1. Home
  2. our work
  3. alternative water supply
  4. reuse
purple reuse pipes

Water Reuse

Water reuse plays an important role in water resource, wastewater and ecosystem management in Florida. When reclaimed water is used, it eases the demand on traditional, often limited, sources of water. By recycling or reusing water, communities can still grow while minimizing or even reducing their impact on the water resources around them. 

Water reuse involves using highly treated domestic wastewater for a new purpose. Reclaimed water systems are continually monitored to ensure the health and welfare of the public and the environment are protected.

Using reclaimed water also reduces discharges to surface waters, recharges ground water and postpones costly capital investments in the development of new, more costly water sources and supplies.

Reclaimed water is an excellent water source:

  • Creates wetlands and enhancing restoration
  • Recharges groundwater
  • Irrigates golf courses, parks and other green spaces
  • Meets urban demands for water to wash cars, flush toilets and maintain ponds and fountains

Read More about Water Reuse. 

​​​​​The following items can be found below on this page:

  • A table showing a broad picture of reuse within the District by county and planning area in the year 2021 (2021 Reuse By Planning Area)
  • A table showing how reuse was utilized within the District by county and planning area in the year 2021 (2021 Reclaimed Water Utilization)
  • An interactive map showing the location of reuse facilities within the District (Water Reuse Facilities in South Florida)
  • A link to a descriptive document (in pdf) providing additional general information on reuse, including some success stories of reuse across the District

Map: Water Reuse Facilities in South Florida

An average of 885 million gallons per day (mgd) of reclaimed water is reused every day in Florida. About 290 mgd of this reuse occurs within the 16-county area of the South Florida Water Management District.

On the map below, zoom in or type a location in the search bar to see water reuse infrastructure operating throughout South Florida. You can click on a facility, pipeline or reclaimed water user to get more information.