In Florida, all wastewater that is not defined as domestic wastewater is considered industrial wastewater. Since Florida is among our nation’s most populous and fastest growing states, industrial wastewater permitting is increasingly important for protection of our state’s most precious natural resource — water.
Sources of industrial wastewater include manufacturing, commercial businesses, mining, agricultural production and processing, and wastewater from cleanup of petroleum- and chemical-contaminated sites. Industrial wastewater discharged under NPDES permits may be subject to federal Effluent Limitations Guidelines (ELG). In addition, all industrial wastewater discharges in Florida must provide reasonable assurance of meeting Florida’s Water Quality Standards for surface water or ground water to receive a discharge permit.
The Department of Environmental Protection's Industrial Wastewater issues permits to facilities and activities that discharge to surface waters and ground waters of the state. Industrial wastewater that discharges to domestic wastewater treatment facilities, however, is regulated under the Industrial Pretreatment component of the department’s Domestic Wastewater.
The Department is authorized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits for discharge to surface waters under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES). Permits for discharge to ground waters are issued by the department under state statutes and rules. Industrial wastewater permits are issued by the district offices, with two exceptions. NPDES permits for steam electric power plants are issued by the Industrial Wastewater in the Tallahassee office. Industrial wastewater permitting for the phosphate industry is handled by the Phosphogypsum Management Program located in Tampa. See information below about recent revision to Department rules.
Revisions to the NPDES Generic Permit for Discharges From Petroleum Contaminated Sites, Rule 62-621.300(1), Florida Administrative Code became effective September 20, 2018. The revisions to the rule include clarifications and updates to the Generic Permit, a new Notice of Intent form and new Notice of Termination form. Links to the revised rule, revised Generic Permit and New Notice of Intent and Notice of Termination forms are below. In addition, Notices of Intent and Notices of Termination of the NPDES Generic Permit for Discharges From Petroleum Contaminated Sites can be completed and submitted online through the DEP Business Portal. This electronic online completion and submittal process is similar to the already available process used for the NPDES Generic Permit for Discharge of Ground Water from Dewatering Operations. Information on how to complete, submit a notice, pay permit fees and how to register to use the Business Portal can be found in our Industrial Wastewater Business Portal Frequently Asked Questions.
Additional information about the revision to this rule can be found in our NPDES Generic Permit for Discharges From Petroleum Contaminated Sites Frequently Asked Questions.
NPDES facilities are required to submit Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMRs) electronically. More information can be obtained at the Electronic Discharge Monitoring Report System (EzDMR) page.
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