House Bill hb0569e1

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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to water supply policy;

  3         amending s. 163.3177, F.S.; specifying

  4         additional requirements for comprehensive plans

  5         relating to water resources, water supplies,

  6         and water supply plans; requiring a

  7         water-use-related element of future land use

  8         plans to be based on data regarding the

  9         availability of sufficient water supplies for

10         present and future growth; amending s.

11         163.3191, F.S.; requiring the evaluation and

12         appraisal report for building water supply

13         facilities to include a work plan; amending s.

14         259.03, F.S.; redefining the term "water

15         resource development project"; amending s.

16         367.022, F.S.; exempting the use of nonpotable

17         water for fireflow purposes from regulation as

18         a utility; amending s. 403.064, F.S.; providing

19         legislative intent regarding reuse of reclaimed

20         water; revising requirements for feasibility

21         study and implementation by permit applicants;

22         providing an exemption from feasibility study

23         requirements for applicants located in Monroe

24         County; amending s. 403.1835, F.S.; providing

25         for low-interest loans to provide certain water

26         pollution control financial assistance;

27         requiring water management districts to develop

28         and distribute certain water sources and

29         conservation information; repealing s.

30         403.804(3), F.S., relating to Environmental

31         Regulation Commission approval of grants for


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         construction of wastewater or water treatment

  2         works; providing an effective date.

  3  

  4  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

  5  

  6         Section 1.  Paragraph (a) of subsection (3), paragraph

  7  (a) of subsection (4), and paragraphs (c), (d), and (h) of

  8  subsection (6) of section 163.3177, Florida Statutes, are

  9  amended to read:

10         163.3177  Required and optional elements of

11  comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.--

12         (3)(a)  The comprehensive plan shall contain a capital

13  improvements element designed to consider the need for and the

14  location of public facilities in order to encourage the

15  efficient utilization of such facilities and set forth:

16         1.  A component which outlines principles for

17  construction, extension, or increase in capacity of public

18  facilities, including potable water facilities compatible with

19  the applicable regional water supply plan developed pursuant

20  to s. 373.0361, as well as a component which outlines

21  principles for correcting existing public facility

22  deficiencies, which are necessary to implement the

23  comprehensive plan.  The components shall cover at least a

24  5-year period.

25         2.  Estimated public facility costs, including a

26  delineation of when facilities will be needed, the general

27  location of the facilities, and projected revenue sources to

28  fund the facilities.

29         3.  Standards to ensure the availability of public

30  facilities and the adequacy of those facilities including

31  acceptable levels of service.


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         4.  Standards for the management of debt.

  2         (4)(a)  Coordination of the local comprehensive plan

  3  with the comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the

  4  county, adjacent counties, or the region; with the appropriate

  5  water management district's regional water supply plans

  6  approved pursuant to s. 373.0361; with adopted rules

  7  pertaining to designated areas of critical state concern; and

  8  with the state comprehensive plan shall be a major objective

  9  of the local comprehensive planning process.  To that end, in

10  the preparation of a comprehensive plan or element thereof,

11  and in the comprehensive plan or element as adopted, the

12  governing body shall include a specific policy statement

13  indicating the relationship of the proposed development of the

14  area to the comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities,

15  the county, adjacent counties, or the region and to the state

16  comprehensive plan, as the case may require and as such

17  adopted plans or plans in preparation may exist.

18         (6)  In addition to the requirements of subsections

19  (1)-(5), the comprehensive plan shall include the following

20  elements:

21         (c)  A general sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage,

22  potable water, and natural groundwater aquifer recharge

23  element correlated to principles and guidelines for future

24  land use, indicating ways to provide for future potable water,

25  drainage, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and aquifer recharge

26  protection requirements for the area.  The element may be a

27  detailed engineering plan including a topographic map

28  depicting areas of prime groundwater recharge. The element

29  shall describe the problems and needs and the general

30  facilities that will be required for solution of the problems

31  and needs.  The element shall also include a topographic map


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  depicting any areas adopted by a regional water management

