Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Department of Environmental Protection

Water Resource Management

For assistance, call 850-245-2118 or visit https://floridadep.gov/Water

What is the purpose of the program?

The Division of Water Resource Management program is responsible for implementing state laws providing for the protection of the quality of Florida's drinking water, ground water, rivers, lakes, estuaries, and wetlands; reclamation of mined lands; and the preservation of the state's beach and dune systems. The division works closely with the department's Division of Environmental Assessment and Restoration, Division of Water Restoration Assistance, and Florida's five water management districts. Its day-to-day permitting and compliance programs are implemented largely in the department's six regulatory district offices.

What does the program regulate?

The division consists of several programs that perform water facilities regulation, beach permitting and management, and operational support services and functions. The division also serves as Florida's central point of contact for federally delegated water programs, such as National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Stormwater, Source and Drinking Water, and Underground Injection Control (UIC).

The division has regulatory oversight of certain functions of water and wastewater facilities throughout the state such as industrial and domestic wastewater, power plants, municipal separate storm water systems (MS4s), and public drinking water systems. The division regulates certain beach construction and beach, inlet, and port management activities. The division also regulates activities related to the exploration, drilling, and production of oil and gas in Florida. It is organized into the following major regulatory programs.

How safe is Florida's drinking water?

In Fiscal Year 2020-21, 97.24% of public water systems had no significant drinking water quality problems, compared to the legislatively approved performance standard of 94%.

How are these activities funded?

Fiscal Year: 2023-24
Fund Dollars Positions
PROGRAM: WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
26,665,435
216.00
TOTAL
26,665,435
216.00

Updates

Water Utility Workers. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-204, Laws of Florida, which requires the Department of Environmental Protection to issue reciprocal licenses to water utility workers licensed in other jurisdictions and other license applicants who meet certain requirements.

Wastewater and Sewage Treatment. The 2023 Legislature enacted Ch. 2023-169, Laws of Florida, which made a number of changes to wastewater treatment, including

  • requiring sewage disposal facilities to provide advanced waste treatment before discharging into certain impaired waters by January 1, 2033, and for waters impaired after July 1, 2023, facilities must provide advanced waste treatment within 10 years of the designation;
  • prohibiting new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems (OSTDS) within a pollution reduction plans where a sewer is available. New OSTDSs on lots of one acre or less must be a system that achieves at least 65% nitrogen reduction; and
  • requiring local governments to consider the viability of providing sanitary sewer services for developments of more than 50 residents that have more than one OSTDSs per acre within a 10-year planning horizon (excluding rural areas of opportunity) and to update comprehensive plans to include sanitary sewer planning by July 1, 2024.

Where can I find related OPPAGA reports?

A complete list of related OPPAGA reports is available on our website.

Where can I get more information?

Other Reports
2022 Integrated Water Quality Assessment for Florida: Sections 303(d), 305(b), and314 Report and Listing Update, Department of Environmental Protection, April 2022
Annual Assessment of Florida's Water Resources and Conservation Lands 2023 Edition, Office of Economic and Demographic Research

Websites of Interest
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Performance Information


Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

What are the applicable statutes?

Sections 20.255 and 379.2431 and Chs. 161, 369, 373, 376, 378, and 403, Florida Statutes

Whom do I contact for help?

The water resource management contacts website lists phone numbers for each division
Website