Planning board recommends city adopt 2026 water-supply updates tied to Lower East Coast plan

The Planning & Zoning Board voted Sept. 24 to recommend approval of a set of comprehensive-plan amendments that update Fort Lauderdales water-supply planning to align with the South Florida Water Management DistrictLower East Coast Water Supply Plan (updated September 2024) and the city's recently completed water-supply facilities work plan.

City staff and consultant Hazen & Sawyer summarized key findings: Fort Lauderdale uses the Biscayne Aquifer as its primary drinking-water source and operates two water treatment facilities, including the Dixie membrane plant and the older 5th Avenue (5 Ash) plant. The city is constructing the Prospect Lake clean-water center, a modern treatment facility scheduled for completion in late 2026, which staff and the consultant said will improve treated-water color and overall water quality for customers currently served by the 5th Avenue facility.

Consultant George Brown said the city's current water-use permit (Biscayne Aquifer withdrawals) and purchased offsets such as capacity in the C-51 reservoir provide sufficient supply estimates through 2045 under the updated demand forecast. The plan projects population-driven demand and identifies alternative supply strategies the city may use if withdrawal needs grow beyond Biscayne-available allocations, including deeper Floridan aquifer wells and higher-treatment processes (reverse osmosis or similar), which would raise infrastructure and operating costs.

Staff and the consultant emphasized monitoring and updates: the district revises the Lower East Coast plan roughly every five years and municipal demand forecasts and work plans should be updated accordingly. The board recommended the comprehensive-plan amendments as presented and staff said typical follow-up actions include continued reporting to the district and incorporation of the work planfindings into the city's Capital Improvement Program and water-utility planning.

Why it matters: The amendments align the city's long-range planning with regional water-resource forecasts, reaffirm existing water-supply strategies and document a path for additional supply if growth or environmental conditions require it. The Prospect Lake project is a major capital investment intended to modernize treatment and address color removal goals, while alternative supply options carry higher cost and technical demands.

What happens next: The board transmitted a recommendation to the City Commission, which will consider adoption as part of the comprehensive-plan amendment process. Staff will continue routine monitoring of withdrawals, permit compliance and district updates.