Sanitary Sewer Overflows
The task force concluded that SSOs are both a direct human health concern and a source of localized nutrient pollution, which can result in significant downstream environmental impacts including HABs. It is recommended that every effort should be made to minimize the occurrence of SSOs and their potential, negative environmental and health impacts.
Click on each recommendation below to learn about state actions taken to address it.
Recommendations
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Emergency back-up capabilities be identified for all lift stations constructed prior to 2003.
The Clean Waterways Act directs all sewage disposal facilities to develop a power outage contingency plan that mitigates impacts of power outages on a utility’s collection system and pump stations. Rule 62-600.705, F.A.C. became effective through legislative ratification on June 28, 2023.
Rule 62-604.600, F.A.C., became effective Oct. 4, 2021, and requires a permit for the replacement of a pump station that does not meet requirements for emergency back-up capabilities (pump stations will need to be upgraded to meet current requirements).
Additionally, the Resilient Florida program created in 2020 provides funding for communities to plan for and adapt critical infrastructure, including lift stations, to withstand impacts associated with flooding and storm surge.
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DEP pursue a more proactive approach to address I&I issues to reduce the risk of SSOs and associated water quality degradation.
The Clean Waterways Act directed DEP to adopt rules to reasonably limit, reduce and eliminate domestic wastewater collection and transmission system pipe leakages and I&I. Rule 62-604.500, F.A.C., became effective Oct. 4, 2021.
- When overflows are caused by excessive I&I, owner/operators of collection systems are now required to take corrective action.
- Additionally, the owner/operator of a satellite collection system shall take corrective actions for a SSO in the receiving collection system resulting from excessive I&I in the satellite collection system.
The Clean Waterways Act also directs all sewage disposal facilities to develop Collection System Action Plans that comply with DEP rules to limit, reduce and eliminate leaks, seepages or inputs into wastewater treatment systems’ underground pipes. Rule 62-600.705, F.A.C. was developed to improve the maintenance and condition of collection systems, which should lead to reduced SSOs.
Finally, Rule 62-600.705, F.A.C., requires utilities to develop power outage contingency plans outlined in the Clean Waterways Act that address loss of power to lift stations. Rules 62-600.405, .705, and .720, F.A.C. became effective on June 28, 2023.
DEP is proposing amendments to Chapter 62-604, F.A.C., including a requirement for facilities to identify older pump stations that do not meet current emergency back-up pumping capabilities, describe measures taken to prevent sanitary sewer overflows during power outages to these pump stations and identify any plans to replace or upgrade the pump stations.