Florida Senate - 2014                       CS for CS for SB 536
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Environmental Preservation and
       Conservation; and Agriculture; and Senator Simpson
       
       
       
       
       592-02906-14                                           2014536c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to reclaimed water; requiring the
    3         Department of Environmental Protection to conduct a
    4         study in coordination with the Department of
    5         Agriculture and Consumer Services and the water
    6         management districts on the expansion of the
    7         beneficial use of reclaimed water, stormwater, and
    8         excess surface water and to submit a report based upon
    9         such study; providing requirements for the report;
   10         requiring the departments to provide the public an
   11         opportunity for input and for public comment;
   12         requiring that the report be submitted to the Governor
   13         and the Legislature by a specified date; providing an
   14         effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Use of reclaimed water, stormwater, and excess
   19  surface water.—
   20         (1) The Department of Environmental Protection, in
   21  coordination with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
   22  Services and the five water management districts, shall conduct
   23  a comprehensive study and submit a report on the expansion of
   24  the beneficial use of reclaimed water, stormwater, and excess
   25  surface water in this state.
   26         (2) The report must:
   27         (a) Identify factors that prohibit or complicate the
   28  expansion of the beneficial use of reclaimed water, stormwater,
   29  and excess surface water and recommend how those factors can be
   30  mitigated or eliminated.
   31         (b) Identify measures that would lead to the efficient use
   32  of reclaimed water.
   33         (c) Identify the environmental, engineering, public health,
   34  public perception, and fiscal constraints of such an expansion,
   35  including utility rate structures for reclaimed water.
   36         (d) Identify areas in the state where traditional water
   37  supply sources are limited and the use of reclaimed water,
   38  stormwater, or excess surface water for irrigation or other
   39  purposes is necessary.
   40         (e) Recommend permit incentives, such as extending current
   41  authorizations for long-term consumptive use permits for all
   42  entities that substitute reclaimed water for traditional water
   43  sources that become unavailable or otherwise cost prohibitive.
   44         (f) Determine the feasibility, benefit, and cost estimate
   45  of the infrastructure needed to construct regional storage
   46  features on public or private lands for reclaimed water,
   47  stormwater, and excess surface water, including the collection
   48  and delivery mechanisms for beneficial uses such as agricultural
   49  irrigation, power generation, public water supply, wetland
   50  restoration, groundwater recharge, and waterbody base flow
   51  augmentation.
   52         (3) The departments shall:
   53         (a) Hold two public meetings, at a minimum, to gather input
   54  on the study.
   55         (b) Provide an opportunity for the public to submit written
   56  comments before submitting the report.
   57         (4) The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the
   58  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   59  Representatives no later than December 1, 2015.
   60         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.