Florida Advances Direct Potable Reuse: What This Means for Ozone-Based Treatment Systems

A growing number of Florida utilities are taking bold steps toward implementing Direct Potable Reuse (DPR) as a core part of future water supply strategy. As reported by WFTV this week [WFTV, 2024], cities such as Altamonte Springs and others in Central Florida are preparing to convert highly treated wastewater directly into drinking water, bypassing traditional environmental buffers.

This marks a significant step for the state and for the U.S. potable reuse movement more broadly. It also underscores the critical role of advanced oxidation technologies like ozone in meeting the regulatory, chemical, and public health requirements of DPR.

At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we engineer ozone systems for precisely these high-barrier, compliance-driven applications. This blog outlines how ozone fits into the Florida DPR model and the key technical considerations behind its use.

What Florida’s DPR Push Looks Like

The WFTV coverage highlights several facts about Florida’s approach:

• Utilities are preparing to introduce purified water directly into the drinking water supply.
• This will require multiple levels of treatment and real-time water quality monitoring.
• Public outreach and regulatory coordination will be essential.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) is actively working on DPR rule frameworks modeled after successful programs in California and Texas. The technical expectations mirror those states: full pathogen removal credits, trace contaminant destruction, and system redundancy.

The Role of Ozone in DPR: Advanced Oxidation and Contaminant Control

In most DPR configurations, ozone is deployed as part of an Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) often following Reverse Osmosis (RO), or as a standalone polishing step ahead of Biological Activated Carbon (BAC).

Ozone contributes to DPR in five essential ways:

1.  Oxidation of low molecular weight organics, including NDMA and disinfection by-products
2. Hydroxyl radical generation when combined with H₂O₂ or under alkaline pH
3. Destruction of endocrine-disrupting compounds, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals
4. Preconditioning for biofiltration, by increasing biodegradable organic carbon
5. Decomposition into oxygen, leaving no chemical residuals in distribution

“Ozone is essential in advanced reuse for the oxidation of trace organics, enhancement of BAC, and NDMA removal.” — von Gunten, 2003; Tchobanoglous et al., 2014

Key Reactions and Performance Metrics

Ozone decomposition to hydroxyl radicals follows a pH- and dose-dependent sequence:

O₃ + OH^– → HO₂^–

HO₂^– → O₂^–· + H⁺

O₃ + O₂^–· → O₃^–· → ·OH + O₂

The resulting ·OH radicals react with nearly all organic contaminants at diffusion-limited rates (10⁸ to 10¹⁰ M^-1s^-1). These reactions enable:

• >90% removal of NDMA
• Complete oxidation of taste and odor compounds (e.g., geosmin, MIB)
• Substantial reductions in 1,4-dioxane, PFAS precursors, and microbials

Sources: Hoigné & Bader (1983); Westerhoff et al. (2009); TCEQ AOP Test Plan (2021)

Engineering for Florida Conditions: Design Considerations

Florida presents unique technical challenges for ozone-AOP systems:

• High bromide levels in some aquifers increase bromate formation risk
• Alkalinity and hardness require careful pH management and CT modeling
• Warm source water accelerates ozone decay, reducing residual hold time
• Biological filtration systems rely on ozone preconditioning to operate effectively

At Pinnacle, we respond to these challenges with:

• High-precision ozone dosing control, using ORP, UVT, and TOC feedback
• Pressurized contactors for enhanced mass transfer and retention
• Inline H₂O₂ control with customizable molar ratios for optimized radical yield
• Real-time data logging and compliance reporting systems for regulatory tracking

Public Trust and System Reliability

A critical factor in Florida’s DPR rollout is public confidence. Ozone contributes by:

• Eliminating residual taste and odor compounds
• Enabling transparent online monitoring through ORP and ozone residual
• Supporting pathogen inactivation with verifiable log reduction values
• Avoiding chlorine-based DBP formation in post-treatment

Pinnacle’s ozone systems are already field-proven in potable reuse demonstration pilots and are being integrated into full-scale facilities such as the Castle Rock DPR system in Colorado.

Conclusion

Florida’s move toward DPR signals a new era in resilient, data-driven, advanced water reuse. As utilities prepare for implementation, the need for robust, validated oxidation technologies is front and center.

At Pinnacle Ozone Solutions, we are ready to support Florida’s transition—with systems built on sound chemistry, operational control, and field-tested engineering.

Technical References

• von Gunten, U. (2003). Ozonation of Drinking Water: Part I. Oxidation Kinetics and Product Formation. Water Research.
• Hoigné, J. & Bader, H. (1983). Rate Constants of Reactions of Ozone and Hydroxyl Radicals with Organic Compounds. Ozone: Science & Engineering.
• Westerhoff, P. et al. (2009). Contaminant Removal and DBP Formation in Ozone-Based AOPs. Journal AWWA.
• Tchobanoglous, G. et al. (2014). Direct Potable Reuse: Benefits for Public Water Supplies. WateReuse Research Foundation.
• Florida DEP (2024). Draft Rulemaking Framework for Direct Potable Reuse.
• WFTV News (2024). Florida Cities Look to Convert Wastewater Into Drinking Water.