Florida Administrative Code
5 - DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND CONSUMER SERVICES
5L - Division of Aquaculture
Chapter 5L-1 - THE COMPREHENSIVE SHELLFISH CONTROL CODE
Section 5L-1.017 - Water Treatment Standards

(a) All controlled processes require quality tests to determine if standards are being met and if controls are effective. The depuration treatment of shellfish is a controlled process designed to reduce bacterial contamination to an acceptable level, as defined in subsection 5L-1.004(5), F.A.C. Wet storage is designed to enhance the product quality without degradation of market standards as defined in Rule 5L-1.004, F.A.C. To insure the continuing effectiveness of the shellfish depuration treatment process, the minimum sampling procedure as described below shall be followed.

(b) Incoming seawater.

(c) Effluent from UV light treatment unit.

(d) Bacteriological - All water to be used in shellfish treatment tanks shall be subjected to UV light treatment. The water discharged from the UV unit shall have no detectable levels of the coliform group as measured by the recognized multi-tube MPN test per 100 ml for potable water and acceptable for use with marine water and follow the protocol of the Decision Tree (Section IV. Guidance Documents Chapter III .05), as stated in Section II Chapter VII .04 C (1)(f), of the NSSP Model Ordinance as incorporated in Rule 5L-1.001, F.A.C.

(e) Dissolved oxygen - The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water in the treatment tanks shall be at least 5 mg/l and shall be measured daily.

(f) Temperature - Treatment tank water temperature shall be measured daily during the treatment process. Temperature of seawater used in the treatment process shall be suitable for depuration.

(g) Turbidity - Turbidity in the treatment process water shall not exceed 20 N.T.U. (Nephelos Turbidity Units) and shall be measured daily.

(h) Salinity - Salinity of the treatment process water shall be suitable for depuration and shall be measured daily.

(i) pH - pH of the treatment process water shall range from greater than or equal to 7.0 to less than or equal to 8.4 and shall be measured daily.

(j) Metallic ions and compounds - Levels of metallic ions and compounds shall not exceed levels found in approved shellfish harvesting areas and shall be measured if required by the Department.

(k) Pesticides, detergents, and radionuclides - Levels of pesticides, detergents, and radionuclides shall not exceed levels found in approved shellfish harvesting areas and shall be measured if required by the Department.

(l) Marine toxins (Karenia brevis) - Levels of Karenia brevis in the incoming seawater and in the source water shall not exceed 1, 000 cells/liter. Only Department personnel, or personnel approved by the Department, shall determine levels of Karenia brevis.

The following table provides a summary of the depuration treatment process water standards:

(a) Wet storage of shellfish is done to enhance product quality of shellfish that have been harvested from Approved or Conditionally Approved shellfish harvest areas in the open status. Inland wet storage systems are classified by the Department as continuous flow through or recirculating systems. Continuous flow through systems have a continuous flow of new water passing through and exiting the wet storage system before being permanently discharged. Recirculating systems recirculate system water for wet storage cycle. All inland wet storage requires the minimum sampling procedure as described below.

(b) Incoming seawater must be from an Approved or Conditionally Approved shellfish harvesting area in the open status.

(c) Bacteriological Standards - Source water shall be from a shellfish harvest area classified as Approved or Conditionally Approved and in the open status and any well water used as source water shall meet the requirements of Chapter XI .02 of the NSSP Model Ordinance as incorporated in Rule 5L-1.001, F.A.C., with the exception of salt content for salt water wells. Any source water meeting above standards and used in continuous flow through systems do not require the use of additional UV sterilization. Well water from salt water wells must be sampled semi-annually at a minimum. Water used in shellfish treatment tanks for recirculating wet storage systems shall be subjected to disinfection as provided by Department approved disinfection treatment. Systems using one or more UV light units must be rated for both the volume and flow used by the recirculating system. The water discharged from the disinfection treatment system shall have no detectable levels of the coliform group as measured by the recognized multi-tube MPN test per 100 ml for potable water and acceptable for use with marine water and follow the protocol of the Decision Tree (Section IV. Guidance Documents Chapter III .05).

(d) Turbidity - Water that is disinfected by UV light shall not exceed 20 N.T.U. (Nephelos Turbidity Units).

(e) Wet storage using recirculating systems requires the effluent from the disinfection treatment unit to be tested for coliform while in operation but not to exceed once per week.

(f) Other disinfection treatment such as the addition of salt shall not leave residues unless they are Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) and do not interfere with the shellstock's survival, quality or activity during wet storage, as stated in Section II, Chapter VII .04 C (1)(e) of the NSSP Model Ordinance as incorporated in Rule 5L-1.001, F.A.C.