“The new 20-year CUP agreement represents a major milestone—a historic moment, if you will, for Miami-Dade County,” said John W. Renfrow, P.E., Director of WASD.  “It is the culmination of many months of hard work and negotiations between WASD and the SFWMD on an issue of great importance, Miami-Dade County’s present and future water supply.” 

An essential component of the CUP agreement was WASD’s implementation of a number of water supply alternatives to the Biscayne Aquifer.  Since the availability of the Biscayne Aquifer is limited, the State had required the County to identify sources of water other than the Biscayne Aquifer to meet future demands. 

WASD has already begun addressing the State’s concerns by putting its Water-Use Efficiency plan into action, measurably reducing the consumption of water.  The Water-Use Efficiency plan is expected to account for 20 % of the growth in demand for water in Miami-Dade, over the life of the CUP.  Miami-Dade County has also committed to an aggressive $1.9 billion multi-year capital expansion plan that will provide alternative water supply to the County. 

Several projects form part of this plan.  These include a reclaimed water component, for irrigation and groundwater replenishment; rehydration of the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands; design and construction of the new West District Water Reclamation Plant; and design and construction in three phases of an Upper Floridan Reverse Osmosis plant with the City of Hialeah.