Florida Sets Course to Eliminate Ocean Outfalls

Six existing outfalls along the southeast coast between Delray Beach and Miami currently discharge 300 million gallons a day of treated wastewater into the ocean.

On June 30, Governor Charlie Crist signed into law Senate Bill 1302, which details a set of target dates culminating with the phase out of such outfalls in 2025.

The new law prohibits the construction of new ocean outfall pipes or the expansion of the existing outfalls on the Southeast Florida coast

Wastewater outfall at Delray Beach, Florida (Photo courtesy Surfrider)

"With this law, Florida will protect the coastal environment along the Southeast coast and turn what was a waste product into a valuable water resource - a significant step forward for wastewater policy in our state," said Michael Sole, secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection.

To eliminate the use of ocean outfalls, the law requires each wastewater facility to develop a detailed plan by 2013 to significantly decrease the nutrients discharged through the outfalls by 2018.

Each facility must eliminate the use of outfalls as the primary disposal method for wastewater by 2025.

And finally, each facility must use 60 percent of the water previously discharged from these outfalls for urban and agricultural landscape irrigation, industrial and commercial uses, and for augmenting or recharging surface and groundwater supplies.

Sole said the new law represents the culmination of years of positive momentum and hard work by environmentalists, citizens and public officials across Florida.

"I applaud Governor Crist, the Florida Legislature, our agency staff, and all those involved for their support and hard work on this initiative," he said.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.