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RESOLUTION DIRECTING THE COUNTY MAYOR OR COUNTY MAYOR�S DESIGNEE TO DEVELOP A PLAN FOR THE USE OF RECLAIMED WASTEWATER AND TO PREPARE A REPORT FOR THIS BOARD

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WHEREAS, Miami-Dade County provides water to residents and businesses, and wastewater from homes and businesses is treated at various wastewater treatment plants in the County; and
WHEREAS, treated wastewater may be recycled and used for other purposes, where appropriate, including, irrigation of golf courses and public roadway landscaping, groundwater recharge, and industrial water supply; and
WHEREAS, wastewater that has been treated to the point that it can be used again is known as reclaimed wastewater; and
WHEREAS, for wastewater that is not recycled for other uses, such wastewater may be disposed of in certain approved manners, but such disposal may be expensive; and
WHEREAS, the use of drinking water, where reclaimed wastewater may be substituted, has environmental resource implications and impacts the long-term availability of drinking water for the people of Miami-Dade County; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to section 403.086, Florida Statutes, the discharge of domestic wastewater through ocean outfalls is prohibited after the year 2025, with the exception of specified peak flows; and
WHEREAS, also pursuant to the section 403.086, Florida Statutes, the state of Florida requires that Miami-Dade County have a �functioning reuse system� by December 31, 2025, where a �functioning reuse system� is defined as an environmentally, economically, and technically feasible system that provides a minimum of 60 percent of a facility�s baseline flow on an annual basis for acceptable reuse purposes; and
WHEREAS, in 2010 the County entered into an agreement with Florida Power & Light (FPL) by which up to 90 million gallons of reclaimed wastewater would be used for FPL�s Units 6 and 7, which are two new nuclear power units that are proposed to be built at the Turkey Point Power Plant in Miami-Dade County, meeting both the open-ocean outfall and reclaimed water requirements of the state; and
WHEREAS, in an April 27, 2016 filing with the Public Service Commission (�PSC�), FPL estimated that it would not seek the PSC�s approval to commence preconstruction of Units 6 and 7 until 2020; and
WHEREAS, given this delay, the County�s reclaimed wastewater will not be used for Units 6 and 7 within the timeframe currently prescribed by the state, and consequently it is imperative that the County find alternative uses for reclaimed wastewater; and
WHEREAS, the County will be preparing a Reuse Feasibility Study in connection with its permit from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and this Reuse Feasibility Study is a required element of the County�s wastewater master plan; and
WHEREAS, this Reuse Feasibility Study is expected to be completed in approximately one year, and will include a comprehensive and technical analysis of the potential uses of reclaimed wastewater; and
WHEREAS, the County should develop a plan to maximize the use of reclaimed wastewater, and such plan could logically be combined or included with the County�s Reuse Feasibility Study; and
WHEREAS, such plan should analyze possible uses of reclaimed wastewater to meet the needs of large water users, including, but not limited to, potential opportunities for the County to provide reclaimed wastewater to FPL for uses related to Turkey Point Power Plant Units 3 and 4,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board hereby directs the County Mayor or County Mayor�s designee to develop a plan for the use of reclaimed wastewater, where appropriate, and prepare a report for this Board. The plan shall include recommendations and shall take into consideration both one-time as well as recurring costs and benefits, with the ultimate goal of substantially reducing the disposal of County wastewater in order to more fully utilize reclaimed water as a valuable resource. This plan may be combined or included with the County�s Reuse Feasibility Study. The completed report, together with the Reuse Feasibility Study, shall be placed on an agenda of the Board within one year of the effective date of this resolution, pursuant to Ordinance 14-65.