§ 403.086 — Sewage disposal facilities; advanced and secondary waste treatment

Florida § 403.086

• Jurisdiction: Florida
• Title: XXIX
• Ch. 403: ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL

Text

(1)(a) The Department of Health or any other state agency, county, special district, or municipality may not approve construction of any sewage disposal facilities which do not provide for secondary waste treatment and advanced waste treatment as deemed necessary and ordered by the department. (b) Sewage disposal facilities constructed after June 14, 1978, may not dispose of any wastes by deep well injection without providing for secondary waste treatment and advanced waste treatment deemed necessary by the department to protect adequately the beneficial use of the receiving waters. (c)1. Notwithstanding this chapter or chapter 373, sewage disposal facilities may not dispose any wastes into the following waters without providing advanced waste treatment, as defined in subsection (4), as approved by the department or a more stringent treatment standard if the department determines the more stringent standard is necessary to achieve the total maximum daily load or applicable water quality criteria: a. Old Tampa Bay; Tampa Bay; Hillsborough Bay; Boca Ciega Bay; St. Joseph Sound; Clearwater Bay; Sarasota Bay; Little Sarasota Bay; Roberts Bay; Lemon Bay; Charlotte Harbor Bay; Biscayne Bay; or any river, stream, channel, canal, bay, bayou, sound, or other water tributary thereto. b. Beginning July 1, 2025, Indian River Lagoon, or any river, stream, channel, canal, bay, bayou, sound, or other water tributary thereto. c. By January 1, 2033, waterbodies that are currently not attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards or that are subject to a nutrient or nutrient-related basin management action plan adopted pursuant to s. 403.067 or adopted reasonable assurance plan. 2. For any waterbody determined not to be attaining nutrient or nutrient-related standards after July 1, 2023, or subject to a nutrient or nutrient-related basin management action plan adopted pursuant to s. 403.067 or adopted reasonable assurance plan after July 1, 2023, sewage disposal facilities are prohibited from disposing any wastes into such waters without providing advanced waste treatment, as defined in subsection (4), as approved by the department within 10 years after such determination or adoption. 3. By July 1, 2034, any wastewater treatment facility providing reclaimed water that will be used for commercial or residential irrigation or be otherwise land applied within a nutrient basin management action plan or a reasonable assurance plan area must meet the advanced waste treatment standards for total nitrogen and total phosphorus as defined in paragraph (4)(a) if the department has determined in an applicable basin management action plan or reasonable assurance plan that the use of reclaimed water as described in this subparagraph is causing or contributing to the nutrient impairment being addressed in such plan. For such department determinations made in a nutrient basin management action plan or reasonable assurance plan after July 1, 2024, an applicable wastewater treatment facility must meet the requisite advanced waste treatment standards described in this subparagraph within 10 years after such determination. This subparagraph does not prevent the department from requiring an alternative treatment standard, including a more stringent treatment standard, if the department determines the alternative standard is necessary to achieve the total maximum daily load or applicable water quality criteria. This subparagraph does not apply to reclaimed water that is otherwise land applied as part of a water quality restoration project or water resource development project approved by the department or water management district to meet a total maximum daily load or minimum flow or level and where such reclaimed water will be at or below the advanced waste treatment standards described above prior to entering groundwater or surface water.

(2) All sewage disposal facilities shall provide for secondary waste treatment, a power outage contingency plan that mitigates the impacts of power outages on the utility’s collection system and pump stations, and advanced waste treatment as deemed necessary and ordered by the Department of Environmental Protection. Failure to conform is punishable by a civil penalty of $750 for each 24-hour day or fraction thereof that such failure is allowed to continue thereafter.

(3) This section shall not be construed to prohibit or regulate septic tanks or other means of individual waste disposal which are otherwise subject to state regulation.

(4) For purposes of this section, the term “advanced waste treatment” means that treatment which will provide a reclaimed water product that: (a) Contains not more, on a permitted annual average basis, than the following concentrations: 1. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) .......... 5mg/l 2. Suspended Solids .......... 5mg/l 3. Total Nitrogen, expressed as N .......... 3mg/l 4. Total Phosphorus, expressed as P .......... 1mg/l (b) Has received high level disinfection, as defined by rule of the department. In those waters where the concentrations of phosphorus have been shown not to be a limiting nutrient or a contaminant, the department may waive or alter the compliance levels for phosphorus until there is a demonstration that phosphorus is a limiting nutrient or a contaminant.

