How many sites do you need?
Upstream, downstream, and point-of-entry samples are required.
How long do you need sample for?
Sampling needs to be conducted until the spill point of entry is at or below the same levels as upstream. The time between samples taken is up for the sampler to determine (some do every day, some do every other day, etc.).
What are you testing for and target limit for that class of water?
Do you have to report?
Yes. See procedure below.
Wastewater Incident Reporting:
Spills which are of 1,000 gallons or greater, or which may threaten the environment or public health, are required to be immediately reported by a utility to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) through a toll-free, 24-hour hotline known as the State Watch Office (SWO) at 1-800-320-0519. Any spills which are reported to the SWO should also be reported to the Public Notice of Pollution Board at https://floridadep.gov/pollutionnotice (SEE MORE BELOW).
*Please note that a utility which experiences a spill less than 1,000 gallons is only required to report such incident to the department by notifying their appropriate District Office.
PUBLIC NOTICE OF POLLUTION
Procedure requires there to be report filed with a Public Notice of Pollution (as well as the Statewatch office) for spills 1000+ gallons. They will also give you a confirmation #.
This confirmation number and time reported needs to be included on the “other” line on the Abnormal Event Report (I’ve attached the new working-form that includes this).
In order to file a report with the Public Notice of Pollution, please click the following link and take the few listed steps:
- Select “Submit or Update Notice”
- Select “Initial”
- Enter the spill and facility information
Upon submitting, you will receive an email confirmation with a public pollution notice number. Include this four digit number in the “Other” section of the Abnormal Event Report.
Here is the link to a PowerPoint presentation that goes more into depth about what PNPs are/do: https://floridadep.gov/sec/sec/documents/public-notice-pollution