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Vulnerability Assessments, Emergency Response Plans, Cybersecurity Training, Safety Assessments, Rate Studies, Diamond Maps,

Asset Management Plans, Water Audits, Leak Detection

Did you know we can assist you with all of these things?

Do you know your circuit rider?

Give us a call and see how we can help you.

Hurricane Readiness… it’s never too early to get your plan in place.

Protecting Underground Utilities from directional drill contractors is a theme we are hearing from many of you. If you are faced with challenges for Sunshine 811 ticket response please let us know so we can advocate for future changes in rulemaking.

Collection System Action Plans, (CSAP) is the new rule being implemented into your wastewater permit renewals. Are you prepared for this? FRWA has a starter template to provide to you for use with your CSAP’s.

The Florida Rural Water Association suggested to the Senate panel that state regulators need authority to consider efforts being made by utilities on a case-by-case basis.

As reported by Politico, a representative of sewage treatment utilities asked a state Senate committee Tuesday to consider making changes to a 2021 state law that sets a goal of eliminating plant discharges by 2032.

Alicia Keeter, executive director of the Florida Rural Water Association, told the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee that state regulators need authority to consider efforts being made by utilities on a case-by-case basis.



The 2021 changes in S.B. 64 established a goal of eliminating "non beneficial" discharges from sewage treatment plants by 2032. Utilities can meet the requirements if 90 percent of treated wastewater is being reused.

Keeter said deadline delays and more funding are needed to help many utilities meet the law's requirements. And she said regulators need to consider loosening restrictions for utilities that are making efforts to meet the law's requirements.

"Maybe not the 90 percent [reuse requirement]," Keeter said. "Maybe those numbers are considered for a 50 to 75 percent reduction."

She made her remarks to the committee after a panel of sewage treatment system managers described their efforts toward and the challenges of meeting the 2021 law requirements.

State Rep. Randall "Randy" Maggard (R) of Dade City said in 2021 that he was sponsoring the House version of the bill so Florida would quit wasting 990 million gallons per day in discharges, even as Florida was facing future water shortages.

He said utilities had known for years that the requirements in his legislation were coming. Maggard added his bill originally contained an exception for utilities facing hardships, but that was amended out of the bill.

"What we found as we went around the state, everybody had a hardship," Maggard told a House committee in 2021. "If we always have a hardship, we will never get to the safe use of water, which we desperately need."

Bill Freeman, the city engineer for Flagler Beach, told the Senate committee Tuesday that his city has raised rates to build a new treatment plant to meet higher standards. But he said the city still does not have a place to send the wastewater to be reused.

"Our budget is approximately $8 million a year for utilities," Freeman said. "Just trying to find what to do with our wastewater is the biggest challenge at this time."

State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R) of Doral, the committee chair, told POLITICO after the meeting it was too early to know whether there would be legislation addressing the 2021 law requirements.

The Bill is being filed prior to March 4, the start of the legislative session.

The 2025 Focus on Change agenda should be in your mailbox soon. If you want to take a sneak peak, click here for all the details. As you can see this year's topics are some of the most timely in the industry!

Be sure to take advantage of early bird registration now to avoid the price increase if you are not registered at least five days prior to each event.

To register online, click on the location below. To complete a registration form and register by mail, click here. For complete information, click here.

See you there!

The deadline of March 31st is fast approaching for submitting your application for this year's Curtis E. Lloyd Scholarship. The Florida Rural Water Association (FRWA) offers five scholarships for up to $1,000 each to assist outstanding high school and college students realize their potential in tomorrow's water and wastewater industry. FRWA will award one scholarship to a deserving individual in each Water Management District annually. Scholarship funds may be used for tuition, educational fees, books, and/or room and board.  

The Curtis E. Lloyd Scholarship Program was created by the FRWA Board in 2008 in memory of one of its longest serving Circuit Riders. Mr. Lloyd joined the FRWA staff in 1980 and worked for the association for seventeen years. He retired in 1997 and stayed active until his untimely death in December 2007.

