62-600.405. Planning for Wastewater Facilities Expansion

(1) The permittee shall provide for the timely planning, design, and construction of wastewater facilities necessary to provide proper collection, treatment and reuse or disposal of domestic wastewater and management of biosolids.

(2) The permittee shall routinely compare flows being treated at the wastewater facilities with the permitted capacities of the treatment, biosolids, reuse, and disposal facilities. Collection system flows shall be routinely reviewed as part of the pipe assessment, repair, and replacement plan required in Rule 62-600.705, F.A.C.

(3) When the three-month average daily flow for the most recent three consecutive months exceeds 50% of the permitted capacity of the treatment plant or reuse and disposal systems, the permittee shall submit to the Department a capacity analysis report.

(4) The initial capacity analysis report shall be submitted within 180 days after the last day of the last month in the three-month period referenced in subsection 62-600.405(3), F.A.C., or with the permittee’s application for permit renewal, whichever occurs first.

(5) The permittee shall submit updated capacity analysis reports to the Department according to the following:

(a) If the initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report documents that the permitted capacity will not be equaled or exceeded for at least 10 years, an updated capacity analysis report shall be submitted to the Department at five-year intervals or with the permittee’s application for permit renewal, whichever occurs first.

(b) If the initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report documents that the permitted capacity will be equaled or exceeded within the next 10 years, an updated capacity analysis shall be submitted to the Department annually.

(6) The initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report shall evaluate the capacity of the treatment plant and reuse or disposal systems and contain data showing the permitted and design capacities; monthly average daily flows, three-month average daily flows, and annual average daily flows for the past 10 years or for the length of time the facility has been in operation, whichever is less; seasonal variations in flow; flow projections based on local population growth rates and water usage rates for at least the next 10 years; an estimate of the time required for the three-month average daily flow to reach the permitted capacity; recommendations for expansions; and a detailed schedule showing dates for planning, design, permit application submittal, start of construction, and placing new or expanded facilities into operation. The report shall update the flow-related and loading information contained in the preliminary design report submitted as part of the most recent permit application.

(7) The capacity analysis report shall be signed by the permittee and shall be signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in Florida.

(8) Documentation of timely planning, design, and construction of needed expansions shall be submitted according to the following schedule:

(a) If the initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report documents that the permitted capacity will be equaled or exceeded within the next five years, the report shall include a statement, signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in Florida, that planning and preliminary design of the necessary expansion have been initiated.

(b) If the initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report documents that the permitted capacity will be equaled or exceeded within the next four years, the report shall include a statement, signed and sealed by an engineer registered in Florida, that plans and specifications for the necessary expansion are being prepared.

(c) If the initial capacity analysis report or an update of the capacity analysis report documents that the permitted capacity will be equaled or exceeded within the next three years, the permittee shall submit a complete permit application for the necessary expansion to the Department within 30 days of submittal of the capacity analysis report.

(9) The Secretary or Secretary’s designee shall adjust the schedule specified in subsection 62-600.405(8), F.A.C., if the permittee requests and documents in the initial or updated capacity analysis report that adequate capacity will be available at the wastewater facility. Documentation shall include design and construction schedules, population growth rates, flow projections, and the timing of new connections to the collection/transmission system.

Rulemaking Authority 403.051, 403.061, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088 FS. Law Implemented 403.021, 403.051, 403.061, 403.086, 403.087, 403.088, 403.0881 FS. History–New 1-30-91, Formerly 17-600.405, Amended 2-8-16, 6-28-23.
Editorial Note: Ratified by Ch. 2023-308, LOF.