Many systems have been proposed for the decontamination of domestic and industrial wastewater and leachates. It is currently expected to treat wastewater and derive economic and environmental benefit. It is in this context that high rate algal systems (HRAPs) were originally proposed for the treatment of domestic wastewater. However, the research around this technology has shown advantages and benefits that were not initially contemplated. Actually, deployments are being made for the treatment of wastewater, seeking the production of biofuels, algal biomass for food (animal and human), obtaining pharmaceuticals and bioprospecting of algae. In addition to this, research on the capture and reduction of carbon dioxide (CO2), specific mechanisms for pollutant removal and Hydrobio- logy optimization of the system is being done. However, there is a lack of necessary information about the function and ecology of algae, the relationship algae/bacteria, the effect of hydrodynamic performance of the pond on algal production, the effect of the tropical environmental variables on the performance of the system and the developing of design standards for tropical zones.