Mandatory Reuse Program

Rule 62-40.310(d), F.A.C., establishes the mandatory reuse program. It requires water management programs to "Advocate and direct the reuse of reclaimed water as an integral part of water and wastewater management programs."

The water management districts accomplish this by designating "water resource caution areas" for areas with critical water supply problems (existing or anticipated during the next 20 years), and requiring the reuse of reclaimed water from domestic wastewater treatment facilities within these water resource caution areas, unless such reuse is not economically, environmentally, or technically feasible.

Rule 62-40.416 (4), F.A.C., enables the water management district to require reuse of reclaimed water outside of designated water resource caution areas, but only if the following criteria are met:

1. Reclaimed water is readily available;

2. Objective evidence demonstrates that reuse is economically, environmentally, and technically feasible; and

3. The water management district has adopted rules for reuse in these areas.