Florida Rural Water Association
2970 Wellington Circle
Tallahassee FL 32309
850.668.2746
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Florida Clean Waterways Act
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On December 11, 2020, The Florida Water Environment Association (FWEA) Utility Council and Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) submitted joint comments regarding the Department's draft amendments to Chapters 62-600, 604, & 620, F.A.C to Maurice Barker, Senior Program Analyst of the Florida Department of Environmental protection.
 Both parties support the rulemakings. Comments and recommended edits were offered to help effectively and efficiently achieve a shared goal of reducing sanitary sewer overflows caused by inflow, infiltration, and other factors that proactive utility asset management can address.
They also expressed appreciation of the open dialogue they have had with FDEP during this rule development process.
Click on the links below for more information:
To read the comments and suggested edits in their entirety, click here.
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NRDC Files Lawsuit Against EPA for CCR Delay
Last week, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) filed a lawsuit against EPA for missing the Consumer Confidence Report (CCR) revisions deadline established by America's Water Infrastructure Act of 2018. more
Senate resolution supports maintaining Trump water rule More than two dozen senators are backing a resolution that urges the Senate to prioritize keeping the Trump administration's Navigable Waters Protection Rule in place. more
WEF Chief Medical Officer Dr. Andrew Sanderson on the Importance of Coronavirus Vaccination for Wastewater Workers more
Two Lawsuits Filed Against EPA's New Lead and Copper Rule Revision One suit was filed by Newburgh Clean Water Project, Sierra Club, United Parents Against Lead, and the NAACP. more
Radhika Fox Named EPA's Top Water Official The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency today announced key members of the agency's incoming leadership team who will advance the Biden-Harris administration's agenda to tackle the climate crisis, advance environmental justice and create clean energy jobs. more
NRWA Urges for Technical Assistance for Rural and Small Communities to Ensure Compliance with the New EPA Lead Rule The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the "final" revisions to lead and copper rule in the Federal Register (link). The great majority of communities regulated by the new rule will be small (under 10,000 population). more
Texas lawmakers to weigh using fracking wastewater to replenish aquifers - The Texas Tribune A recent EPA decision will allow Texas to regulate water discharges from oil drilling operations. more
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Tying South Florida's water woes to climate change as managers plan for the future Palm Beach Post For the first time in its more than 70-year history, South Florida Water ... make keeping homes dry and drinking water flowing more difficult in the future. more
Janet Cruz again tackles clean water in schools with lead contaminant study request Florida Politics Further, Cruz told Florida Politics school maintenance staff can install the filters, saving further funds by not having to hire installers. more
Water main break causes road closures in Fort Lauderdale | Local 10 A 10-inch water main break was reported Wednesday in the eastbound lanes of Southeast 17th Street approaching U.S. 1/Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale's Poinciana Park neighborhood. more
Florida Wins Big in U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FY 2021 Work Plan | South Dade News Leader U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL) applauded the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for supporting Florida's priorities in their Fiscal Year 2021 work plan. more
FGCU's The Water School set to have biggest home on main campus | WINK Southwest Florida's only university is at the forefront of research of the area's unique watershed and gulf. more
Mayor shames contractor for warning public about 'high levels of bacteria' in Fort Lauderdale waterways | Local 10 At the beginning of the year, given all the sewage spills in Fort Lauderdale last year, the city contacted Miami Waterkeeper, a nonprofit organization, to report on the city's recreational water quality. more
Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Irma awarded nearly $100 million | NBC-2 Governor Ron DeSantis announced nearly $100 million has been awarded to 24 Florida communities impacted by Hurricane Irma. more
Historic Water Levels Offer Glimpse of Life in a Restored Everglades | South Dade News Leader Water is the lifeblood of the Everglades. I know this to be true, and I tell other people about it a lot as a science communicator at Everglades National Park. more
Republicans file bill to set up Office of Resiliency, help study sea level rise | Florida Politics Sen. Ray Rodrigues and Rep. Chip LaMarca are spearheading legislation aimed at preparing the state for rising sea levels due to climate change. more
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This Week in Water History
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 January 27, 1916: Municipal Journal article. Water Origin of Typhoid Epidemic. "Lake Charles, La.-Dr. Oscar Dowling, president of the State Board of Health, has been investigating the typhoid epidemic situation here, and has sent Louis Alberta, inspector of the board, to examine the markets, slaughter pens, and all places handling fresh meats, and J. H. O'Neil, sanitary engineer, to make a further survey of the water supply. Up to date there have been reported 153 cases of typhoid fever in Lake Charles and 15 in West Lake, which is practically a suburb, making a total of 168. There are sick at present in both places 90. There have been 12 deaths, 3 of these in West Lake. Investigation has been made and the case history taken of 138 patients. 'Evidence as to the cause of the infection points to the water,' says Dr. Dowling. 'During September and October a number of specimens from the city supply were examined in our laboratories. After repeated analyses, permits to the railroads to use the city water were issued. The city supply is obtained from artesian wells, but in case of fire water from the river is added. This can be made safe by proper treatment and the equipment necessary was installed by the company after condemnation of the water by our board. From lack of supervision the treatment process evidently was not properly carried out.'"
Commentary: That is an understatement. Clearly, the treatment of surface water put into the system to fight a fire was not properly done and people died.
Reference: "Water Origin of Typhoid Epidemic." 1916. Municipal Journal. 40:4(January 27, 1916): 111.
For more articles on what went on this week in water history, click here.
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