Florida Department of Health Launches New Website for New Septic Tank Law Guidelines

- DOH provides homeowners, contractors and communities with information on the new septic tank requirements outlined in HB 1263 - 

TALLAHASSEE – The Florida Department of Health (DOH) today unveiled a new website designed to assist localities on the new septic tank requirements outlined in House Bill 1263. Passed in the 2012 Legislative Session, House Bill 1263, changes the law related to septic system evaluations and empowers local governments to make decisions for their communities. The DOH developed an informational webpage that is customer-friendly with access to information about services and how the law may impact their areas.

Previously, inspection of a septic tank was required every five years. The new law gives local governments the choice of whether or not to adopt an evaluation program for their area. A county or municipality where a first magnitude spring is located must make the decision for their area by January 1, 2013. All other counties may choose whether or not to adopt an evaluation program in their area at anytime.  DOH offers more information on these changes and specific tools to help Floridians understand how these rules affect them personally, including an address look-up for property-owners to see if they are in a first-magnitude spring location. 

Springs are areas where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground. The largest springs are called “first-magnitude” springs. These springs generally discharge 100 cubic feet of water per second or around 64.6 million gallons each day. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) currently lists 33 first magnitude springs in 19 counties and three cities around the state. They are: Alachua, Bay, Citrus, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Hernando, Jackson, Jefferson, Lafayette, Lake, Leon, Levy, Madison, Marion, Suwannee, Volusia and Wakulla counties and the cities of High Springs, Fanning Springs and Weeki Wachee.

Local governments where there is a first magnitude spring must either adopt the evaluation program by passing a local ordinance or opt out by a vote of the governing board. If an evaluation program is passed, a qualified contractor must do the evaluations. The contractors may be a septic tank contractor, a master septic tank contractor, a professional engineer or a certified environmental health professional. If the county or city as adopted a local ordinance, a system owner must have their system evaluated by a qualified contractor every five years. It will include a tank pump-out and certification of the tank.

The website is located at http://myfloridaeh.com/septictanksystems/ . If you have questions, please call your county or city commission or your local County Health Department and request information about septic tank inspections.

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