  2  district as prime groundwater recharge areas for the Floridan

  3  or Biscayne aquifers, pursuant to s. 373.0395.  These areas

  4  shall be given special consideration when the local government

  5  is engaged in zoning or considering future land use for said

  6  designated areas.  For areas served by septic tanks, soil

  7  surveys shall be provided which indicate the suitability of

  8  soils for septic tanks. By July 1, 2007, or the evaluation and

  9  appraisal report adoption deadline established for the local

10  government pursuant to s. 163.3191(1)(a), whichever date

11  occurs first, the element must consider the appropriate water

12  management district's regional water supply plan approved

13  pursuant to s. 373.0361.  The potable water element shall

14  include a work plan covering at least a 10-year planning

15  period for building water supply facilities that are

16  identified in the potable water element as necessary to meet

17  projected water demand to serve existing and new development

18  and for which the local government is responsible.

19         (d)  A conservation element for the conservation, use,

20  and protection of natural resources in the area, including

21  air, water, water recharge areas, wetlands, waterwells,

22  estuarine marshes, soils, beaches, shores, flood plains,

23  rivers, bays, lakes, harbors, forests, fisheries and wildlife,

24  marine habitat, minerals, and other natural and environmental

25  resources.  Local governments shall assess their current, as

26  well as projected, water needs and sources for at least a

27  10-year period, considering the appropriate regional water

28  supply plan approved pursuant to s. 373.0361 or the district

29  water management plan approved pursuant to s. 373.036(2) in

30  the absence of an approved regional water supply plan.  This

31  information shall be submitted to the appropriate agencies.


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  The land use map or map series contained in the future land

  2  use element shall generally identify and depict the following:

  3         1.  Existing and planned waterwells and cones of

  4  influence where applicable.

  5         2.  Beaches and shores, including estuarine systems.

  6         3.  Rivers, bays, lakes, flood plains, and harbors.

  7         4.  Wetlands.

  8         5.  Minerals and soils.

  9  

10  The land uses identified on such maps shall be consistent with

11  applicable state law and rules.

12         (h)1.  An intergovernmental coordination element

13  showing relationships and stating principles and guidelines to

14  be used in the accomplishment of coordination of the adopted

15  comprehensive plan with the plans of school boards and other

16  units of local government providing services but not having

17  regulatory authority over the use of land, with the

18  comprehensive plans of adjacent municipalities, the county,

19  adjacent counties, or the region, and with the state

20  comprehensive plan, and with the applicable regional water

21  supply plan approved pursuant to s. 373.0361, as the case may

22  require and as such adopted plans or plans in preparation may

23  exist.  This element of the local comprehensive plan shall

24  demonstrate consideration of the particular effects of the

25  local plan, when adopted, upon the development of adjacent

26  municipalities, the county, adjacent counties, or the region,

27  or upon the state comprehensive plan, as the case may require.

28         a.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall

29  provide for procedures to identify and implement joint

30  planning areas, especially for the purpose of annexation,

31  


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  municipal incorporation, and joint infrastructure service

  2  areas.

  3         b.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall

  4  provide for recognition of campus master plans prepared

  5  pursuant to s. 240.155.

  6         c.  The intergovernmental coordination element may

  7  provide for a voluntary dispute resolution process as

  8  established pursuant to s. 186.509 for bringing to closure in

  9  a timely manner intergovernmental disputes.  A local

10  government may develop and use an alternative local dispute

11  resolution process for this purpose.

12         2.  The intergovernmental coordination element shall

13  further state principles and guidelines to be used in the

14  accomplishment of coordination of the adopted comprehensive

15  plan with the plans of school boards and other units of local

16  government providing facilities and services but not having

17  regulatory authority over the use of land.  In addition, the

18  intergovernmental coordination element shall describe joint

19  processes for collaborative planning and decisionmaking on

20  population projections and public school siting, the location

21  and extension of public facilities subject to concurrency, and

22  siting facilities with countywide significance, including

23  locally unwanted land uses whose nature and identity are

24  established in an agreement. Within 1 year of adopting their

25  intergovernmental coordination elements, each county, all the

26  municipalities within that county, the district school board,

27  and any unit of local government service providers in that

28  county shall establish by interlocal or other formal agreement

29  executed by all affected entities, the joint processes

30  described in this subparagraph consistent with their adopted

31  intergovernmental coordination elements.


