Section 5L-1.015 - Depuration and Wet Storage Facility Operations(1) All plans for construction or remodeling of depuration or wet storage facilities shall be reviewed and approved by the Department. Approval is contigent upon the plan meeting the criteria in Rules 5L-1.005 and 5L-1.010, F.A.C.(2) Operating procedures for conducting depuration or wet storage shall be reviewed and approved by the Department. Approval is contigent upon the plan meeting the criteria in Rules 5L-1.005 and 5L-1.010, F.A.C.(3) The Department shall be immediately notified in writing of any changes in equipment or operating procedures.(4) Source of shellfish - Shellfish shall be accepted for treatment at a depuration or wet storage facility only from areas specified by the Department pursuant to Rule 5L-1.009, F.A.C. The facility supervisor or designated representative shall inspect all containers of untreated shellfish upon arrival at the depuration or wet storage facility to verify that they contain the species and quantity stated on the receiving record.(5) Shellfish containers - Shellfish shall be accepted for depuration or wet storage treatment and released after treatment in clean containers only. All containers shall be constructed of non-absorbent and rust-proof material, and kept clean and free from foreign matter. Burlap bags or similar absorbent material shall not be used in the treatment tanks, nor for the transportation of shellfish from the facility.(6) Culling - All untreated shellfish, prior to, or upon arrival at the facility, shall be thoroughly inspected and culled by personnel under the supervision of the facility supervisor or designated representative. All dead shellfish or shellfish in broken or cracked shells shall be destroyed. The facility supervisor or designated representative shall be responsible for the culling and the removal and disposal of dead shellfish or shellfish with broken or cracked shells both before and after treatment.(7) Washing shellfish - All shellfish shall be thoroughly washed prior to and after treatment. Immersion of shellfish for washing purposes is prohibited.(8) Containers used in treatment process - All containers used in the treatment process shall be easily cleanable, designed for easy handling, and made of impervious material. Containers shall be of such design to allow water to flow freely over the shellfish in the treatment tanks. Containers shall not be filled beyond the level which will allow free circulation of water during the treatment process. The height of the shellfish in the containers shall be stacked to allow sufficient cleansing. Containers shall be stacked to provide clearance between shellstock and tank bottom as to allow free circulation of water. Containers used for treatment purposes shall not be used for any other purpose, and no containers or other equipment shall be placed in the treatment tanks.(9) Shellfish treatment - All shellfish, upon receipt at the facility, shall be promptly treated or placed in controlled storage. Shellfish from an approved or conditionally approved harvest area which are to undergo wet storage shall be segregated from shellfish destined for depuration from a restricted or conditional restricted harvest area. Shellfish for wet storage shall be treated by a Department approved scheduled wet storage process (SWSP). Shellfish from restricted or conditionally restricted waters shall undergo a Department approved scheduled depuration process (SDP).(10) Washing treatment tanks - All systems must be cleaned and sanitized before any lot of shellfish is placed into the treatment tanks. After each 24 hours that the shellfish are in the depuration treatment tanks, the seawater in the tanks shall be drained out and the shellfish hosed down thoroughly. Feces, pseudo-feces, and any other waste matter must be flushed out of the tank. Immediately after hosing, the tanks shall again be filled with treated seawater. Treatment tanks employing some form of refrigeration shall be drained and thoroughly washed after each depuration period or lot of shellfish depurated.(11) Treatment tank design specifications - water flow must be maintained at a minimum of one gallon per minute per bushel of shellfish or the flow rate recommended by the disinfection systems manufacturer to attain the flow and volume necessary for maximum disinfection. System piping shall include backflow and back siphonage protective devices and be constructed for easy cleaning either directly or through gasket or compression joints.(12) Ultraviolet (UV) Unit: (a) Any UV unit used for the purification of water to be used in the treatment process shall provide the required treatment to non-detectable coliform bacteria level for the duration of storage. The unit shall be designed to deliver, at peak load the flow rate recommended by the disinfection systems manufactures to attain the flow and volume necessary for maximum disinfection.(b) Cautions and maintenance.1. UV tubes shall either be checked for intensity on a monthly basis or the hours the tubes are used. The bulbs shall be replaced when they reach a point of 60% efficiency or upon the manufacturer's maintenance, which ever occurs first. A log of intensity or hours shall be kept and an orderly numbering procedure for UV units and bulbs established. A record of UV tube replacement shall be maintained.2. UV tubes and reflectors shall be kept cleaned. Cleaning shall be done with a clean damp cloth or sponge. A cleaning schedule shall be recorded on the sanitation record.3. Signs stating "Ultraviolet Light Danger to Eyes - Do Not Look at Bulbs Without Eye Protection" shall be displayed in full view of personnel and authorized visitors. Eye, head, and skin protection, especially for the face and hands, shall be provided for personnel monitoring the bulbs.4. An automatic shutoff switch shall be provided to break the electric circuit, thus shutting off the current to the UV bulb when the lid of the UV unit is raised.5. In depuration facilities a tamper-proof hour meter shall be installed in line with all UV units to measure continuity of operation as well as to measure bulb life. A log which documents meter readings taken at the beginning and end of each depuration cycle shall be maintained for each UV unit.Fla. Admin. Code Ann. R. 5L-1.015
Rulemaking Authority 597.020 FS. Law Implemented 597.020 FS.
New 1-4-87, Amended 8-10-88, Formerly 16R-7.021, Amended 7-3-95, Formerly 62R-7.021, Amended 8-9-00, Amended by Florida Register Volume 43, Number 045, March 7, 2017 effective 3/23/2017, Amended by Florida Register Volume 45, Number 054, March 19, 2019 effective 4/2/2019.New 1-4-87, Amended 8-10-88, Formerly 16R-7.021, Amended 7-3-95, Formerly 62R-7.021, Amended 8-9-00, 3-23-17, 4-2-19.