Wekiva Basin Area Requirements
On July 1, 2018, rules for property owners in the Wekiva Basin became effective. The 2016 Florida Springs and Aquifer Protection Act (Chapter 373, Part VIII) requires the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to do two main things:
- Adopt recovery and prevention strategies to maintain healthy water levels in the aquifer that feeds the springs; and
- Develop plans to manage the basin in a manner that ensures pollution is prevented or removed from the system.
FDEP has determined that septic tanks are a major source of nutrient pollution in the springs. Orange County and other stakeholders are mandated to implement various strategies to reduce total nitrogen levels.
Changes for Septic Tank Owners
Property owners of lots less than one acre with existing septic tanks, within the Priority Focus Area (PFA), will need to upgrade their system to a higher efficiency nitrogen treatment unit or connect to sanitary sewer where available. Please check with the Orange County Health Department for more information as this requirement becomes effective once the Florida Department of Health has finished rulemaking. Please refer to the FAQs for additional details and information.
If you do live in the PFA, see below for information on funding toward your upgrade or connection.