CS for CS for SB 536 First Engrossed 2014536e1 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 stakeholders on the 5 expansion of the beneficial use of reclaimed water, 6 stormwater, and excess surface water and to submit a 7 report based upon such study; providing requirements 8 for the report; requiring the departments to provide 9 the public an opportunity for input and for public 10 comment; requiring that the report be submitted to the 11 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; 12 providing an effective date. 13 14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15 16 Section 1. Use of reclaimed water, stormwater, and excess 17 surface water.— 18 (1) The Department of Environmental Protection, in 19 coordination with the stakeholders, shall conduct a 20 comprehensive study and submit a report on the expansion of the 21 beneficial use of reclaimed water, stormwater, and excess 22 surface water in this state. 23 (2) The report must: 24 (a) Identify factors that prohibit or complicate the 25 expansion of the beneficial use of reclaimed water, stormwater, 26 and excess surface water and recommend how those factors can be 27 mitigated or eliminated. 28 (b) Identify measures that would lead to the efficient use 29 of reclaimed water. 30 (c) Identify the environmental, engineering, public health, 31 public perception, and fiscal constraints of such an expansion, 32 including utility rate structures for reclaimed water. 33 (d) Identify areas in the state where traditional water 34 supply sources are limited and the use of reclaimed water, 35 stormwater, or excess surface water for irrigation or other 36 purposes is necessary. 37 (e) Recommend permit incentives, such as extending current 38 authorizations for long-term consumptive use permits for all 39 entities that substitute reclaimed water for traditional water 40 sources that become unavailable or otherwise cost prohibitive. 41 (f) Determine the feasibility, benefit, and cost estimate 42 of the infrastructure needed to construct regional storage 43 features on public or private lands for reclaimed water, 44 stormwater, and excess surface water, including the collection 45 and delivery mechanisms for beneficial uses such as agricultural 46 irrigation, power generation, public water supply, wetland 47 restoration, groundwater recharge, and waterbody base flow 48 augmentation. 49 (3) The departments shall: 50 (a) Hold two public meetings, at a minimum, to gather input 51 on the study. 52 (b) Provide an opportunity for the public to submit written 53 comments before submitting the report. 54 (4) The report shall be submitted to the Governor, the 55 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 56 Representatives no later than December 1, 2015. 57 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2014.