用于生产饮用水的膜处理技术是满足佛罗里达州未来供水需求的最有希望的形式之一，尤其是在地下水供应有限的南部和沿海地区。然而，鉴于这项技术的前景，允许浓缩物排放是及时和昂贵的。被授予许可证的最终条件往往会增加运营成本。反渗透浓缩物作为工业废物的分类对整个膜行业构成了障碍。 由于市政反渗透水处理是向公众提供安全饮用水的一种手段，显然不是一种工业过程，因此，反渗透设施的建设和运行最好作为一个水处理许可问题来处理。对于反渗透浓缩物来说，与其他城市处理工艺的副产品（如再生水和生活污水厂残留物）一样，采用单独且不同的分类、标准和指南似乎更合适。佛罗里达州环境监管部确实认识到，在简化和允许膜技术水处理设施的流程方面，需要开发更多信息和帮助。 然而，与任何许可证一样，许可证申请人的最佳辩护理由是对要求的充分理解，以及对许可过程中的预期情况的透彻了解。本文介绍了佛罗里达州和联邦的许可要求，并以两个案例进行了说明。

Membrane treatment technology for producing potable water supplies is one of the most promising forms of meeting future water supply needs in Florida, particularly in the southern and coastal regions of limited and marginal groundwater supplies. Yet, with the promise this technology holds, permitting the concentrate discharge is timely and costly. The final conditions placed on the permittee frequently increase operation costs. The classification of the RO concentrate as an industrial waste poses a hindrance to the membrane industry as a whole. Since municipal RO water treatment is a means for providing safe drinking water to the public and clearly not an industrial process, the construction and operation of RO facilities would be better handled as a water process permitting issue. It would appear more appropriate for RO concentrate to have separate and distinct classification, standards, and guidelines, as do byproducts of other municipal treatment processes, such as reclaimed water and domestic wastewater plant residues. Florida Department of Environmental Regulation does recognize the need to develop more information and assistance in streamlining and permitting process for membrane technology water treatment facilities. As with any permit, however, the permit applicant's best defense is a good understanding of the requirements and thorough knowledge of what to expect during the permitting process. This paper provides an introduction to both state of Florida and federal permitting requirements, illustrated with two case studies.