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         3.  To foster coordination between special districts

  2  and local general-purpose governments as local general-purpose

  3  governments implement local comprehensive plans, each

  4  independent special district must submit a public facilities

  5  report to the appropriate local government as required by s.

  6  189.415.

  7         4.  The state land planning agency shall establish a

  8  schedule for phased completion and transmittal of plan

  9  amendments to implement subparagraphs 1., 2., and 3. from all

10  jurisdictions so as to accomplish their adoption by December

11  31, 1999.  A local government may complete and transmit its

12  plan amendments to carry out these provisions prior to the

13  scheduled date established by the state land planning agency.

14  The plan amendments are exempt from the provisions of s.

15  163.3187(1).

16         Section 2.  Paragraph (l) is added to subsection (2) of

17  section 163.3191, Florida Statutes, to read:

18         163.3191  Evaluation and appraisal of comprehensive

19  plan.--

20         (2)  The report shall present an evaluation and

21  assessment of the comprehensive plan and shall contain

22  appropriate statements to update the comprehensive plan,

23  including, but not limited to, words, maps, illustrations, or

24  other media, related to:

25         (l)  Consideration of the appropriate water management

26  district's regional water supply plan approved pursuant to s.

27  373.0361. The potable water element must be revised to include

28  a work plan covering at least a 10-year planning period for

29  building water supply facilities that are identified in the

30  potable water element as necessary to serve existing and new

31  development and for which the local government is responsible.


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         Section 3.  Subsection (6) of section 259.03, Florida

  2  Statutes, is amended to read:

  3         259.03  Definitions.--The following terms and phrases

  4  when used in this chapter shall have the meanings ascribed to

  5  them in this section, except where the context clearly

  6  indicates a different meaning:

  7         (6)  "Water resource development project" means a

  8  project eligible for funding pursuant to s. 259.105 that

  9  increases the amount of water available to meet the needs of

10  natural systems and the citizens of the state by enhancing or

11  restoring aquifer recharge, facilitating the capture and

12  storage of excess flows in surface waters, or promoting reuse.

13  The implementation of eligible projects under s. 259.105

14  includes land acquisition, land and water body restoration,

15  aquifer storage and recovery facilities, surface water

16  reservoirs, and other capital improvements.  The term does not

17  include construction of treatment, transmission, or

18  distribution facilities with the exception of regional

19  transmission facilities that transport reclaimed water or

20  stormwater for reuse or regional transmission facilities that

21  interconnect multiple water utilities located wholly within

22  one county or within one regional water supply authority for

23  the purpose of optimizing water withdrawals and reducing water

24  resource impacts, with such interconnect facilities being

25  identified as projects under s. 373.0361(2)(b) of an approved

26  water management district regional water supply plan.

27         Section 4.  Subsection (11) of section 367.022, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         367.022  Exemptions.--The following are not subject to

30  regulation by the commission as a utility nor are they subject

31  


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  to the provisions of this chapter, except as expressly

  2  provided:

  3         (11)  Any person providing only nonpotable water for

  4  irrigation or fireflow purposes in a geographic area where

  5  potable water service is available from a governmentally or

  6  privately owned utility or a private well.

  7         Section 5.  Section 403.064, Florida Statutes, is

  8  amended to read:

  9         403.064  Reuse of reclaimed water.--

10         (1)  The encouragement and promotion of water

11  conservation, and reuse of reclaimed water, as defined by the

12  department, are state objectives and are considered to be in

13  the public interest. The Legislature finds that the reuse of

14  reclaimed water is a critical component of meeting the state's

15  existing and future water supply needs while sustaining

16  natural systems. The Legislature further finds that for those

17  wastewater treatment plants permitted and operated under an

18  approved reuse program by the department, the reclaimed water

19  shall be considered environmentally acceptable and not a

20  threat to public health and safety.