(5)(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or chapter 373, when a reclaimed water product has been established to be in compliance with the standards set forth in subsection (4), that water shall be presumed to be allowable, and its discharge shall be permitted in the waters described in paragraph (1)(c) at a reasonably accessible point where such discharge results in minimal negative impact. This presumption may be overcome only by a demonstration that one or more of the following would occur: 1. That the discharge of reclaimed water that meets the standards set forth in subsection (4) will be, by itself, a cause of considerable degradation to an Outstanding Florida Water or to other waters and is not clearly in the public interest. 2. That the reclaimed water discharge will have a substantial negative impact on an approved shellfish harvesting area or a water used as a public domestic water supply. 3. That the increased volume of fresh water contributed by the reclaimed water product will seriously alter the natural fresh-salt water balance of the receiving water after reasonable opportunity for mixing. (b) If one or more of the conditions described in subparagraphs (a)1.-3. have been demonstrated, remedies may include, but are not limited to, the following: 1. Require more stringent effluent limitations; 2. Order the point or method of discharge changed; 3. Limit the duration or volume of the discharge; or 4. Prohibit the discharge only if no other alternative is in the public interest.

(6) Any facility covered in paragraph (1)(c) shall be permitted to discharge if it meets the standards set forth in subsections (4) and (5). All of the facilities covered in paragraph (1)(c) shall be required to meet the standards set forth in subsections (4) and (5).

(7) All sewage disposal facilities under subsection (2) which control a collection or transmission system of pipes and pumps to collect and transmit wastewater from domestic or industrial sources to the facility shall take steps to prevent sanitary sewer overflows or underground pipe leaks and ensure that collected wastewater reaches the facility for appropriate treatment. Facilities must use inflow and infiltration studies and leakage surveys to develop pipe assessment, repair, and replacement action plans with a 5-year planning horizon that comply with department rule to limit, reduce, and eliminate leaks, seepages, or inputs into wastewater treatment systems’ underground pipes. The pipe assessment, repair, and replacement action plans must be reported to the department. The facility action plans must include information regarding the annual expenditures dedicated to the inflow and infiltration studies and the required replacement action plans; expenditures that are dedicated to pipe assessment, repair, and replacement; and expenditures designed to limit the presence of fats, roots, oils, and grease in the facility’s collection system. The department shall adopt rules regarding the implementation of inflow and infiltration studies and leakage surveys; however, such rules may not fix or revise utility rates or budgets. A utility or an operating entity subject to this subsection and s. 403.061(14) may submit one report to comply with both requirements. Substantial compliance with this subsection is evidence in mitigation for the purposes of assessing penalties pursuant to ss. 403.121 and 403.141.

(8)(a) The department shall allow backup discharges pursuant to permit only. The backup discharge shall be limited to 30 percent of the permitted reuse capacity on an annual basis. For purposes of this subsection, a “backup discharge” is a surface water discharge that occurs as part of a functioning reuse system which has been permitted under department rules and which provides reclaimed water for irrigation of public access areas, residential properties, or edible food crops, or for industrial cooling or other acceptable reuse purposes. Backup discharges may occur during periods of reduced demand for reclaimed water in the reuse system. (b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this chapter or chapter 373, backup discharges of reclaimed water meeting the standards as set forth in subsection (4) shall be presumed to be allowable and shall be permitted in all waters in the state at a reasonably accessible point where such discharge results in minimal negative impact. Wet weather discharges as provided in s. 2(3)(c), chapter 90-262, Laws of Florida, shall include backup discharges as provided in this section. The presumption of the allowability of a backup discharge may be overcome only by a demonstration that one or more of the following conditions is present: 1. The discharge will be to an Outstanding Florida Water, except as provided in chapter 90-262, Laws of Florida; 2. The discharge will be to Class I or Class II waters; 3. The increased volume of fresh water contributed by a backup discharge will seriously alter the natural freshwater to saltwater balance of receiving waters after reasonable opportunity for mixing; 4. The discharge will be to a water body having a pollutant load reduction goal established by a water management district or the department, and the discharge will cause or contribute to a violation of the established goal; 5. The discharge fails to meet the requirements of the antidegradation policy contained in department rules; or 6. The discharge will be to waters that the department determines require more stringent nutrient limits than those set forth in subsection (4). (c) Any backup discharge shall be subject to the provisions of the antidegradation policy contained in department rules. (d) If one or more of the conditions described in paragraph (b) have been demonstrated, a backup discharge may still be allowed in conjunction with one or more of the remedies provided in paragraph (5)(b) or other suitable measures. (e) The department shall allow lower levels of treatment of reclaimed water if the applicant affirmatively demonstrates that water quality standards will be met during periods of backup discharge and if all other requirements of this subsection are met.