For more detailed information and to complete an application click here. If you need further assistance, please email Amanda.Read@frwa.net.

Remember, the deadline for applying is March 31st so get your application in today!

NATIONAL NEWS

EPA Administrator Zeldin’s Message to Agency Staff: “It’s Time to Return to the Office”-On Tuesday, February 18, 2025, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin released a video on social media urging staff to return to full-time work in the office. more

Water Sector Natural Disaster Threat Briefing-Extreme Weather Preparedness and Power Resilience-On February 26, WaterISAC will convene its quarterly Water Sector Natural Disaster Threat Briefing. Presenters will discuss natural hazards impacting the water and wastewater sector. more

ICYMI: Administrator Lee Zeldin Announces EPA Found Billions of Dollars Parked at an Outside Financial Institution by Biden Administration-WASHINGTON – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced that the agency found $20 billion dollars parked at a financial institution by the Biden-Harris Administration to fund partisan pet projects. more

Water Coalition Against PFAS Extends Support For Bipartisan Introduction of Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act-The Water Coalition Against PFAS, a coalition of drinking water and wastewater sector organizations, supports today's reintroduction of the Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act. more

Rural America Relies on Rural Development-USDA Rural Development Water and Environmental Programs has consistently supported rural communities in completing necessary upgrades to their water and wastewater facilities. more

Jessica Kramer Nominated as EPA’s Assistant Administrator for Water-On Tuesday, February 11, President Trump nominated Jessica Kramer as EPA’s Assistant Administrator for more

Reintroduced bipartisan legislation protects utilities, ratepayers from PFAS costs-The Water Systems PFAS Liability Protection Act was reintroduced by Representatives Gluesenkamp Perez and Maloy. more

STATE NEWS

EPA Announces $147M WIFIA Loan to Increase Drinking Water Reliability in South Florida-Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin announced a $147 million Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) loan to Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.

more

THE FLORIDA SENATE-Today Senator Simon will file legislation that brings to life Florida’s rural renaissance. more

Palm Coast water bills are likely going up. Here's how both population growth and also aging infrastructure play a role-Counting all increases, utility bills could go up more like $50 by October 2027. more

Sanford Republican leads state Senate effort to revamp water management districts-A Florida Senate committee Tuesday will consider a plan that would make wide-ranging changes in the state’s water management districts, with backers saying the proposals would boost transparency and help the districts focus on their “core” mission. more

Dredging project begins Monday at Lake Worth Inlet. Here's how long it will last-Dredging at the Lake Worth Inlet in Palm Beach will begin Feb. 17 for 5-6 weeks, the town said in a statement. more

Wide-ranging bill would bar public water systems from adding fluoride to Florida water supplies-With the backing of Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson, a Senate Republican on Thursday filed a wide-ranging bill that would bar public water systems from adding fluoride to water supplies. more

A new $148M JEA wastewater treatment facility in Duval County, its first in decades, is now operational-It’s been decades since Duval County had a new water treatment facility. more

Evans Road in Melbourne Set for Closure for Drainage Improvements Beginning in March-

The project will prompt a temporary closure of the roadway at West Hibiscus Boulevard starting in mid-March, with an estimated reopening in August. more

February 17, 1916: Municipal Journal article. Fertilizer from Activated Sludge.  “Milwaukee, Wis.-The sewerage commission that is directing the construction of Milwaukee’s modern system of sewage disposal with a big plant on Jones island, operated by the new activated sludge method, is about ready to experiment with the sludge deposits left after streams of sewage have been purified. Chief engineer Hatton believes that this sludge can be manufactured into a commercial fertilizer which will command a market value ranging from $10 to $20 per ton. If the experiments are successful the sludge will be the source of considerable revenue which will decrease the operating expenses of the system which with its large intercepting sewers draining the whole city, will cost $10,000,000 or more. A special building will be erected for the treatment of the refuse to be worked into fertilizer form. Nine of the large concrete tanks recently built for the treatment of continuous flows of sewage are in operation and the other two will soon be ready.”

FLORIDA RURAL WATER ASSOCIATION http://www.frwa.net

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