21         (2)  All applicants for permits to construct or operate

22  a domestic wastewater treatment facility located within,

23  serving a population located within, or discharging within a

24  water resource caution area shall prepare a reuse feasibility

25  study as part of their application for the permit. Reuse

26  feasibility studies shall be prepared in accordance with

27  department guidelines adopted by rule and shall include, but

28  are not limited to:

29         (a)  Evaluation of monetary costs and benefits for

30  several levels and types of reuse.

31  


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         (b)  Evaluation of water savings if reuse is

  2  implemented.

  3         (c)  Evaluation of rates and fees necessary to

  4  implement reuse.

  5         (d)  Evaluation of environmental and water resource

  6  benefits associated with reuse.

  7         (e)  Evaluation of economic, environmental, and

  8  technical constraints.

  9         (f)  A schedule for implementation of reuse. The

10  schedule shall consider phased implementation.

11         (3)  The permit applicant shall prepare a plan of study

12  for the reuse feasibility study consistent with the reuse

13  feasibility study guidelines adopted by department rule. The

14  plan of study shall include detailed descriptions of

15  applicable treatment and water supply alternatives to be

16  evaluated and the methods of analysis to be used. The plan of

17  study shall be submitted to the department for review and

18  approval.

19         (4)(3)  The study required under subsection (2) shall

20  be performed by the applicant, and the applicant shall

21  determine the applicant's determination of feasibility of

22  reuse based upon the results of the study is final if the

23  study complies with the requirements of subsections subsection

24  (2) and (3).

25         (5)(4)  A reuse feasibility study is not required if:

26         (a)  The domestic wastewater treatment facility has an

27  existing or proposed permitted or design capacity less than

28  0.1 million gallons per day; or

29         (b)  The permitted reuse capacity equals or exceeds the

30  total permitted capacity of the domestic wastewater treatment

31  facility; or.


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         (c)  The applicant is located within an area as defined

  2  by s. 7.44. Any applicant exempt under this paragraph may

  3  elect to utilize the provisions of this section.

  4         (6)(5)  A reuse feasibility study prepared under

  5  subsection (2) satisfies a water management district

  6  requirement to conduct a reuse feasibility study imposed on a

  7  local government or utility that has responsibility for

  8  wastewater management.

  9         (7)(6)  Local governments may allow the use of

10  reclaimed water for inside activities, including, but not

11  limited to, toilet flushing, fire protection, and decorative

12  water features, as well as for outdoor uses, provided the

13  reclaimed water is from domestic wastewater treatment

14  facilities which are permitted, constructed, and operated in

15  accordance with department rules.

16         (8)(7)  Permits issued by the department for domestic

17  wastewater treatment facilities shall be consistent with

18  requirements for reuse included in applicable consumptive use

19  permits issued by the water management district, if such

20  requirements are consistent with department rules governing

21  reuse of reclaimed water. This subsection applies only to

22  domestic wastewater treatment facilities which are located

23  within, or serve a population located within, or discharge

24  within water resource caution areas and are owned, operated,

25  or controlled by a local government or utility which has

26  responsibility for water supply and wastewater management.

27         (9)(8)  Local governments may and are encouraged to

28  implement programs for the reuse of reclaimed water. Nothing

29  in this chapter shall be construed to prohibit or preempt such

30  local reuse programs.

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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1         (10)(9)  A local government that implements a reuse

  2  program under this section shall be allowed to allocate the

  3  costs in a reasonable manner.

  4         (11)(10)  Pursuant to chapter 367, the Florida Public

  5  Service Commission shall allow entities under its jurisdiction

  6  which conduct studies or implement reuse projects, including,

  7  but not limited to, any study required by subsection (2) or

  8  facilities used for reliability purposes for a reclaimed water

  9  reuse system, to recover the full, prudently incurred cost of

10  such studies and facilities through their rate structure.

11         (12)(11)  In issuing consumptive use permits, the

12  permitting agency shall consider the local reuse program.

