20-Year Water Use Permit (WUP)
In 2007, the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department (WASD) received a historic 20-year Water Use Permit   from the South Florida Water Management District. The Permit is a plan for meeting the present and future water needs of the County while protecting natural resources such as the Everglades.

This Permit requires WASD to develop alternative water supply sources and continue with its Water-Use Efficiency Program. The Permit ensures water will be available for Miami-Dade County’s needs and lays the groundwork for very ambitious capital improvements over the next two decades.

Some Of The Alternative Water Supply Sources Include:

1. Reclaimed Water Projects
Reclaimed water is highly treated wastewater that is purified and put to beneficial uses. In Miami-Dade County, this water will be treated using the best technology available that is the national benchmark for achieving the highest quality of reclaimed water. The Department is required to reclaim 170 million gallons per day (MGD) of water.

Irrigation projects
(Estimated Completion Date: 2011)
A percentage of reclaimed water will be used to irrigate golf courses, landscapes and other large expanses that need continuous irrigation. Using reclaimed water will reduce the demand and stress currently being placed on the Biscayne Aquifer.

Groundwater replenishment
(Estimated Completion Date at South District: 2014)
(Estimated Completion Date at West District: 2020)
Also called “Aquifer Recharge,” this process consists of introducing highly purified reclaimed water into the ground to augment the water supply in the Biscayne Aquifer to allow additional withdrawal and treatment for water supply.

Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands Rehydration
(Estimated Completion Date: 2021)
Using reclaimed water to provide additional water supply to the coastal wetlands near Biscayne Bay to help maintain a freshwater balance and to enhance restoration efforts, as well as South Florida’s sustainability.

2. Floridan Aquifer As An Alternative Water Supply
The Floridan Aquifer is located much deeper underground than the Biscayne Aquifer (which has historically supplied all of Miami-Dade County’s drinking water) and is brackish or salty. In order to be able to use this water, it will have to undergo a more expensive and time-consuming treatment process.

Blending with Biscayne Aquifer water
(Ongoing Project)
WASD is pumping water from the Floridan Aquifer and blending it with Biscayne Aquifer water.

Hialeah Reverse Osmosis plant
(Estimated Completion Date: 2011)
Reverse Osmosis is one of the most rigorous treatment processes available, similar to a screen door with microscopic openings. The salty Floridan Aquifer water is pushed through this “screen” with enormous power and pressure, thus eliminating a very high percentage of contaminants.

3. A Comprehensive Water-Use Efficiency Program
Will provide cumulative savings of 19.6 million gallons per day over the next 20 years, based on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s “Conserve Florida” Program Savings will be realized through the implementation of best management practices that include incentives and promote high efficiency technology
for indoor and outdoor water use.

• High-Efficiency Toilet Rebate Program
• High-Efficiency Toilet Full Retrofit Program
• High-Efficiency Clothes Washer Rebate
• Water-Efficient Landscape and Irrigation Evaluation
• Showerhead Exchange and Retrofit Programs
• Green Lodging and Restaurant Program
• WET in the City School Education Program

4. Water Loss Reduction Program
WASD’s Water Loss Reduction Program is expected to produce water savings of 14.25 MGD over the next 20 years. It includes the following components:

• Enhancement of the award-winning distribution system Leak Detection Program
• Comparative accuracy testing on supply well meters
• Comparative accuracy testing on wholesale customer supply meters
• Evaluation of Automated Meter Reading (AMR) with leak monitoring
• Performing a system-wide water audit
• Inventory and reduce unmetered supply
• Conduct field accuracy testing for selected commercial and industrial meters

Download and print our Alternative Water Supply Sources   brochure.