Book Description

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the status and efficacy of effluent management options for the six municipal facilities in Florida's Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade Counties that discharge secondarily treated wastewater through ocean outfalls. Urban water requirements in this region are rising due to rapid population growth, while water supply problems loom due to uncertainties in the time-phasing and funding of water resources projects. The study reviewed previous work describing the effects of ocean wastewater disposal on ocean biota and human health risks as well as past examples of obstacles and successes of water reuse in Florida, the U.S. and abroad. Four alternative ocean outfall strategies, involving varying degrees of reuse, nutrient removal and ocean outfall use, were considered. The alternatives were evaluated at each wastewater treatment plant according to four performance measures: 1) amount of freshwater saved relative to a base case with no reuse, 2) reduction in nitrogen and phosphorus discharged via ocean outfalls relative to the base case, 3) public acceptance, and 4) costs. Management recommendations based on these evaluations are presented.