2010-252A (18) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Plan Sanitary Sewer Sub -Element o Ninety-three percent of the county's soil has an underlying spodic horizon (a restrictive layer often comprised of sandy clay loam) and, therefore, is not suitable for septic tanks. This problem can be solved in areas with a low residential density by some modification of design and construction of septic tanks. • Health and safety o Poor quality of septic tank effluent compared to wastewater treatment plant effluent. o High risk of groundwater contamination and spread of communicable disease. o Cost and insufficiency of monitoring process. o Inappropriate septage disposal. • Environmental Consideration o Groundwater contamination. o Leachate to surface water bodies. For those reasons, there is a need to expand the regional wastewater treatment system to areas where existing or future land uses, soil and groundwater conditions, proximity to surface water bodies, and/or lot size make continued use of septic systems unacceptable due to increased health and groundwater contamination risks. With this in mind, the county should always allow the voluntary expansion of the regional sanitary sewer system to existing developments within the urban service area. Additionally, the county must determine under what conditions to impose retrofitting on existing development. As indicated in the finance section of this element, a major portion of the cost of service expansion to existing subdivisions is funded through assessments. In the past, some residents have objected to the costs of such assessments, often citing an inability to pay. Throughout the county, many older residential subdivisions contain lots smaller than the IRCHD's current '/2 acre minimum. Because these subdivisions generally contain households in the lower portion of the county's income range, retrofitting those subdivisions with centralized sewer service would cost those households a greater portion of their income than would be associated with the average county household. Under certain conditions, the increased health and groundwater contamination risks associated with septic tank systems may be insignificant. This is often the case in residential developments that are connected to a regional potable water system. If conditions are favorable and the units are connected to a regional potable water system, even residential developments with lots smaller than 1/2 acre may be served by septic tank systems without significantly increasing health and Community Development Department Indian River County 29