Currently, two projects involve the advanced treatment of wastewater. This pilot project will address water quality issues associated with discharging reclaimed water into natural areas such as the West Palm Beach Water Catchment Area, Biscayne National Park, and the Bird Drive Basin as well as determine the level of superior treatment and the appropriate methodologies for that treatment.

A series of studies will be conducted to help determine the level of treatment needed. A pilot facility will be constructed in south Miami-Dade to determine the ecological effects of using superior, advanced treated reuse water to replace and augment freshwater flows to Biscayne Bay and to determine the level of superior, advanced treatment required to prevent degradation of freshwater and estuarine wetlands and Biscayne Bay. The constituents of concern in wastewater will be identified and the ability of superior, advanced treatment to remove those constituents will be determined.

The City of West Palm Beach is constructing a pilot facility to treat wastewater from the East Central Regional Wastewater Treatment Facility using advanced and superior wastewater treatment processes to remove nitrogen and phosphorus. After treatment, the wastewater will be used to restore 1500 acres of wetlands and to recharge wetlands surrounding the City of West Palm Beach's wellfield. A portion of the treated wastewater will be used to recharge a residential lake system surrounding the City's wellfield and a Palm Beach County wellfield. In addition to the monitoring performed by the city, CERP will also monitor the site and apply the data to potential reuse sites in West Miami-Dade.

The research associated with West Palm Beach and West Miami-Dade will be performed under Part 1 of the pilot project. Part 2 of the pilot project will involve construction at a pilot facility in South Miami-Dade.