20-Year Water Use Permit (WUP)

Welcome to the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department’s (WASD’s) Water Use Permit (WUP) page, also known as “WUP Central”. This is where you can find information related to Miami-Dade County’s 20-Year WUP, issued on November 15, 2007 by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board.

Water Use Permits

The SFWMD is responsible for issuing water use permits that allow cities, counties, private utilities and other large users to withdraw water for various uses. A water use permit allows for the withdrawal of a specified amount of water either from the ground, a canal, a lake or a river.

Miami-Dade County's Water Use Permit  (No. 13-00017-W)  provides for an existing use of groundwater from the Biscayne Aquifer and the Upper Floridan Aquifer for public water supply use.

To ensure that Miami-Dade County has sufficient water supplies for the future, WASD is developing Alternative Water Supplies (AWS). Alternative Water Supply projects will ensure that the Biscayne Aquifer, Miami-Dade County’s primary source of drinking water, is sustainable even with future population growth. The WUP, which expires on November 15, 2027, provides a timeline for development of these AWS projects. 

Another facet of ensuring the sustainability of the Biscayne Aquifer is by conserving water. By improving water use efficiency, Miami-Dade County can meet future water demands without causing harm to our water resources. Find out what you can do to conserve our precious water resources.

The WUP provides Miami-Dade County with a framework for providing future generations with adequate supplies of drinking water. WASD is working hard to make certain that the conditions of the WUP are complied with and that our environment is protected. To follow our progress visit WUP Central to find out the latest WASD WUP news.