WEST PALM BEACH WETLANDS-BASED WATER RECLAMATION PROGRAM: SUSTAINABLE WATER MANAGEMENT VIA INDIRECT POTABLE WATER REUSE AND NATURAL SYSTEM RESTORATION

The city of West Palm Beach has experienced stress on its water supply as have many South Florida cities. However, the city is unique in that it is one of the few utilities in South Florida that still utilizes surface water for its primary water supply. The wetlands-based water reclamation program (WBWRP) was developed to reduce the city's dependence on the regional surface water supply system and to provide recharge that increases the surficial aquifer water supply. The benefits of this program have included such items as wetland restoration, indirect potable water reuse, and lake augmentation. This paper will give the reader an overview of the WBWRP, summarize efforts taken to develop the design, including the pilot testing, present water quality data from the startup of the program, and review benefits of this type of program and how it can be applied to other utilities.