Validating Miami Dade’s Hydraulic Model Inputs Sets the Ocean Outfall Legislation Program Up for Success

Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department (MDWASD) is undertaking an Ocean Outfall Legislation Compliance Plan Program to meet regulatory requirements that the State of Florida has implemented regarding the discharge of treated sewage to the ocean. One of the tools used by MDWASD in the development of this plan is a hydrologic and hydraulic model. This paper discusses the validation of the peak flow hydrographs that were used to represent the design condition. The design condition is a 2 year 24 hour storm that occurs during the wet season. The main benefit of this project is the validation of the flows for the Ocean Outfall Legislation Compliance Program. This 5.34 (MDWASD 2013) billion dollar program allows for the diversion of flows from the ocean outfalls in accordance with the legislation. The validation process reviewed and documented the approach that MDWASD took to develop the OOLCP flow inputs and evaluated the impacts of climate change and sea level rise on the average and peak flows.