Florida Regulations 62-600.520: Discharge to Surface Waters – (Coastal and Open Ocean)
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(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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.242, regarding Outstanding Florida Waters, subsection 62-600.510(5), Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-302.530, 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 Florida Statutes § 403.086, 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-302.530, 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244
(b) All open ocean water discharge facilities shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244, 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-600.520; and mixing zone requirements of Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244; 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-600.520, 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.
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, 1-16-22.
(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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244
(b) All open ocean water discharge facilities shall be subject to the applicable provisions of Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244, 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-600.520; and mixing zone requirements of Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-4.244; 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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 62-600.520, 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.
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, 1-16-22.