2021 Chemical Sampling Year - What’s Due for Your System
Small Community Systems (population ≤3,300), this is your BIG year!
All small community systems are required to monitor for the Inorganic Contaminants including Nitrate and Nitrite, Secondary Contaminants, Volatile Organic Contaminants, Synthetic Organic Contaminants (SOCs) and Stage 2 Disinfection Byproducts (DBPs). Since 2020-2023 is the first period of a new nine-year compliance cycle, small systems must sample the SOCs; systems will not be able to apply for waivers. Many small community systems may also be required to monitor for radiological contaminants (Gross Alpha, Radium 226 and Radium 228). Access your system’s 2021 annual online monitoring requirements letter online.
Large Community Systems (population >3,300) have a light year for sampling in 2021. All large community systems are required to monitor for Nitrate and Nitrite this year. Some large systems may be on increased monitoring for certain chemicals.If so, you will be advised in your Online Annual Monitoring Notice.
Non-Transient Non-Community (NTNC) Systems have a light sampling year in 2021. All NTNCs are required to monitor for Nitrate and Nitrite before Dec. 31, 2021.
Transient Non-Community (TNCs) Systems are only required to monitor for Nitrate and Nitrite in 2021. TNCs are non-community systems that do not regularly serve at least 25 of the same persons over six months of the year (as long as they have fewer than 25 persons working six months or more per year). TNCs include churches, convenience stores, parks, travel parks, restaurants, etc.
Additional Notes:
All DEP regulated potable water systems can access their Online Annual Monitoring Notice in early 2021 outlining sampling requirements for the year. Some systems may have increased monitoring for certain chemicals and, if so, will be advised in their Annual Monitoring Notice. Please remember to sample early. It is the responsibility of the water system to ensure that all chemical monitoring is conducted and results submitted timely to DEP.
Results are required to be submitted on the Florida DEP Laboratory Format form and must include completed PWS information sheet including sampler certification and signature, laboratory cover sheet, and chain of custody.
If you have any questions about your chemical monitoring requirements, please contact Paula Smith at Paula.Smith@FloridaDEP.gov or 850-595-0632.
Well and Treatment System Permit Applications -
Permit Review Checklist
DEP utilizes a guidance checklist to help determine if reasonable assurance has been provided to permit PWS components, such as wells or treatment systems, as required by regulation. If reasonable assurance for these items is not provided, the permit application is incomplete and the information will be requested in a Request for Additional Information (RAI). For expediency of permit application review and issuance, PEs may wish to make sure all checklist items have been provided. Permit review checklist guidance may be requested by emailing Epost.nwdwf@FloridaDEP.gov.
Free Cybersecurity Assessment and Technical Assistance Provided by US EPA
In concert with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Horsley Witten Group, Inc. is providing free onsite cybersecurity assessments and technical assistance to interested drinking water and wastewater utilities. The focus of this project is on smaller and rural utilities that are resource limited in their capability to address cybersecurity threats. The results of your assessment are strictly confidential and are not individually reported to EPA or any state regulatory agency. The technical assistance includes helping you to develop a cyber action plan for your utility to mitigate vulnerabilities noted during the assessment.
Due to Covid-19, this technical assistance is being offered virtually. Please register if your utility is interested in conducting an assessment and learning more about reducing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
If you have questions, please contact Gemma Kite with Horsley Whitten Group at gkite@horsleywitten.com or 508-833-6600.
 WATER Tracker will replace the former utility coordination system, Storm Tracker, in order to provide a more robust and interactive communication and coordination platform for all water utilities to use in emergency situations such as hurricanes. WATER Tracker will ensure that needs of individual facilities are met as quickly and efficiently as possible, and that the entire statewide network will run smoothly to better serve the people of Florida. Please visit Florida's Water Tracker to setup an account.
Replacing Asbestos Pipe Guidance
- If a water project includes replacement of asbestos pipe, please indicate this on the plans and in the project description. Please indicate what is being done with the replaced pipe, e.g., "asbestos pipe will be capped and filled."
