FL S0796

Authorizes a general permit under Florida law for replacing existing onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (septic systems) with distributed wastewater treatment systems (DWTS), which are integrated networks of advanced closed-tank units remotely operated via electronic control systems

Each distributed wastewater treatment unit (DWTU) must be designed to achieve secondary treatment standards and a minimum of 80 percent total nitrogen removal before discharge to a subsurface application system

Installation of individual DWTUs may proceed without further Department of Environmental Protection action if the permittee submits notification at least 30 days before installation, certified by a Florida registered professional as meeting all applicable design requirements

DWTU design capacity is capped at 10,000 gallons per day for domestic wastewater or 5,000 gallons per day for commercial wastewater, with required setbacks from property lines, water bodies, wells, and utilities, and a minimum 12-inch separation between the drainfield bottom and the seasonal high water table

Permittees must conduct monthly effluent compliance sampling of a representative number of deployed units, perform monthly reporting, annual inspections, recordkeeping, and biosolids management, with licensed operator visitation allowed via electronic control systems; effective date is July 1, 2025