62-610.820. Reuse Feasibility Studies

(1) Reuse feasibility studies are required by the following:

(a) Section 403.064, F.S., for domestic wastewater facilities located within, serving a population within, or discharging within designated water resource caution areas.

(b) The Indian River Lagoon system and Basin Act, contained in Chapter 90-262, Laws of Florida.

(c) The antidegradation policy in Rules 62-4.242 and 62-302.300, F.A.C., for new or expanded surface water discharges.

(d) By rules of the applicable water management district.

(2) The applicant is encouraged to contact the appropriate district office of the Department of Environmental Protection before preparing a reuse feasibility study to discuss reuse in the area and to develop and agree upon the reuse alternatives to be evaluated in the reuse feasibility study.

(3) Applicants meeting both of the following conditions are not required to submit reuse feasibility studies with permit applications for domestic wastewater facilities:

(a) The only rule or statute that requires preparation of a reuse feasibility study is Section 403.064, F.S.; and,

(b) One of the following conditions exists:

1. The domestic wastewater treatment facility has an existing or proposed permitted capacity, whichever is larger, less than 0.1 mgd, or

2. The permitted reuse capacity associated with the domestic wastewater treatment facility equals or exceeds the total existing or proposed permitted capacity, whichever is larger, of the domestic wastewater treatment facility.

(4) Reuse feasibility studies required by one or more of the items listed in paragraph 62-610.820(1)(a), (b), or (c), F.A.C., when being prepared by or on behalf of a local government or utility which has responsibility for domestic wastewater management, shall be prepared in accordance with paragraph 62-610.300(1)(e), F.A.C.

(5) The Department shall approve deviations or modifications from the required format or content specified in paragraph 62-610.300(1)(e), F.A.C., for a reuse feasibility study, if the alternative format or study content provides the same level of evaluation as specified in paragraph 62-610.300(1)(l), F.A.C. Some examples of areas of possible deviations or modifications include: alternatives to be evaluated; definitions of the levels of reuse to be evaluated; methods of evaluating rates and fees; allocation of costs to all benefitted parties; consideration of other alternative investments to achieve goals (ASR, conservation, others); methods of valuing water saved, including possible adjustments for periods when water supplies are sufficient without the reclaimed water system; and presentation formats. Multiple types of reuse may be combined to formulate alternatives for evaluation.

(6) Reuse feasibility studies shall be signed and sealed by a professional engineer registered in Florida.

(7) A reuse feasibility study shall be submitted as follows:

(a) Three copies to the appropriate Department of Environmental Protection district office.

(b) One copy to the appropriate water management district.

(8) Subsection 403.064(5), F.S., states that a reuse feasibility study prepared for the Department under subsection 403.064(2), F.S., satisfies a water management district requirement to conduct a reuse feasibility study imposed on a local government or utility that has responsibility for wastewater management. As a result, local governments or utilities located within, serving a population within, or discharging within a designated water resource caution area, which are preparing a reuse feasibility study in response to one or more of the items identified in paragraph 62-610.820(1)(a), (b), or (c), F.A.C., are encouraged, but shall not be required by the Department, to do the following as part of their reuse feasibility study:

(a) Contact the appropriate water management district before initiation of the feasibility study to discuss water management in the area, to obtain information about the water management district’s reuse priorities for the area, and to identify any additional alternatives which the water management district would like to be evaluated in the reuse feasibility study.

(b) If additional alternatives are identified by the water management district, the applicant is encouraged, but shall not be required by the Department, to evaluate these alternatives using the methods specified in paragraph 62-610.300(1)(e), F.A.C.

(9) Utilities interested in pursuing funding from the state revolving loan fund for reuse projects are encouraged to incorporate the results of the reuse feasibility study into the appropriate facilities plan.

Rulemaking Authority 403.051, 403.061, 403.087 FS. Law Implemented 403.021, 403.051, 403.061, 403.062, 403.064, 403.085, 403.086, 403.087, 403.0877, 403.088 FS. History–New 4-2-90, Formerly 17-610.820, Amended 1-9-96, 4-1-21.