Florida Administrative Code › 40 - WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS › 40A - Northwest Florida Water Management District › Chapter 40A-21 - WATER SHORTAGE PLAN › Part V - THE CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM › Section 40A-21.551 - Use Classes

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
Each water user shall be given one or more of the following
					 use classes regardless of whether the water is self-supplied or provided by a
					 public water supply system.
(1)
				  "Aesthetic Use" means the use of water for fountains, waterfalls, and landscape
				  lakes and ponds where such uses are primarily ornamental and
				  decorative.
(2) "Agricultural
				  Irrigation Use" means the use of water for the commercial production of crops
				  or the growing of farm products including: vegetables, citrus, pasture, nursery
				  stock, turf grass and sod.
(3)
				  "Aquacultural Use" means the use of water for the spawning, cultivating,
				  harvesting or marketing of fin-fish, shellfish, crustaceans, frogs, turtles,
				  alligators and other aquatic organisms that have a sport or other economic
				  value.
(4) "Aquifer Restoration
				  Use" means the withdrawal of water for the purpose of recovering contaminant(s)
				  to restore or improve the quality of the water within an aquifer.
(5) "Commercial Use" means the use of water
				  integral to the production of the primary goods or services provided by a
				  business establishment, such as a car wash and laundromat.
(6) "Dewatering Use" means the removal of
				  water from a specific area to facilitate mining or construction.
(7) "Diversion and Impoundment Into
				  Non-District Facilities" means the diversion or extraction of water into
				  non-District impoundments and delivery systems designed for purposes including
				  maintaining structural integrity, providing agricultural water and other
				  non-recreational non-aesthetic use.
(8) "Domestic Use" means any use of water for
				  personal needs or for household purposes such as drinking, bathing, cooking,
				  sanitation or cleaning, which occurs in a residence.
(9) "Essential Use" means use of water
				  strictly for fire fighting purposes, health and medical purposes and the use of
				  water to satisfy federal, state or local public health and safety
				  requirements.
(10) "Freeze
				  Protection" means the periodic and infrequent use of water to protect
				  agricultural and nursery crops from permanent damage due to low temperatures.
				  This action would be taken in response to forecasts of freezing temperatures by
				  official weather forecasting services.
(11) "Golf Course Irrigation Use" means water
				  used to irrigate golf courses.
(12)
				  "Heating and Cooling Use" means the use of water for heating, air-conditioning
				  or other cooling uses.
(13)
				  "Industrial Use" means the use of water integral to the production of the
				  primary goods provided by a business establishment, and includes those many
				  uses wherein the water serves the purposes of manufacturing, commerce, trade or
				  industry.
(14) "Landscape
				  Irrigation Use" means the outside watering of plants, shrubs, grass, trees, and
				  other such flora in landscapes surrounding homes, non-commercial household
				  gardens, industrial buildings, parks, recreational areas, cemeteries, public
				  right-of-ways, and medians.
(15)
				  "Livestock and Other Animal Use" means the use of water for drinking by or
				  washing of livestock, including zoo animals.
(16) "Mining Use" means the use of water for
				  extraction, transportation, or processing of minerals.
(17) "Navigation Use" means water discharged
				  from ground or surface sources either to tide water or to downstream lakes or
				  reaches of rivers or canals for the purpose of permitting or protecting boating
				  activity.
(18) "Nursery Irrigation
				  Use (Non-agricultural)" means the use of water on premises in which nursery
				  plants are held for sale or distribution or shipment. The term does not apply
				  to water used for production of nursery stock.
(19) "Other Outside Use" means the use of
				  water outdoors for dust control, the maintenance, cleaning and washing of
				  structures and mobile equipment including automobiles and the washing of
				  streets, driveways, sidewalks and similar areas.
(20) "Other Public Supply Use" means the use
				  of water in public drinking water systems not covered or included in the
				  Florida Safe Drinking Water Act, rule of the Department of Health and
				  Rehabilitative Services.
(21)
				  "Perishable Food Processing" means industrial uses involving the processing of
				  perishable foods.
(22) "Power
				  Production Use" means the use of water for steam generation and the use of
				  water for cooling and for replenishment of cooling reservoirs.
(23) "Public Supply Use" means water used for
				  withdrawal, treatment, transmission and distribution by public water
				  systems.
(24) "Recreation Area
				  Irrigation Use" means the use of water for irrigating recreational areas such
				  as football, baseball, or soccer fields, and playgrounds.
(25) "Sanitation" includes supplying water
				  for toilet facilities and for cleaning, when the use occurs in a non-residence.
				  This use DOES NOT include any use of water for personal needs, such as bathing,
				  showering, use of lavatories, cooking, or drinking which occurs in a commercial
				  or industrial establishment or any other type of non-residence.
(26) "Soil Flooding" means the use of water
				  for the raising of water levels on agricultural lands for purposes not directly
				  related to crop growth including soil preservation, crop harvesting and pest
				  control.
(27) "Water Based
				  Recreation Use" means water used for public or private swimming and wading
				  pools, spas and other water-oriented recreation such as fishing, boating and
				  water slides.
Rulemaking Authority
						373.044,
						373.113 FS. Law Implemented
						373.175,
						373.246
						FS.
New 3-29-92, Amended
						3-27-19.