Wekiva Update

Technical Review and Advisory Panel Meeting August 21, 2007

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is close to finalizing the statement of work for the phase two portion of their Wekiva task, which will refine the pie charts published in the phase one desk-top assessment. At this point there is no definite timeframe for this project.
Gerald Briggs, Bureau Chief of the Onsite Sewage Programs, gave a presentation on the historical overview of the Wekiva issue and presented the new proposed rule language. The nitrogen reduction levels set by EPA and DEP are at such a high level that addressing only one source of nitrogen will not solve the problem. It will require a multi-agency approach. He stated that as development increases, the nitrogen load increases, and the extra nitrogen from these new onsite systems would need to be addressed. Onsite systems are a nitrogen source that can be reduced. He pointed out that DEP has set forth requirements to reduce nitrogen from wastewater treatment plants that they regulate. He also stated that older onsite systems that are in the groundwater table and too close to surface water bodies are an area of concern and the proposed rule language improves these systems.
David Carter, Chairman of the Research Review and Advisory Committee, spoke on the committee's position on the project. The last meeting of the RRAC in June resulted in the committee not being comfortable with reaching conclusions on the loading estimates to the groundwater, and wanted more definitive information on loading from other sources. FDEP will be conducting a phase two assessment to reach some of these conclusions, and RRAC felt the need to wait until such time that this has been completed prior to reaching any conclusions. He stated that the committee is comfortable with the input and loading estimates for onsite systems, but not comfortable with the relative significance of these numbers as of yet.
Damann Anderson, with Hazen and Sawyer, stated that he has no problem with the inputs, only with the loadings. The loadings were based on different methods and cannot be compared as they were listed in the DEP phase one report. He is in support of the DOH recommendation number one in the report which outlines the creation of a program to collect discharge fees from all nitrogen sources to fund cost-effective projects. He stated that there are some very good ideas in the department's recommendations, but that performance based treatment systems treating nitrogen to a level of 10 mg/L is not a cost-effective solution.
The point was brought up that springshed pollution is occurring statewide, and is not unique to the Wekiva area. Many counties are adopting their own specific rules.
There was a motion made, seconded, and passed to approve rule language prohibiting land application of septage and food establishment sludge within the Wekiva Study Area.
There was a motion made, seconded, and passed to table all other proposed rule language specific to the Wekiva Study Area until completion of the DEP phase II study. The vote was 7 in favor, with 2 opposed. The two dissenting votes were Patti Sanzone representing the Florida Environmental Health Association and Russ Melling representing the County Health Departments. Both indicated they wanted the panel to discuss each specific proposal. There was debate over the first issue regarding requiring performance based treatment systems for new systems, but the second issue eliminating grandfathering for separation to wet season water table and surface water setbacks and the third issue requiring all systems to be pumped and evaluated every 5-years were both good recommendations that should not only apply to the Wekiva Study Area, but statewide.
Chairman Harper stated that the TRAP only makes recommendations to the department. The department still has the option of moving forward.

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Page last updated September 6, 2007.