• Topics: Soil and Water Science  |  Wetlands  | Wastewater Management  |  DeBusk, William F 

Treatment Wetlands in Florida¹

Introduction

Constructed and natural wetlands have become an increasingly attractive alternative for wastewater treatment in Florida (Table 1). Wetland systems for treatment of domestic wastewater are regulated under the Wetland Application Rule, Chapter 62-611, Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C). This rule controls the quality and quantity of wastewater that can be discharged to wetlands, and the quality of water discharged from wetlands to contiguous surface waters. It also establishes permitting procedures and monitoring requirements for wastewater discharges to wetlands. The wastewater to wetlands rule recognizes four distinct types of wetland treatment systems: natural receiving wetlands, natural treatment wetlands, hydrologically-altered treatment wetlands, and constructed (or "man-made") wetlands.

Types of Treatment Wetlands

Natural receiving wetlands are unaltered wetlands receiving AWT quality wastewater. Natural treatment wetlands are unaltered wetlands receiving nitrified secondary effluent. The rule limits hydraulic loading rates to natural wetlands to 2 inches per week. Areal mass N loading rate is limited to 25 grams per square meter per year (g m^-2 yr^-1) and P loading is limited to 3 g m^-2 yr^-1. Wastewater discharge to natural herbaceous wetlands is prohibited except for wetlands dominated by cattails.

Hydrologically-altered wetlands are defined in the rule as wetlands in which the hydrologic regime has been significantly altered by drainage activities occurring prior to 1985. Hydraulic loading rates of up to 6 inches per week are permitted. Allowable nutrient loading rates are triple those for natural wetlands. No hydrologically-altered wetlands have been permitted to date, but several are in the design stage.

There are no fixed hydraulic of nutrient loading limits for constructed wetlands, but reasonable assurance must be provided that the project will provide treatment and will function as viable wetlands habitat. Wetlands constructed for mitigation purposes may not serve as treatment wetlands, but they can be used as receiving wetlands.

Monitoring requirements

Monitoring requirements vary among the different wetlands types. Biological monitoring is required for all except constructed wetlands. Water quality and sediment monitoring are required for all wetlands types, but requirements are significantly relaxed for receiving wetlands.

Treatment wetlands also can be operated with an experimental exemption under rule 62- 600.120. Loading rate restrictions for "experimental" wetlands can be less stringent than those for wetlands permitted under Chapter 62-611, but monitoring requirements usually are more intensive. Monitoring requirements for experimental wetlands are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Recent revisions to the Reuse Rule, Chapter 62-610, F.A.C., recognize wetland creation, restoration, and enhancement as forms of reuse. This allows use of wetland treatment projects to satisfy certain requirements of the state antidegradation policy. Any surface water discharges from wetland projects classified as reuse remain subject to applicable water quality standard and require NPDES discharge permits.

Contacts

Information about Florida's Wastewater to Wetlands program can be found on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's (FDEP) web site at the following address:

http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wastewater/dom/wetinfo.htm

or by contacting the FDEP Domestic Wastewater Section, 2600 Blair Stone Road, MS 3540, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400; (850) 922-4314.

References

DeBusk, T.A., and P. Krottje. 1996. The use of wetlands for wastewater treatment: a Florida overview. In Proceedings of the Florida Water Resources Conference, May 5-8, 1996, Ft. Meyers, FL.

Tables

The Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is an Equal Opportunity Institution authorized to provide research, educational information and other services only to individuals and institutions that function with non-discrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations. For more information on obtaining other extension publications, contact your county Cooperative Extension service.

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Florida, IFAS, Florida A. & M. University Cooperative Extension Program, and Boards of County Commissioners Cooperating. Millie Ferrer-Chancy, Interim Dean.

• Copyright 2009 |
• Site Feedback |
• About This Site