- For abandoned asbestos pipe, please see below information regarding the applicability of Title 40, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 61, Subpart M (40 CFR 61, Subpart M, also known as the asbestos NESHAP) to asbestos containing pipe renovations.
- The crushing of asbestos-cement pipe, Category II nonfriable asbestos containing material (ACM), would cause the material to become regulated ACM (RACM) and would be subject to the asbestos NESHAP.
- If the pipe is not crumbled, pulverized or reduced to powder, it would not be subject to the asbestos NESHAP.
- For more guidance, please see DEP’s Asbestos Frequently Asked Questions.
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Please Welcome Our New Potable Water Team Members!
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Steve Hafner joined the potable water team in December 2020. He previously worked in the CAP wastewater and NPDES stormwater section.
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Angelia Butler joined the potable water team in February 2021. Angelia previously worked with the air permitting section. |
Happy 22nd CCR Season!
2020 Consumer Confidence Reports (CCRs) for public community water systems must be distributed to consumers and the department by July 1, 2021. If you need assistance with your CCR, please contact Mary Jehle at Mary.Jehle@FloridaDEP.gov.
Please note the following:
- Certification of delivery (CoD) forms must be provided to the department by Aug. 10, 2021.
- For systems that provide water to other systems at any point in 2020: Compiled data/required information shall be provided to any community water system that received water from your system by April 1, 2021 unless a later date is agreed to in advance and in writing. Additionally, if you provide water to another system, a special CoD (supplier CoD) is also required to be provided to the department.
- Please note that if you are a consecutive water system, the chemical data for your table and basic CCR information will be provided by your supplier water system by April 1, 2021, unless a later date is agreed to in advance and in writing. Your deadline for delivery for your CCR to your customers is July 1, 2021. With some exceptions, you will use their data on your CCR to your customers, but will use your own bacteriological, asbestos, disinfectants/disinfection by products (D/DBP), lead and copper tap sample results, and chlorine.
NWD's Leadership Team Update
Congratulations to Elizabeth Orr for being promoted as the NWD's new district director!
Prior to being promoted to district director, Elizabeth served as the district’s assistant director for five years and was responsible for overseeing the district's compliance assurance program. She also has served as program administrator for the district’s permitting program.
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Please help us welcome the NWD's new assistant district director, Erin Rasnake, who will oversee the compliance assurance program.
Erin is a Florida native and has been with the department since 2006. Prior to this promotion, Erin was the permitting program administrator in DEP's Central District.
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PWS Pumps Replaced without first notifying DEP
DEP has recently become aware of instances where PWS pumps have been replaced without DEP’s knowledge. Pump replacement requires prior department approval. Before any PWS component is replaced, please consult the requirements of 62-555.520, F.A.C. Reasonable assurance must be provided through the notification process that any PWS component that comes into contact with drinking water meets DEP standards. DEP will evaluate and determine if a permit is needed or if a notification is sufficient.
- This includes pumps, water piping, storage tanks, storage tank coating, meters, etc., even when the component being replaced is like for like.
- Please note that a permit is required when pump capacity is being increased.
- Give yourself sufficient time. Once DEP has been notified of a planned change, if a notification is sufficient, DEP’s 14-day time clock for review will begin. If a permit is required, DEP’s 30-day time clock for review will begin. By the end of the review period, DEP will request more information, provide next steps, or process the permit or notification letter.
- If a pump has already been replaced, please reach out to the department to address. It may be possible to address through an after-the-fact notification or permit instead of enforcement.
- Information to provide: PWS name, PWS number, and description of work to be done (or work that was done, including the date) including the manufacturer make and model, and proof of NSF-61 compliance for each component. Request for review may be submitted to Epost.nwdwf@FloridaDEP.gov.
State of Florida Holiday
Office Closures for 2021
May 31 - Memorial Day
July 5 - Independence Day (observed)
Sept. 6 - Labor Day
Nov. 11 - Veterans Day
Nov. 25 - 26 - Thanksgiving
Dec. 24 - Christmas
Need to Locate a Form?
Source and Drinking Water Program Quick Links.
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