(9) The department may require backflow prevention devices on potable water lines within reclaimed water service areas to protect public health and safety. The department shall establish rules that determine when backflow prevention devices on potable water lines are necessary and when such devices are not necessary.

(10) The Legislature finds that the discharge of domestic wastewater through ocean outfalls wastes valuable water supplies that should be reclaimed for beneficial purposes to meet public and natural systems demands. The Legislature also finds that discharge of domestic wastewater through ocean outfalls compromises the coastal environment, quality of life, and local economies that depend on those resources. The Legislature declares that more stringent treatment and management requirements for such domestic wastewater and the subsequent, timely elimination of ocean outfalls as a primary means of domestic wastewater discharge are in the public interest. (a) The construction of new ocean outfalls for domestic wastewater discharge and the expansion of existing ocean outfalls for this purpose, along with associated pumping and piping systems, are prohibited. Each domestic wastewater ocean outfall shall be limited to the discharge capacity specified in the department permit authorizing the outfall in effect on July 1, 2008, which discharge capacity shall not be increased. Maintenance of existing, department-authorized domestic wastewater ocean outfalls and associated pumping and piping systems is allowed, subject to the requirements of this section. The department is directed to work with the United States Environmental Protection Agency to ensure that the requirements of this subsection are implemented consistently for all domestic wastewater facilities in the state which discharge through ocean outfalls. (b) The discharge of domestic wastewater through ocean outfalls must meet advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements by December 31, 2018. For purposes of this subsection, the term “advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements” means the advanced waste treatment requirements set forth in subsection (4), a reduction in outfall baseline loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus which is equivalent to that which would be achieved by the advanced waste treatment requirements in subsection (4), or a reduction in cumulative outfall loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus occurring between December 31, 2008, and December 31, 2025, which is equivalent to that which would be achieved if the advanced waste treatment requirements in subsection (4) were fully implemented beginning December 31, 2018, and continued through December 31, 2025. The department shall establish the average baseline loadings of total nitrogen and total phosphorus for each outfall using monitoring data available for calendar years 2003 through 2007 and establish required loading reductions based on this baseline. The baseline loadings and required loading reductions of total nitrogen and total phosphorus shall be expressed as an average annual daily loading value. The advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements of this paragraph are deemed met for any domestic wastewater facility discharging through an ocean outfall on July 1, 2008, which has installed by December 31, 2018, a fully operational reuse system comprising 100 percent of the facility’s baseline flow on an annual basis for reuse activities authorized by the department. (c)1. Each utility that had a permit for a domestic wastewater facility that discharged through an ocean outfall on July 1, 2008, must install, or cause to be installed, a functioning reuse system within the utility’s service area or, by contract with another utility, within Miami-Dade County, Broward County, or Palm Beach County by December 31, 2025. For purposes of this subsection, a “functioning reuse system” means an environmentally, economically, and technically feasible system that provides a minimum of 60 percent of a facility’s baseline flow on an annual basis for irrigation of public access areas, residential properties, or agricultural crops; aquifer recharge; groundwater recharge; industrial cooling; or other acceptable reuse purposes authorized by the department. For purposes of this subsection, the term “baseline flow” means the annual average flow of domestic wastewater discharging through the facility’s ocean outfall, as determined by the department, using monitoring data available for calendar years 2003 through 2007. 2. Flows diverted from facilities to other facilities that provide 100-percent reuse of the diverted flows before December 31, 2025, are considered to contribute to meeting the reuse requirement. For utilities operating more than one outfall, the reuse requirement may be apportioned between the facilities served by the outfalls, including flows diverted to other facilities for 100-percent reuse before December 31, 2025. Utilities that shared a common ocean outfall for the discharge of domestic wastewater on July 1, 2008, regardless of which utility operates the ocean outfall, are individually responsible for meeting the reuse requirement and may enter into binding agreements to share or transfer such responsibility among the utilities. If treatment in addition to the advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements described in paragraph (b) is needed to support a functioning reuse system, the treatment must be fully operational by December 31, 2025. 3. If a facility that discharges through an ocean outfall contracts with another utility to install a functioning reuse system, the department must approve any apportionment of the reuse generated from the new or expanded reuse system that is intended to satisfy all or a portion of the reuse requirements pursuant to subparagraph 1. If a contract is between two utilities that have reuse requirements pursuant to subparagraph 1., the reuse apportioned to each utility’s requirement may not exceed the total reuse generated by the new or expanded reuse system. A utility shall provide the department a copy of any contract with another utility that reflects an agreement between the utilities which is subject to the requirements of this subparagraph. (d) 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. Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, 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 the result of peak flows from other wastewater management systems, and must comply with the advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements of paragraph (b). Peak flow backup discharges from other wastewater management systems may not cumulatively exceed 5 percent of a facility’s baseline flow, measured as a 5-year rolling average, and are subject to applicable secondary waste treatment and water-quality-based effluent limitations specified in department rules. If peak flow backup discharges are in compliance with the effluent limitations, the discharges are deemed to meet the advanced wastewater treatment and management requirements of this subsection. (e) By December 31, 2009, and by December 31 every 5 years thereafter, the holder of a department permit authorizing the discharge of domestic wastewater through an ocean outfall shall submit to the secretary of the department a report summarizing the actions accomplished to date and the actions remaining and proposed to meet the requirements of this subsection, including progress toward meeting the specific deadlines set forth in paragraphs (b) through (d). The report shall include the detailed schedule for and status of the evaluation of reuse and disposal options, preparation of preliminary design reports, preparation and submittal of permit applications, construction initiation, construction progress milestones, construction completion, initiation of operation, and continuing operation and maintenance. (f) By July 1, 2010, and by July 1 every 5 years thereafter, the department shall submit a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the implementation of this subsection. In the report, the department shall summarize progress to date, including the increased amount of reclaimed water provided and potable water offsets achieved, and identify any obstacles to continued progress, including all instances of substantial noncompliance. (g) The renewal of each permit that authorizes the discharge of domestic wastewater through an ocean outfall as of July 1, 2008, must be accompanied by an order in accordance with s. 403.088(2)(e) and (f) which establishes an enforceable compliance schedule consistent with the requirements of this subsection. (h) An entity that diverts wastewater flow from a receiving facility that discharges domestic wastewater through an ocean outfall must meet the reuse requirement of paragraph (c). Reuse by the diverting entity of the diverted flows shall be credited to the diverting entity. The diverted flow shall also be correspondingly deducted from the receiving facility’s baseline flow from which the required reuse is calculated pursuant to paragraph (c), and the receiving facility’s reuse requirement shall be recalculated accordingly.

