Ground  Water Program
 

Sources of high quality ground water underlie virtually all of Florida. Ninety percent of this state's population relies on these ground water resources for their drinking water. Additionally, over 50% of all other water needs including agricultural, industry, mining, and electric power generation are supplied by ground water resources. Ground water also serves as the source for Florida’s many springs and provides a significant input to many of Florida’s lakes and rivers.

In DEP, responsibility for ground water is divided into two individual programs – ground water protection and ground water regulatory.

The Ground Water Protection Program is responsible for conducting programs and activities that assess and protect the state’s ground water resources, integrating ground water protection activities into Florida’s watershed program. Activities include conducting basin-scale and detailed ground water evaluations and assessments, development of ground water-surface water interaction assessment tools, management of the USEPA Section 106 ground water grant, management of research and monitoring projects under Florida’s Springs Initiative, oversight of agricultural best management practice ground water monitoring studies, and participation in evaluations of new pesticides that have potential ground water impacts.

Ground Water Protection programs include:

• Ground Water – Surface Water Interaction & Basin Assessment
• Springs Initiative
• Data Assessments & Statistics
• Agrichemical Effects – Pesticides & Best Management Practices (BMPs)
• Technical Support – Ground Water

The Ground Water Regulatory Program is responsible for implementation and support of regulatory programs affecting ground water. The Department of Environmental Protection exercises regulatory authority over ground water quality under Chapter 62-520, F.A.C. In Florida the ground water standards are equivalent to the drinking water standards. By definition, a violation of any ground water standard or criterion constitutes pollution.

Regulatory programs affecting ground water include:

• Underground Injection Control Program (UIC)
• Ground Water Delineation Program
• Florida Unique Well Identifier Program (FLUWID)
• Source Water Assessment and Protection Program (SWAPP)
• Wellhead Protection Program
• Water Well Contractors Information and Violations Clearinghouse

For information about Ground Water Cleanup Target Levels please see:

• Chapter 62-777 F.A.C.
• Guidance Document for Chapter 62-777 F.A.C.
• Bureau of Waste Cleanup – Program and Technical Support

Discharge of Produced Ground Water from any Non-Contaminated Site Activity

Authorizes a generic permit for any person constructing or operating a system discharging produced ground water (i.e. Dewatering System) from any non-contaminated site activity which discharges by a point source to surface waters of the State—designed and operated in accordance with Rule 62-621.250, F.A.C., provided that all the conditions of this rule are met.

• DEP Document 62-621.300(2), F.A.C.

For additional information on rule and permit requirements, please contact the Industrial Wastewater Program at 850-245-8589. For specific sites, please contact the DEP District office covering the area where the proposed discharge will occur. DEP District office contact information can be found at: http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/dist/default.htm.