Governance of Florida Water and Florida Wastewater

Florida is one of the most highly regulated water environments in the country. With an ever-growing population, total reuse capacity of Florida’s domestic wastewater treatment facilities has more than doubled from 1,116 million gallons per day (MGD) in 2000 to 2,497 MGD in 2023, per the Florida DEP.

Within the state, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is the lead regulatory authority for wastewater and stormwater systems. The state’s authority derives from Chapter 403, Part VI, of the Florida Statutes and from delegated powers from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

To carry out these responsibilities, the DEP has established a series of rules in the Florida Administrative Code that guide permitting, compliance, and oversight of water systems across the state. The DEP is responsible for implementing and enforcing federal laws, most notably the Clean Water Act (CWA) and Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), under delegated authority from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

While the EPA establishes national water-quality standards and oversees programs such as the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), Florida’s DEP manages nearly all NPDES permitting, compliance, and enforcement activities within the state. This shared framework ensures that Florida utilities and municipalities meet both state-specific requirements and federal environmental obligations.

Wastewater Facilities and Disposal in Florida

Florida’s wastewater infrastructure is extensive. More than 4,100 active wastewater facilities operate under the oversight of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Of these, roughly 2,100 facilities are industrial and about 2,000 are domestic wastewater systems.

About one-third of Florida residents rely on on-site sewage treatment and disposal systems (septic systems) to manage their wastewater. These systems are permitted through the Florida Department of Health’s county health departments, working in coordination with DEP and the DEP Onsite Sewage Program.

The remaining population is served by centralized domestic wastewater facilities, which handle collection, treatment, and disposal for communities across the state.

Key Facts About Domestic Wastewater in Florida

• Florida has about 2,000 permitted domestic wastewater facilities, all regulated by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
• Together, these facilities provide more than 2.7 billion gallons per day (BGD) of permitted treatment capacity.
•  generate over 1.5 BGD of treated effluent and reclaimed water, which is managed through methods such as surface water outfalls, deep aquifer injection wells, percolation ponds, and spray fields.

Florida’s Leadership in Water Reuse

• Florida is recognized as a national leader in reclaimed water reuse.
• In 2015, the state reused approximately 738 million gallons per day (MGD) of reclaimed water for beneficial purposes, about 44% of all domestic wastewater flow.

Facility Size and Capacity Distribution for Florida Wastewater

• Roughly 16% of DEP-permitted domestic wastewater facilities can treat more than 1 million gallons per day, yet these larger systems provide over 95% of the state’s total permitted treatment capacity.
• By contrast, about 60% of facilities have capacities under 100,000 gallons per day, but together they account for only around 1% of total statewide treatment capacity.

Source: General Facts and Statistics about Wastewater in Florida

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the state’s lead agency for environmental management and stewardship – protecting Florida's air, water and land.

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