Florida Administrative Code › 62 - DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION › 62 - Departmental › Chapter 62-610 - REUSE OF RECLAIMED WATER AND LAND APPLICATION › Part VIII - PERMITTING › Section 62-610.865 - Blending of Demineralization Concentrate with Reclaimed Water

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) Within this chapter, the term
				  "concentrate" will be used synonymously with "demineralization concentrate."
				  The Department shall classify demineralization concentrate as a "potable water
				  byproduct, " and not as an "industrial wastewater."
(2) Rule
				   62-610.865, F.A.C., applies to
				  projects, for which complete permit applications which request authorization to
				  blend concentrate with reclaimed water were received by the Department on or
				  after August 8, 1999. Rule
				   62-610.865, F.A.C., also shall
				  apply to existing projects which are being expanded or modified; however, these
				  rule requirements shall only apply to the expanded or modified portion of the
				  project.
(3) Demineralization
				  concentrate may be blended with reclaimed water which will be used in reuse
				  systems regulated under Parts II, III, IV, and VII of this chapter if all of
				  the requirements of Rule
				   62-610.865, F.A.C., and the
				  appropriate parts of this chapter are met.
(4) Permittees wishing to blend
				  demineralization concentrate with reclaimed water are urged to proceed
				  cautiously. Concentrate typically contains elevated concentrations of dissolved
				  solids and inorganic constituents, which normally are not removed from the
				  reclaimed water as it travels through the unsaturated or saturated zones
				  beneath the Earth's surface. As a result, the ability of a reuse or land
				  application project to meet ground water quality criteria at the edge of the
				  zone of discharge shall be addressed in the engineering report. Elevated
				  concentrations of dissolved solids and salts may harm sensitive vegetation
				  being grown on the reuse or land application site and may decrease the
				  hydraulic capacity of reuse and land application sites, especially where
				  reclaimed water will be used to irrigate landscape areas and edible food crops,
				  as allowed by Part III of this chapter.
(5) Engineering report.
(a) The engineering report shall provide
				  reasonable assurances that ground water criteria contained in Chapter 62-520,
				  F.A.C., will be met at the edge of the zone of discharge.
(b) The engineering report shall provide
				  reasonable assurances that the blend will not harm vegetation or crops grown on
				  the reuse or land application sites and that the blend will not impair the
				  ability of the site to function as intended. Salt tolerances of vegetation
				  found in the reuse or land application system shall be evaluated.
(c) The engineering report shall evaluate the
				  potential for salts and other constituents in the concentrate to adversely
				  affect the infiltration/percolation capabilities of the soils in the reuse
				  system. If the sodium adsorption ratio in the blend approaches or exceeds 15,
				  it is recommended that sodicity hazards and impacts on soil
				  infiltration/percolation be addressed in detail in the engineering report based
				  on input from individuals having expertise in soils science.
(d) The engineering report shall evaluate the
				  ability of the reuse system to protect public health.
(e) The engineering report shall examine
				  constraints needed to ensure compliance with water quality standards and to
				  ensure protection of environmental quality, public health, site vegetation, and
				  the ability of reuse and land application sites to function as
				  intended.
(f) The engineering
				  report shall characterize the reclaimed water, concentrate, and
				  blend.
(g) The engineering report
				  shall include recommendations for a minimum blend ratio. This minimum blend
				  ratio shall be justified based on the considerations described in subsection
				   62-610.865(5),
				  F.A.C.