On Feb. 21, 2023, Commissioner Woodward met with staff from the Palm Beach County Water Utilities Department for a tour of the water reclamation facilities and Green Cay Wetlands in Boynton Beach and Wakodahatchee Wetlands in Delray Beach.
Palm Beach County is the leading supplier of reclaimed water in Southeast Florida and operates nine wastewater treatment plants. At the county's state-of-the-art odorless Southern Region Water Reclamation Facility effluent is filtered and disinfected, and the biosolids removed from the wastewater are sold to the Solid Waste Authority to burn for energy.
Reclaimed water must meet stringent state and federal standards, and the county is proud to operate the only facility in Florida with 100% compliance. The treatment process eliminates harmful substances but leaves traces of nitrogen and phosphorous that act as fertilizer when applied to lawns and landscapes.
Every day, the facility pumps approximately two million gallons of treated wastewater into Wakodahatchee Wetlands and two to three million gallons into Green Cay Wetlands, creating unique habitats home to many Florida species. The public is welcome to visit and stroll the elevated boardwalks that are often enjoyed by photographers and bird watchers.
For more information, visit https://discover.pbcgov.org/waterutilities/Pages/default.aspx
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