) No change.

(34) “Leakage” or “exfiltration” means wastewater that leaks into surrounding soil from deteriorated, poorly designed, poorly constructed, or otherwise defective collection/transmission systems including from service connections, pipes, manholes, and pump stations.

(32) through (55) renumbered (35) through (58) No change.

(59) “Sanitary sewer lateral” means a privately-owned pipeline connecting a property to the main sewer line which is maintained and repaired by the property owner.

(60) “Sanitary sewer overflow” means any overflow, spill, release, discharge, or diversion of wastewater from a domestic wastewater collection/transmission system.

(61) “Satellite collection system” means a collection/transmission system owned or operated by an entity other than the entity that owns the wastewater treatment facility.  

(56) through (81) renumbered (62) through (87) No change.

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 FS. History–New 11-27-89, Amended 1-30-91, 6-8-93, Formerly 17-600.200, Amended 12-24-96, 2-8-16, 9-27-21,         .

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PART III TREATMENT REQUIREMENTS

62-600.520 Discharge to Surface Waters ‒ (Coastal and Open Ocean).

(1) through (5) No change.

(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 paragraph 403.086(10)(b), F.S.

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

 

NAME OF PERSON ORIGINATING PROPOSED RULE: Maurice Barker, Senior Program Analyst, Wastewater Management Program

NAME OF AGENCY HEAD WHO APPROVED THE PROPOSED RULE: Shawn Hamilton, Secretary

DATE PROPOSED RULE APPROVED BY AGENCY HEAD: August 31, 2021

DATE NOTICE OF PROPOSED RULE DEVELOPMENT PUBLISHED IN FAR: August 19, 2021