EPA v. OKALOOSA COUNTY WATER AND SEWER SYSTEM

Case summary

JUNE 02, 2026 - ADMINISTRATIVE COMPLIANCE ORDER This Administrative Compliance Order ( Order ) is issued to Okaloosa County Water and Sewer System Public Water System ( Respondent ) pursuant to the authority vested in the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) by Section 1414(g) of the Safe Drinking Water Act ( SDWA ), 42 U.S.C 300g-3(g). The Administrator has delegated this authority to the Regional Administrator of EPA Region 4, who has, in turn, delegated this authority to the Director of the Enforcement and Compliance Assurance Division. Respondent owns and operates the Okaloosa County Water and Sewer System public water system ( PWS ), located in Fort Walton Beach, Okaloosa County, Florida, PWS ID No. FL1460506. Okaloosa County Water and Sewer System ( System ) provides water for human consumption to a population of approximately 85169 persons. Respondent's PWS provides piped water for human consumption and regularly serves at least 15 service connections and/or at least 25 residents and is therefore a public water system as defined by Section 1401(4) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(4), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2, and is also a community water system ( CWS ) as defined by Section 1401(15) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(15), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2. Respondent's ownership and operation of the System makes it a supplier of water within the meaning of Section 1401(5) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300f(5), and 40 C.F.R. 141.2. On October 23, 2018, the SDWA was amended in accordance with the America's Water Infrastructure Act ( AWIA ) of 2018 (Public Law 115-270). In relevant part, AWIA amended Section 1433 of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2. Section 1433(a)(1)(A) of the SDWA requires a CWS serving more than 3,300 persons to conduct a Risk and Resilience Assessment ( RRA ) of its system. A CWS serving a population of between 50,000 and 99,999 was required to certify to the EPA that it had completed and/or revised the RRA no later than December 31, 2020 and so forth at least once every five years after the initial applicable deadline. See SDWA 1433(a)(3); 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a)(3). Section 1433(b) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(b), requires a CWS serving more than 3,300 persons, to prepare or revise, where necessary, an emergency response plan ( ERP ) that incorporates the findings of the RRA no later than six months after certifying completion of its RRA. Each CWS serving a population of between 50,000 and 99,999 was required to certify to the EPA that it had completed and/or revised the ERP no later than June 30, 2021 and so forth at least once every five years after the initial applicable deadline. See 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(b). Respondent's CWS serves a population between 50,000 and 99,999. Based on information available to the EPA, the Respondent failed to certify that it has reviewed and revised, where necessary, the RRA, as specified in Section 1433(a)(3)(B) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2(a)(3)(B), for its water system, in violation of Section 1433(a) as an applicable requirement of the SDWA. Based on the FINDINGS, and pursuant to the authority of Section 1414(g) of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300g-3(g), the EPA is issuing this Order to place the Respondent on an enforceable schedule to comply with requirements of Section 1433 of the SDWA, 42 U.S.C. 300i-2. The EPA hereby ORDERS: Within 30 days of the Effective Date of this Order, Respondent shall review and, if applicable, revise its RRA, as required by Section 1433(a)(3)(B) of the SDWA. Within 30 days of the Effective Date of this Order, Respondent shall submit its certification for the completion of its RRA, as required by Section 1433(a) of the SDWA, to the EPA Administrator.

Defendants (1)

• OKALOOSA COUNTY WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMNamed in settlement

Facilities (1)

• OKALOOSA CO.WTR.; SWR.SYSTEM-PLANT FOR WELL 4 (SEASHORE #4)

  1804 LEWIS TURNER BLVD., FORT WALTON BEACH, FL, 32547

  Registry ID: 110013193034

Statutes cited

• SDWA 1433 — Intentional Acts

Enforcement conclusions (1)

• OKALOOSA COUNTY WATER AND SEWER SYSTEMentered 2026-06-02

  Primary law: SDWA

Timeline (3 milestones)

• 2026-06-02Final Order Issued
• 2026-06-04Enforcement Action Data Entered
• 2026-06-24Enforcement Action Closed