Environmental Protection ›  DEP Waste Management ›  Chapter 62-565 · Potable Reuse

Rule 62-565.570. Engineering Report

Amended February 26, 2025 (current)

(1) An engineering report, including the source water evaluation and results of the pilot testing program, shall be submitted in support of a permit application for an ATWF. The engineering report will serve as the preliminary design report. An Engineering report shall include the following items described in subsections (2) through (5) of this rule.

(2) Engineering Report. Engineering reports prepared under the responsible charge of one or more Florida-licensed professional engineers in accordance with Chapter 471, F.S., shall be signed, sealed, and dated by the professional engineer(s) in responsible charge. Preliminary design reports shall contain the following information where pertinent:

(a) A brief description of the project and its purpose and an estimate of the cost to construct the project;

(b) A description of the existing PWS and the wastewater treatment facility and discussion of the impact that the project will have on the existing facilities;

(c) The name and location of all water sources entering the ATWF, and design and actual flow, if applicable, on an annual average daily flow basis for each water source;

(d) The name and location of all facilities entered into the Joint Operations Plan, the existing design capacity of each facility, the existing type of treatment provided at each facility, and the number and capacity of existing finished-water pumps;

(e) The name and location, type, and useful capacity of existing off-spec and finished-water storage ponds and tanks;

(f) Documentation that existing potable water wells meet applicable construction requirements in Chapter 62-532, F.A.C.;

(g) Discussion of sanitary hazards located within 500 feet of both potable water and ASR wells or located less than 500 feet upstream of surface water intakes;

(h) A description of surface water intake structures, impoundments, and reservoirs;

(i) An assessment of the effects from indirect potable reuse on ground water and surface water levels, ground water and surface water quality, and uses of property in the area;

(j) Documentation of written notice to public water supply utilities and the appropriate approved county health department for indirect potable reuse;

(k) Documentation of public education and public participation activities to be implemented that are associated with the potable reuse system;

(l) The following ATWF treatment process information:

1. The total capacity of all water sources and treatment facilities connected to an ATWF;

2. The findings of a Source Water Evaluation in accordance with the requirements of subsection (3) of this rule, including a description of the source water for potable reuse at the point(s) of withdrawal;

3. Discussion of applicable treatment and disinfection technique requirements, in Rules 62-565.500, .510, .520, .530, and .540 F.A.C.;

4. Discussion of Hazard Analysis;

5. Discussion of critical control points, surrogate and operational parameters, and monitoring points; and

6. Discussion of operation and control strategies.

(m) An evaluation of the adequacy of an ATWF to meet applicable standards and requirements given the quality of raw water from all water sources for the plant;

(n) The design daily operating period for the ATWF;

(o) A flow diagram and water balance showing all ATWF operations and processes (including residuals handling operations), chemical application points, water pumping facilities, bypass arrangements, and recycle flows;

(p) Blending ratio of volume of advanced treated water received by the public water system to the volume of other source waters received at the public water system;

(q) For ATWFs that include disinfection, discussion of the design level of Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, or virus inactivation to be achieved, if applicable, and the design minimum CT or ultraviolet dose if chemical or ultraviolet disinfection will be used to achieve Cryptosporidium, Giardia lamblia, or virus inactivation. Refer to Rule 62-565.530, F.A.C.;

(r) The design dose of water treatment chemicals;

(s) Additional treatment, controls, or management of potential chemical peaks (rapid, short-lived increases in concentration) for chemical constituents that have the potential to pass through the ATWF;

(t) An evaluation of the types, quantities, characteristics, and disposal method of residuals generated by the ATWF;

(u) Sizes, capacities, retention times, loading rates, schematic diagrams, and other design parameters and details sufficient to demonstrate that an ATWF (including chemical application and residuals handling) and water pumping will comply with applicable requirements of this chapter, including applicable requirements in the engineering references listed in Rules 62-555.330 and 62-565.330, F.A.C. The schematic diagrams of an ATWF, including chemical application, shall show proper air gaps between drains or overflows from such processes and sanitary or storm sewers;

(v) Assurance of compliance with the odor control requirements referenced under subsection 62-555.320(9), F.A.C.;

(w) For storage tank systems subject to regulation under Chapter 62-761, F.A.C., assurance that the storage tank systems will meet applicable performance standards in Chapter 62-761, F.A.C.;

(x) Discussion of housing and safety or protective equipment for new or altered chemical application facilities;

(y) The following advanced treated water storage information: the name and location and type of storage tanks or ponds, the useful capacity of storage tanks or ponds including supporting calculations, schematic diagrams, and other design parameters and details sufficient to demonstrate compliance with applicable requirements of this chapter, including applicable requirements in the engineering references listed in Rules 62-555.330 and 62-565.330, F.A.C.;

(z) Discussion of ATWF process piping conveying either raw, partially treated, or advanced treated water, and the information in subparagraphs 1. and 2., below.

1. Hydraulic analyses or other justification for the size of new or altered pipes that convey reclaimed water.

2. Discussion of color coding or marking of new or relocated pipes that convey reclaimed water. Refer to paragraph 62-555.320(10)(b) and subsection 62-555.320(21), F.A.C.; (aa) The project site information in subparagraphs 1. through 2., below.

1. A site plan showing the approximate location of the ATWF; structures used to treat, store, or handle advanced treated water, water treatment chemicals, or storage of residuals prior to disposal; structures housing water pumping or treatment processes, including chemical application systems; and pipes that convey reclaimed water, including ATWF process piping, conveying either raw, partially treated, or advanced treated water. The site plan shall indicate sizes of pipes that convey reclaimed water and approximate locations of meters, valves, critical control points, monitoring points, and blow-offs; approximate locations of interconnections between potable reuse system components; and approximate dimensions and elevations of structures.