(11) The Legislature finds that the discharge of inadequately treated and managed domestic wastewater from dozens of small wastewater facilities and thousands of septic tanks and other onsite systems in the Florida Keys compromises the quality of the coastal environment, including nearshore and offshore waters, and threatens the quality of life and local economies that depend on those resources. The Legislature also finds that the only practical and cost-effective way to fundamentally improve wastewater management in the Florida Keys is for the local governments in Monroe County, including those special districts established for the purpose of collection, transmission, treatment, or disposal of sewage, to timely complete the wastewater or sewage treatment and disposal facilities initiated under the work program of Administration Commission rule 28-20, Florida Administrative Code, and the Monroe County Sanitary Master Wastewater Plan, dated June 2000. The Legislature therefore declares that the construction and operation of comprehensive central wastewater systems in accordance with this subsection is in the public interest. To give effect to those findings, the requirements of this subsection apply to all domestic wastewater facilities in Monroe County, including privately owned facilities, unless otherwise provided under this subsection. (a) The discharge of domestic wastewater into surface waters is prohibited. (b) Monroe County, each municipality, and those special districts established for the purpose of collection, transmission, treatment, or disposal of sewage in Monroe County shall complete the wastewater collection, treatment, and disposal facilities within its jurisdiction designated as hot spots in the Monroe County Sanitary Master Wastewater Plan, dated June 2000, specifically listed in Exhibits 6-1 through 6-3 of Chapter 6 of the plan and mapped in Exhibit F-1 of Appendix F of the plan. The required facilities and connections, and any additional facilities or other adjustments required by rules adopted by the Administration Commission under s. 380.0552, must be completed by December 31, 2015, pursuant to specific schedules established by the commission. Domestic wastewater facilities located outside local government and special district service areas must meet the treatment and disposal requirements of this subsection by December 31, 2015. (c) After December 31, 2015, all new or expanded domestic wastewater discharges must comply with the treatment and disposal requirements of this subsection and department rules. (d) Wastewater treatment facilities having design capacities: 1. Greater than or equal to 100,000 gallons per day must provide basic disinfection as defined by department rule and the level of treatment which, on a permitted annual average basis, produces an effluent that contains no more than the following concentrations: a. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) of 5 mg/l. b. Suspended Solids of 5 mg/l. c. Total Nitrogen, expressed as N, of 3 mg/l. d. Total Phosphorus, expressed as P, of 1 mg/l. 2. Less than 100,000 gallons per day must provide basic disinfection as defined by department rule and the level of treatment which, on a permitted annual average basis, produces an effluent that contains no more than the following concentrations: a. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (CBOD5) of 10 mg/l. b. Suspended Solids of 10 mg/l. c. Total Nitrogen, expressed as N, of 10 mg/l. d. Total Phosphorus, expressed as P, of 1 mg/l. (e) Class V injection wells, as defined by department or Department of Health rule, must meet the following requirements and otherwise comply with department or Department of Health rules, as applicable: 1. If the design capacity of the facility is less than 1 million gallons per day, the injection well must be at least 90 feet deep and cased to a minimum depth of 60 feet or to such greater cased depth and total well depth as may be required by department rule. 2. Except as provided in subparagraph 3. for