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Wastewater

General Facts and Statistics about Wastewater in Florida

Wastewater Facilities and Disposal

 There are over 3,700 active wastewater facilities regulated by the Department of Environmental

Protection (DEP). Approximately 1,400 of these facilities are classified as industrial and approximately

2,300 as domestic wastewater.

Approximately one-third of Florida’s population uses on-site sewage treatment and disposal (septic tanks)

to treat their wastewater. These systems are permitted by the Florida Department of Health (FDOH)

through the Bureau of Onsite Sewage. The remainder of Florida's population is served by domestic

wastewater facilities which are permitted by DEP.

Domestic Wastewater Facts

There are approximately 2,300 permitted domestic wastewater facilities regulated by the Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP).

Domestic wastewater treatment facilities which are permitted by DEP have a total treatment capacity of

over 2.5 billion gallons per day.

Treated effluent and reclaimed water from these facilities is over 1.5 billion gallons per day. This includes

disposal through surface water outfalls, deep aquifer injection wells, and other groundwater disposal such

as percolation ponds and spray fields.

Florida is a national leader in water reuse. Approximately 673 million gallons per day of reclaimed water

was reused for beneficial purposes in 2009.

About 18% percent of the domestic wastewater treatment facilities which are permitted by DEP have

capacities greater than 500,000 gallons per day. These facilities, however, account for more than 96%

percent of the total permitted domestic wastewater treatment capacity in the state.

About 73% percent of the domestic wastewater treatment facilities which are permitted by DEP have

capacities less than 100,000 gallons per day. These facilities, however, account for only about 2%

percent of the total permitted domestic wastewater treatment capacity in the state.

Industrial Wastewater Facts

There are approximately 1,400 permitted industrial wastewater facilities regulated by the Department of

Environmental Protection (DEP).

More Facts and Statistics

Please see the Department’s Wastewater Facility Information web page for the most current list of

domestic and industrial wastewater facilities in the state with an active permit or at some other stage of

the permitting process. This list is updated monthly.

Didn't see the statistic you were looking for? For more information on wastewater statistics not located on

this website, you may wish to contact the Wastewater Compliance Evaluation Section at 245-8567.

Wastewater Contacts

Links to Other Facts and Statistics Sites

Florida's Reuse Activities

Residuals Use in Florida

Back to Wastewater | Compliance | Domestic | Industrial Homepages

Last updated: September 21, 2011

2600 Blair Stone Road M.S. 3500 Tallahassee, Florida 32399 850-245-8336 (phone) / 850-245-8356 (fax) 

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General Facts and Statistics about Wastewater in Florida Page 1 of 1

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wastewater/facts.htm 1/17/2012