2. Discussion of approximate ground water elevations in relation to subsurface structures. (bb) A description of materials that will be used for potable reuse system components and documentation that the materials and components will comply with the following standards, regulations, or requirements:

1. The American Water Works Association standards (adopted and incorporated by reference in Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., effective May 5, 2014), if applicable. The Department shall allow the use of pipe and appurtenances that do not conform to applicable American Water Works Association (AWWA) standards (adopted and incorporated by reference in Rule 62-555.330, F.A.C., effective May 5, 2014), only if ATWF permit applicants provide documentation showing that the alternate pipe and appurtenances provide strength, durability, reliability, and public health protection at least equal to that provided by pipe and appurtenances that conform to applicable AWWA standards.

2. Newly installed or constructed potable reuse system components that come into contact with advanced treated water or water treatment chemicals shall conform to the applicable standards, regulations, or requirements referenced in paragraph 62-555.320(3)(b), F.A.C., and National Science Foundation (NSF) International Standard 61, effective 2023, hereby adopted and incorporated by reference. This reference material is copyright protected. A copy of this publication may be inspected by contacting the Department’s Source and Drinking Water Program, Mail Station 3540, 2600 Blair Stone Road, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400 or the Department of State, The Capitol, 400 South Monroe Street, Room 701, Tallahassee, Florida 32399, in accordance with Section 120.54(1)(i)3.b., F.S., or available directly from the source. The Department shall allow exceptions to conformance with these standards, regulations, or requirements only if documentation and assurance are provided in accordance with paragraph 62-555.320(3)(d), F.A.C.

3. The lead use prohibition in Rule 62-555.322, F.A.C., if applicable;

(cc) Discussion of color coding of aboveground piping associated with potable reuse system components; (dd) A description of electrical systems and provisions for standby power at new or altered ATWF; (ee) A description of operation and control strategies and instrumentation and control systems, including monitoring or alarm systems, at new or altered ATWF, pumping, or storage facilities. Refer to paragraph, sub-subparagraph, subparagraph, paragraph and subparagraph 62-565.560(7)(b), 62-565.560(7)(c)3.d., 62-565.560(7)(d), 62-565.560(8), 62-565.560(9)(d), F.A.C.; (ff) Discussion of procedures for keeping potable reuse system components in operation, or for minimizing interruptions in the operation of the existing components, including an implementation plan for the surveillance program as required in subsection 62-565.505(8), F.A.C.; and (gg) Demonstration of sufficient managerial capacity by addressing topics below:

1. Ownership, management, and organization;

2. Master planning;

3. Emergency response planning; and,

4. Customer service.

(3) A 12-month source water evaluation of chemicals or constituents that are known or believed present based on available data, be it analytical data, process knowledge or other reasonable estimation techniques that are listed in Rule 62-565.505, F.A.C., constituents in the reclaimed water that have a primary or secondary drinking water standard, may be difficult to remove, or are precursors to disinfection byproduct formation.

(a) The data used for the source water evaluation shall be representative of the water that will be received by the ATWF.

(b) A source water evaluation shall be completed for permit renewal, upon the addition of a new significant industrial user, upon the modification of an existing industrial user’s permit where effluent limitations have been revised, or upon the revision of the local limits for the wastewater facility that is entered into the Joint Operations Plan.

(4) The findings of a pilot testing program in accordance with the requirements of Rule 62-565.560, F.A.C.

(5) An operating protocol shall be designed to ensure that the advanced treated water being produced at the ATWF is of sufficient quality to meet the requirements established in this chapter. The operating protocol shall address the following:

(a) The criteria used to make continuous determinations of the acceptability of the advanced treated water being produced;

(b) The steps and procedures to be followed by the operator when advanced treated water is produced that does not meet the requirements established in this chapter; and

(c) The steps and procedures to be followed by the operator when the ATWF treatment facility resumes normal operation, and advanced treated water being produced does meet the requirements established in this chapter.

(d) ATWFs utilizing a UV treatment process shall develop and document a UV system performance monitoring program, to be included in the facility’s operating protocol. The UV system performance monitoring program and associated documentation shall include and be updated in the event of changes in any of the following:

1. The operating parameters determined through validation for disinfection or challenge testing;

2. Monitoring locations and frequencies;

3. Sensor calibration procedures and frequencies;

4. Conditions that necessitate diversion of flow to an alternate discharge system; and

5. Corrective actions to be taken in the event the system is found to be operating outside of the parameters specified in the system performance monitoring program or a high-priority alarm event occurs.

(e) ATWFs utilizing a biologically activated carbon filter immediately following an oxidation treatment process shall develop and document a program for managing the microbial community in the filter to prevent a release of filter biomass into other ATWF or PWS processes. The program shall address conditions that necessitate diversion of flow to an alternate discharge system and corrective actions to be taken in the event of filter biomass release. The program shall be included in the facility’s operating protocol.

(6) The ATWF permittee shall review and revise the operating protocol upon each permit renewal and submit to the Department for review in support of a permit application.

(7) The quality of water used for the pilot testing program shall be representative of the water quality that will be the source water for the ATWF. Rulemaking Authority 403.861(9), 403.064(17) FS. Law Implemented 403.852(12), 403.861(7), 403.853(6), 403.861(17), 403.064(17) FS. History – New 2-26-25.