United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
4606
EPA816-F-00-022
June 2000
&EPA
EPA Proposes A New Rule to
Protect Underground Sources
of Drinking Water from
Wastewater Disposal
in South Florida
Why is this rule needed and why does it only pertain to South Florida?
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has just
proposed a new rule to further protect underground sources of drinking
water in South Florida. Why only South Florida? Florida is the only
State in the country that disposes of domestic wastewater through deep
injection wells, typically 2,000 to 3,400 feet deep. The wastewater is
injected into deep geologic formations, in some locations known as the
" Boulder Zone". The Boulder Zone is located below groundwater
supplies that are currently used or may be used in the future as a source
of drinking water. Drinking water supply sources are typically a few
hundred feet deep and, therefore, far above the Boulder Zone.
These injection wells are used in Florida for two reasons:
1. The Boulder Zone and other deep formations in Florida
like the Boulder Zone are unique geologic formations that
can accept large quantities of wastewater.
2. There are severe local restrictions on other types of
wastewater disposal alternatives, such as discharge to
surface water.
Northern Florida and other States do not have these geologic features
that can accept large quantities of wastewater and therefore generally use
surface water disposal. These wells inject about 450 million gallons of
domestic wastewater every day, accounting for about one third of the
wastewater generated in the State. The wells are regulated by the State
of Florida under their Underground Injection Control Program and
designated as Class I municipal wells.
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Hydrogeologic Cross Section
in South Florida
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Current federal requirements for this well type:
S do not allow the injection to cause any fluid to move into the underground sources of drinking water
(USDW); and
S do not place any limits on the quality of the wastewater being injected.
The layer that South Florida has relied upon to completely confine all fluid movement is not preventing the
wastewater from three facilities from moving into the lower USDW. About 40 other Florida facilities inject
wastewater into similar geological formations and the injected fluids may move into the lower USDWs in the
future.
EPA has been evaluating alternatives to solve this problem and is committed to finding a solution that continues to
protect Florida's underground sources of drinking water while at the same time protects Florida's surface waters,
ocean beaches, and shallow ground water resources.
What is EPA's Proposal?
EPA proposes to change the requirements that must be
met by the owners or operators of existing Class I
municipal (public and private) injection wells, giving
facilities an alternative method of complying with UIC
regulations while ensuring the USDWs are protected.
The new rule would allow fluid to move into the
USDW, but would place more stringent requirements on
facilities to ensure that those USDWs are not
endangered. The facilities would have to demonstrate
that the injection would not cause any USDWs to
exceed primary drinking water regulations and other
health based standards.
Specifically, EPA is proposing and seeking public
comment on two options:
Option 1 - Advanced Wastewater Treatment with
Non-Endangerment Demonstration: The owner
and/or operator would have to treat the waste by
advanced wastewater treatment and high-level
disinfection and demonstrate that the injected fluids
would not cause USDWs to exceed the national primary
drinking water regulations and other health-based
standards. The demonstration would assure the State
and EPA that the USDW would not be endangered.
Option 2 - In-depth Hydrogeologic Demonstration
and Advanced Treatment, as Necessary: The owner
and/or operator must demonstrate that the injected fluid
would not cause USDWs to exceed the national primary
drinking water regulations and other health-based
standards. If the owner and/or operator cannot
successfully make this demonstration, they must treat
the injectate to such a level that the injected fluids
would not cause such exceedances in the USDW.
Under this option, each affected facility must have in
place, by 2015, advanced wastewater treatment and
high-level disinfection. EPA proposes this 15-year
period to give the facilities enough time to plan, design,
and build wastewater reuse and disposal alternatives.
How are Options 1 and 2 different?
Option 1 requires all facilities to provide additional
treatment of the wastewater plus demonstrate that any
fluids which enter the USDW do not cause a violation
of any National Primary Drinking Water Regulation and
do not exceed any health based standards (e.g., federal
or State health advisories).
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Option 2 is designed to provide the same level of public
health protection as Option 1 but the level of treatment
that would be required would be determined by an in-
depth study on a case-by-case basis.
Although both options require demonstrations from the
owners or operators of the affected facilities, the
demonstration required under Option 1 could be less
extensive than the hydrogeologic demonstration
required under Option 2.
Is EPA seeking public comment on other
aspects of the rule?
EPA plans four public hearings to solicit comments on
the proposal, and will accept written comments for 60
days following the publication of the proposed rule in
the Federal Register. In addition to seeking comment
on Options 1 and 2, EPA is seeking comment on the
following questions:
• • Should the proposed rule apply only to existing
wells, or should it also apply to new Class I
injection wells in the areas of Florida defined by
the rule?
• • What should be the minimum treatment
requirements under Option 1?
• • What level of treatment should be required of
facilities that inject wastewater in the year 2015
under Option 2?
• • Are the assumptions that EPA used in the
economic analysis in support of this proposed
rule appropriate?
Hfi --- iltMllHl I. , Pr:'.li
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How can I comment on this proposed rule?
EPA will accept written comments during the 60-day
public notice period immediately following the proposed
rule's publication in the Federal Register. Please send
your comments to:
Nancy H. Marsh
U.S. EPA Region 4
Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center
61 Forsyth St., SW
Atlanta, GA 30303
EPA also will accept written and oral comments at four
public hearings, two each in Tampa and West Palm
Beach, Florida. The Tampa hearings will be held at the
Travelodge, 820 East Busch Boulevard from 1:00 p.m.
to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on
Tuesday, August 22, 2000. The West Palm Beach
public hearings will be held at the The Sheraton West
Palm Beach Hotel, 630 Clearwater Park Road from 1:00
p.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on
Thursday, August 24, 2000.
How can I get more information?
The proposed rule, "Revision to the Federal
Underground Injection Control (UIC) Requirements for
Class I-Municipal Wells in Florida," was published in
the Federal Register on July 7, 2000. The proposed
rule and other supporting information is available from
the EPA Region 4 Web site:
www.epa.gov/region04/uic/uicindex.htm.
For additional information, contact Nancy Marsh
(404) 562-9450 or Howard Beard (202) 260-8796.
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