Welcome to the first edition of the Clarifier!- DEP's Northwest Distirct Newsletter for wastewater operators

The Clarifier Newsletter header

Volume I, ISSUE 1                                                      December 2015

Welcome to the first edition of the Clarifier!

The Clarifier is the Northwest District's newsletter providing information of specific interest to Northwest Florida domestic and industrial wastewater systems regulated by the department. Our goal is to pass along information that supports your efforts to maintain your facility in compliance with environmental regulations. We hope you find the information in this, and future editions, useful. We welcome your comments and suggestions.

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Reporting Sanitary
Sewer Overflows

Did you know that all wastewater overflows must be reported to the DEP? That’s right, but do you know who to contact, when to contact them and what information you need to provide? We know spills happen, and our goal is to ensure they are reported and addressed as soon as possible to protect human health and the environment. 

The general conditions for all permits included in Chapter 62-620.610(20)(a), F.A.C, requires that all overflows be reported to the department within 24 hours. Any release of wastewater that is greater than 1,000 gallons and/or impacts surface waters should be reported to the State Watch Office (SWO) at 1-800-320-0519. You should  also report an incident after hours and on a holiday to the SWO as well. Reporting an incident to the SWO fulfills the requirement to notify the department. Other incidents can be reported to your local DEP office.

  • Pensacola (850) 595-8300
  • Panama City (850) 872-4375
  • Tallahassee (850) 245-2984

When you contact your local DEP office, please make every attempt to leave your report with a live person so that the department can respond as needed right away. When in doubt, report your incident to the SWO.

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Don’t Forget!

Any release of wastewater that is greater than 1,000 gallons per incident or which impacts surface waters shall be reported to the State Watch Office at 1-800-320-0519.

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Written Reports

Remember, you have 24 hours from the time you are made aware of an incident to report the known details to department. It’s OK if you don’t have all the facts at the time of the initial notification. Please provide all of the required information as soon as possible, but no later than five days following your initial notice. Below are the details you are required to provide for all incidents: 

  • Name, address and telephone number of the reporting party;
  • Name, address and telephone number of permittee or responsible person for the discharge;
  • Date and time of the discharge and status of discharge (ongoing or ceased);
  • Characteristics of the wastewater spilled (untreated/partially treated/treated, domestic or industrial wastewater);
  • Estimated amount of the discharge;
  • Location or address of the discharge;
  • Source and cause of the discharge;
  • Whether the discharge was contained on-site, and the cleanup actions taken to date;
  • Description of the area affected by the discharge, including name of water body affected, if any; and
  • Other persons or agencies contacted.

Winter Cover Crops

Winter is coming so the time has come to plant your winter cover crop on your sprayfield. This cover crop is generally winter ryegrass and should be identified in your facility’s engineering report, as required by Chapter 62-610.310(3)(d).

As stated in Chapter 62-610.320(2) F.A.C., “Reuse and land application systems designed to use crops for the uptake of nutrients from applied reclaimed waters or effluents shall provide for removal of the crop at appropriate intervals, as described in the engineering report and as approved by the Department”. This is quite often accomplished by hay production but is sometimes facilitated by the grazing of cattle.

If you choose to use hay baling, please ensure that the bales are removed promptly from the field.

If cattle grazing is the removal method of choice, please note that in order to maintain your cover crop you should implement a controlled grazing management plan.

As always, please contact your local DEP district office with any questions you may have on the proper management of your sprayfield.  

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Underground Injection Control Update

The Department of Environmental Protection's Aquifer Protection program consists of a team of geologists, engineers and inspectors dedicated to protecting Florida's underground sources of drinking water (USDW) while maintaining the lawful option of disposal of appropriately treated fluids via underground injection wells. The program implements the Underground Injection Control (UIC) regulations (FDEP rule 62-528) and is dedicated to preventing degradation of the quality of other aquifers adjacent to the injection zone. There are currently 21 active and planned UIC wells in the Northwest District.

The Northwest District serves 16 counties from Jefferson County on the east to Escambia County on the west. The responsibility of inspections of these facilities recently transferred from Tallahassee to the district offices based in Pensacola, Panama City and Tallahassee. District UIC staff perform compliance assistance, report reviews and mechanical integrity test witnessing. For more information on the UIC program please visit the DEP UIC web page.

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Domestic & Industrial Wastewater Permitting

The Northwest District Wastewater Permitting Program is pleased to introduce permitting staff. With a vast knowledge base and over 20 years of service to DEP, Bill Evans, P.E. serves as the section supervisor. Bill Armstrong, P.E. and David Morres, P.E. offer experience and dedication with more than 12 years of service to the state. Jim Billizon, P.G. provides expert analysis for all groundwater-related, wastewater permitting projects. Linda Bauer recently joined the wastewater permitting team moving from the waste cleanup section, and Rich Boelens moved over from the stormwater permitting section. Katie Ates, E.I.T. joined DEP after graduating from the University of Florida. The Northwest District Wastewater Permitting team welcomes your permitting questions.

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