backup wells, if the design capacity of the facility is equal to or greater than 1 million gallons per day, each primary injection well must be cased to a minimum depth of 2,000 feet or to such greater depth as may be required by department rule. 3. If an injection well is used as a backup to a primary injection well, the following conditions apply: a. The backup well may be used only when the primary injection well is out of service because of equipment failure, power failure, or the need for mechanical integrity testing or repair; b. The backup well may not be used for more than a total of 500 hours during any 5-year period unless specifically authorized in writing by the department; c. The backup well must be at least 90 feet deep and cased to a minimum depth of 60 feet, or to such greater cased depth and total well depth as may be required by department rule; and d. Fluid injected into the backup well must meet the requirements of paragraph (d). (f) The requirements of paragraphs (d) and (e) do not apply to: 1. Class I injection wells as defined by department rule, including any authorized mechanical integrity tests; 2. Authorized mechanical integrity tests associated with Class V wells as defined by department rule; or 3. The following types of reuse systems authorized by department rule: a. Slow-rate land application systems; b. Industrial uses of reclaimed water; and c. Use of reclaimed water for toilet flushing, fire protection, vehicle washing, construction dust control, and decorative water features. However, disposal systems serving as backups to reuse systems must comply with the other provisions of this subsection. (g) For wastewater treatment facilities in operation as of July 1, 2010, which are located within areas to be served by Monroe County, municipalities in Monroe County, or those special districts established for the purpose of collection, transmission, treatment, or disposal of sewage but which are owned by other entities, the requirements of paragraphs (d) and (e) do not apply until January 1, 2016. Wastewater operating permits issued pursuant to this chapter and in effect for these facilities as of June 30, 2010, are extended until December 31, 2015, or until the facility is connected to a local government central wastewater system, whichever occurs first. Wastewater treatment facilities in operation after December 31, 2015, must comply with the treatment and disposal requirements of this subsection and department rules. (h) If it is demonstrated that a discharge, even if the discharge is otherwise in compliance with this subsection, will cause or contribute to a violation of state water quality standards, the department shall: 1. Require more stringent effluent limitations; 2. Order the point or method of discharge changed; 3. Limit the duration or volume of the discharge; or 4. Prohibit the discharge. (i) All sewage treatment facilities must monitor effluent for total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentration as required by department rule. (j) The department shall require the levels of operator certification and staffing necessary to ensure proper operation and maintenance of sewage facilities. (k) The department may adopt rules necessary to carry out this subsection. (l) The authority of a local government, including a special district, to mandate connection of a wastewater facility, as defined by department rule, is governed by s. 4, chapter 99-395, Laws of Florida.

Legislative History

ss. 1, 2, 3, ch. 71-259; s. 2, ch. 71-137; s. 1, ch. 72-58; s. 271, ch. 77-147; s. 1, ch. 78-206; s. 75, ch. 79-65; s. 1, ch. 80-371; s. 1, ch. 81-246; s. 262, ch. 81-259; s. 2, ch. 86-173; s. 1, ch. 87-303; s. 71, ch. 93-213; s. 2, ch. 94-153; s. 361, ch. 94-356; s. 158, ch. 99-8; s. 25, ch. 2000-153; s. 12, ch. 2000-211; s. 6, ch. 2008-232; s. 38, ch. 2010-205; s. 73, ch. 2013-15; s. 1, ch. 2013-31; s. 17, ch. 2020-150; s. 16, ch. 2020-158; s. 2, ch. 2021-47; s. 43, ch. 2022-4; s. 16, ch. 2023-169; s. 13, ch. 2024-180; s. 42, ch. 2025-6.