Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-520 - GROUND WATER CLASSES, STANDARDS, AND EXEMPTIONS › Section 62-520.410 - Classification of Ground Water, Usage, Reclassification

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) All
				ground water of the State is classified according to designated uses as
				follows:
CLASS F-I
Potable water use, ground water in a single source
							 aquifer described in Rule
							  62-520.460, F.A.C., with a total
							 dissolved solids content of less than 3, 000 mg/L and was specifically
							 reclassified as Class F-I by the Commission.
CLASS G-I
Potable water use, ground water in a single source
							 aquifer that has a total dissolved solids content of less than 3, 000 mg/L and
							 was specifically reclassified by the Commission.
CLASS G-II
Potable water use, ground water in aquifers with a
							 total dissolved solids content of less than 10, 000 mg/L, unless otherwise
							 classified by the Commission.
CLASS G-III
Non-potable water use, ground water in unconfined
							 aquifers with a total dissolved solids content of 10, 000 mg/L or greater; or
							 with a total dissolved solids content of 3, 000-10, 000 mg/L and either has
							 been reclassified by the Commission as having no reasonable potential as a
							 future source of drinking water, or has been designated by the Department as an
							 exempted aquifer pursuant to subsection
							  62-528.300(3),
							 F.A.C.
CLASS G-IV
Non-potable water use, ground water in confined
							 aquifers with a total dissolved solids content of 10, 000 mg/L or
							 greater.
(2)
				It shall be the Department policy to afford the highest protection to single
				source aquifers. Upon petition by an affected party as provided in subsection
				(6), the Commission may reclassify aquifers or portions of aquifers as Class
				G-I ground water.
(3) The specific
				water quality criteria corresponding to each ground water classification are
				listed in Rules  62-520.420 to
				 62-520.460, F.A.C.
(4) Ground water quality classifications are
				arranged in order of the degree of protection required, with Class G-I and F-I
				ground water requiring generally the most stringent water quality criteria and
				Class G-IV the least.
(5)
				Reclassification of ground water as provided in subsection (1), above, shall be
				accomplished in the following manner:
(a) Any
				substantially affected person or a water management district may seek
				reclassification of any ground water of the State by filing a petition with the
				Department's agency clerk in the Office of General Counsel, MS 35, 3900
				Commonwealth Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-3000. In addition, the
				Department, may seek reclassification by initiating rulemaking under Section
				 120.54, F.S.
(b) A petition for reclassification shall
				contain the information necessary to support the affirmative findings required
				in this rule.
(c) Before any ground
				water can be reclassified:
1. If a petition
				for reclassification is the impetus for such reclassification, the Department
				shall provide the petitioner with the public notice to be published, at least
				21 days before the Environmental Regulation Commission's rule adoption public
				hearing, in the legal advertising section of a newspaper of general circulation
				in the area of the proposed reclassified ground water.
2. If the Department seeks reclassification
				without a petition being filed, the Department shall provide for newspaper
				publication as described above.
3.
				In addition, the Department, through its rulemaking notice, shall publish the
				proposed rule as required under Chapter 120, F.S., and the Department will
				provide written notification to local governments whose jurisdiction overlies
				any portion of the ground water proposed to be
				reclassified.
(d)
				Reclassification of ground water of the State shall be adopted only upon
				affirmative findings by the Commission that:
1. The proposed reclassification will
				establish the present and future most beneficial use of the ground water,
2. Such a reclassification is
				clearly in the public interest; and,
3. The proposed designated use is attainable,
				upon consideration of environmental, water quality, technological, social,
				economic, and institutional factors.