JUPITER, Fla. – Florida Governor Ron DeSantis proposed legislation for the 2020 Florida Legislature to expedite water quality improvements. The proposal incorporates recommendations from the state’s Blue-Green Algae Task Force, which DeSantis created to help the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) protect, conserve and manage the state’s natural resources.
“The health of our state depends on the health and quality of our water,” DeSantis said following a tour of the Loxahatchee River District. “That is why I am proposing legislation to expedite the improvement of our water quality throughout Florida. These comprehensive proposals … will greatly aid the Department of Environmental Protection in our mission to enhance the quality of our state’s most precious natural resource.”
The Blue-Green Algae Task Force received input from a variety of stakeholders and identified runoff from agricultural lands, onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems, sanitary sewer overflows, and stormwater runoff as some of the significant sources of nutrient pollution. The task force also made recommendations to improve the state’s policies and programs to achieve targeted nutrient reductions and protect public health.
“Addressing nutrient impacts will require actions by all stakeholders in Florida and significant water quality changes can only occur when all stakeholders work together,” said DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein. “This legislation is the foundation for implementing necessary actions by the department, local governments and our regulated community based on the task force’s recommendations.”
DEP is expeditiously working to implement the task force’s recommendations, whether through the legislation announced today or other policy changes and actions they can take immediately.
DeSantis’ proposed legislation
Wastewater infrastructure and sanitary sewer overflows
Requires utilities to develop inspection, maintenance and replacement plans for their wastewater systems, rather than allowing these systems to age and fall into despair. Gives DEP the authority to intervene by inspecting these systems and requiring appropriate proactive measures to upkeep wastewater facilities to better avoid future discharges.
Biosolids
Ratifies recent rules adopted by DEP to ensure biosolids are only applied to land high and dry enough to prevent interaction with groundwater.
Septic systems
Transfers septic tank inspection authority from the Department of Health (DOH) to DEP to ensure an accounting of environmental harm caused by septic systems. Requires plans for the improvement of impaired water bodies, known as Basin Management Action Plans, to include septic remediation plans.
Agriculture
Requires DEP to coordinate with top academic institutions and annually send the most updated research to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) to ensure agricultural best management practices are grounded in up-to-date science. Requires onsite verification of best management practices for each enrolled producer at least every two years. Requires DACS to provide DEP and water management districts the types and amounts of nutrients BMP enrollees are tracking on agricultural products.
Stormwater
Directs DEP to adopt rules to ensure that stormwater systems throughout the state reflect up-to-date science and contemplate environmental harm.
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