13         (13)(12)  A local government shall require a developer,

14  as a condition for obtaining a development order, to comply

15  with the local reuse program.

16         (14)(13)  If, After conducting a feasibility study

17  under subsection (2), an applicant determines that reuse of

18  reclaimed water is feasible, domestic wastewater treatment

19  facilities that dispose of effluent by Class I deep well

20  injection, as defined in 40 C.F.R. part 144.6(a), must

21  implement reuse according to the schedule for implementation

22  contained in the study conducted under subsection (2), to the

23  degree that reuse is determined feasible, based upon the

24  applicant's reuse feasibility study. Applicable permits issued

25  by the department shall be consistent with the requirements of

26  this subsection.

27         (a)  This subsection does not limit the use of a Class

28  I deep well injection facility as backup for a reclaimed water

29  reuse system.

30         (b)  This subsection applies only to domestic

31  wastewater treatment facilities located within, serving a


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  population located within, or discharging within a water

  2  resource caution area.

  3         (15)(14)  If, After conducting a feasibility study

  4  under subsection (2), an applicant determines that reuse of

  5  reclaimed water is feasible, domestic wastewater treatment

  6  facilities that dispose of effluent by surface water

  7  discharges or by land application methods must implement reuse

  8  according to the schedule for implementation contained in the

  9  study conducted under subsection (2), to the degree that reuse

10  is determined feasible, based upon the applicant's reuse

11  feasibility study. This subsection does not apply to surface

12  water discharges or land application systems which are

13  currently categorized as reuse under department rules.

14  Applicable permits issued by the department shall be

15  consistent with the requirements of this subsection.

16         (a)  This subsection does not limit the use of a

17  surface water discharge or land application facility as backup

18  for a reclaimed water reuse system.

19         (b)  This subsection applies only to domestic

20  wastewater treatment facilities located within, serving a

21  population located within, or discharging within a water

22  resource caution area.

23         Section 6.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section

24  403.1835, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

25         403.1835  Water pollution control financial

26  assistance.--

27         (3)  The department may provide financial assistance

28  through any program authorized under s. 603 of the Federal

29  Water Pollution Control Act (Clean Water Act), Pub. L. No.

30  92-500, as amended, including, but not limited to, making

31  grants and loans, providing loan guarantees, purchasing loan


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  insurance or other credit enhancements, and buying or

  2  refinancing local debt. This financial assistance must be

  3  administered in accordance with this section and applicable

  4  federal authorities. The department shall administer all

  5  programs operated from funds secured through the activities of

  6  the Florida Water Pollution Control Financing Corporation

  7  under s. 403.1837, to fulfill the purposes of this section.

  8         (b)  The department may make or request the corporation

  9  to make loans, grants, and deposits to other entities eligible

10  to participate in the financial assistance programs authorized

11  under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, or as a result

12  of other federal action, which entities may pledge any revenue

13  available to them to repay any funds borrowed. Notwithstanding

14  s. 18.10, the department may make deposits to financial

15  institutions that earn less than the prevailing rate for

16  United States Treasury securities with corresponding

17  maturities for the purpose of enabling such financial

18  institutions to make below-market interest rate loans to

19  entities qualified to receive loans under this section and the

20  rules of the department.

21         Section 7.  In order to aid in the development of a

22  better understanding of the unique surface and groundwater

23  resources of this state, the water management districts shall

24  develop an information program designed to provide information

25  on existing hydrologic conditions of major surface and

26  groundwater sources in this state and suggestions for good

27  conservation practices within those areas.  The program shall

28  be developed no later than December 31, 2002.  Beginning

29  January 1, 2003, and on a regular basis no less than every 6

30  months thereafter, the information developed pursuant to this

31  section shall be distributed to every member of the Florida


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                                        CS/HB 569, First Engrossed



  1  Senate and the Florida House of Representatives and to local

  2  print and broadcast news organizations.  Each water management

  3  district shall be responsible for the distribution of this

  4  information within its established geographic area.

  5         Section 8.  Subsection (3) of s. 403.804, Florida

  6  Statutes, is repealed.

  7         Section 9.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  8  law.

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