House Bill 1019, otherwise known as the "Joe Casello Act", is a Florida Bill signed into law on June 16th, 2026, by Governor Ron Desantis. The bill outlines a multi-year timeline to phase out the use and sale of Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF, known in the industry as A-triple-F) in the state, as well as outlines specific sampling requirements for "public entities" disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids or treated effluent. For background on what PFAS are and why they matter to Florida water utilities, see our companion article on PFAS.
The bill requires that "All public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent that have a designed average daily flow of 25,000 or more gallons per day must quarterly conduct at least one biosolids and treated effluent sampling, as applicable, for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate, and submit the results to the department. The sampling must be conducted in accordance with department rules.".
In practical terms, this means any publically owned or operated Domestic Wastewater Treatment Facility (or Biosolids Management Facility) within the State of Florida should expect to sample treated effluent, biosolids, or both, as applicable to their operations and as required by forthcoming FDEP rules. It does not appear that there is an option to submit sample results via EzDMR, and that until further notice facility's must email the results to their respective FDEP District Office's Wastewater program contact.
Is my facility required to sample?
Your facility must sample if it:
- Is a "Public Entity" (e.g., a government-facility, public-private partnership, WWTP serving a school, airport, military facility, etc.)
- Facilities which are required to sample beginning July 1st of 2026 should have received notice from FDEP in the week leading up to and including July 1st. If you are unsure if your facility is considered a "Public Entity", it is recommended to reach out for written confirmation from your local FDEP district office.
- Is a Domestic Wastewater Facility (i.e., one that treats sewage or the water flushed from homes and businesses) or Biosolids Treatment Facility
- Has a designed average daily flow (or permitted capacity) of 25,000 gallons or more per day
At present, there are no exemptions, carve-outs, or exceptions which allow a facility to reduce its monitoring requirements. Any requests for exemption/variance must be requested on an individual basis to your FDEP district office.
PLEASE NOTE: while the wording of the bill states that the sampling is only required by "public entities", there is no exact definition for public entities in Florida Statutes Section 403, or Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62, nor does House Bill 1019 provide a definition. As a result of the lack of definition, there is ambiguity on what facilities are classified as "public entities". Again, it is recommended to ask for a determination in writing from your FDEP district's wastewater program contact.
What does my facility need to sample?
The wording of the bill is that the facilities above must:
"...quarterly conduct at least one biosolids and treated effluent sampling, as applicable, for perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, including perfluorooctanoic acid and perfluorooctane sulfonate and submit the results to the department."
In practical terms, this means your facility must sample either biosolids (the solid residuals most often kept in aerobic digesters) your treated effluent (the cleaned water being discharged from your treatment plant), or both as applicable once per quarter for PFAS. Additionally, if your facility's specific treatment results in multiple different outfalls or discharge points (e.g., some of your water is treated to one standard when discharged at one location, and treated to a different standard at another), it may be required that your facility sample and monitor each discharge location individually each quarter. The bill does not explicitly specify what tests your facility must complete, but it does specify that the sampling must contain results for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS).
How much does PFAS sampling for biosolids cost?
Sampling costs in Florida for PFAS will vary based on your chosen laboratory, but can generally be expected to run anywhere from $450 to $1,000 per test. The gold standard test method for PFAS in wastewater matrices is EPA 1633. Method 1633 is, unfortunately, a pricer test compared to other methods, but it is the only currently approved method to be ran for both biosolids and treated effluent.
Alternatives to Method 1633 are EPA Method 1621 and Method SW-846 8327, but neither are used for standard compliance sampling or are possible to use for biosolids analysis. Please refer to the table below for an at-a-glance view on relevant test information.
| Method | Matrix Approved | Target Compounds | Relative Lab Cost | Regulatory Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EPA 1633 | Biosolids & Effluent | 40 compounds | High ($450–$850) | Standard for Florida Compliance |
| EPA 1621 | Effluent Only | Total Organofluorine | Medium ($200–$350) | Supplemental screening |
| SW-846 8327 | Effluent Only | 24 compounds | Low–Medium ($250+) | Informational / Screening |
At present, it appears that only Method 1633 or methods equivalent in precision to Method 1633 and covering the same scope of PFAS species will be accepted for sake of HB1019 sampling. To confirm if your facility may use an alternative method, it is recommended that you request written confirmation from your local FDEP district prior to taking any samples with non-Method 1633 methods.
Conclusions
Florida's House Bill 1019 (Joe Casello Act) establishes new PFAS monitoring requirements for most public domestic wastewater facilities. Beginning July 1st, 2026, public entities operating domestic wastewater treatment or biosolids facilities with a designed average daily flow of 25,000 gallons per day or greater must collect quarterly PFAS samples from treated effluent and biosolids, as applicable, and submit the results to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
While the law specifically references PFOA and PFOS, compliance sampling can be expected to be conducted using EPA Method 1633, which analyzes a broader suite of PFAS compounds and is currently the accepted method for wastewater and biosolids matrices. Facilities should also anticipate increased laboratory costs and plan sampling schedules well in advance, as PFAS analyses are more specialized than conventional wastewater testing.
Until FDEP issues additional guidance regarding electronic reporting procedures, facilities should coordinate with their laboratory and maintain communication with their FDEP District Office regarding submission requirements.
TLDR
Domestic Wastewater Facilities in Florida permitted to treat ≥ 25,000 gallons per day which are public entities will be required to sample their treated effluent, biosolids, or both as applicable once per quarter for PFAS beginning July 1st of 2026. Tests are expensive and complex and must be completed and certified by officially-certified (NELAP/NELAC) laboratories within the state. If you're unsure if your facility is a public entity, you should reach out to your local FDEP District Office for written confirmation on applicability.
Related terms
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Citation information
Author(s): Jackson Verley
Date of Publication: June 29, 2026
Date of Last Edit: July 1, 2026
Title of the Page/Article: Florida House Bill 1019: PFAS Sampling Requirements for Domestic Wastewater Facilities
Website Name: Verley Environmental