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BACKGROUND <br />An important aspect of wastewater or sanitary sewer planning involves examining existing <br />conditions. Prior to that, however, it is helpful to consider the background or history of the <br />wastewater system in the county. That provides a perspective regarding county policy on this <br />matter. Instead of a static view of current conditions as the existing conditions section provides, <br />the background section identifies recent trends in this area. <br />HISTORY <br />A review of recent history shows that Indian River County has owned and operated sanitary <br />sewer facilities for only a relatively short time. Prior to the 1970's, the use of centralized <br />facilities which provide the highest level of treatment and efficiency was limited to the densest <br />and most intensely developed urban areas of the county. Those areas were located within or <br />adjacent to the City of Vero Beach. While centralized sewer service has been available to the <br />City of Vero Beach since 1926, the rest of the county did not have access to such service until <br />the late 1970's. <br />In the past, the use of privately owned sewer facilities provided the county with an alternative to <br />publicly owned, centralized sewer services. Private sewer facilities are operated by private <br />companies which are given the authority to provide wastewater service to specified areas. Most <br />private wastewater systems provide service only to an individual subdivision or development. <br />Prior to the establishment of the County Utilities Department in 1972, the regulation of <br />wastewater facilities rested with several state and federal agencies and often focused on the <br />permitting of new and the expansion of existing treatment facilities. By 1972, the regulatory <br />agencies were becoming more intent on discouraging the use of individual septic tanks and small <br />package systems. <br />COUNTY UTILITIES DEPARTMENT <br />Authorized to develop procedures and standards for utilities in the county, the County Utilities <br />Department also issues utility permits. Initially formed to regulate privately owned utility <br />systems, the Utilities Department was also charged with establishing a countywide utilities <br />system. At the time that the utility department was created, centralized sewer services in the <br />county were provided by the City of Vero Beach, by private utility companies, and by private <br />systems serving individual buildings and developments. A majority of residential developments <br />in the unincorporated county, however, relied on individual septic tanks for wastewater treatment <br />and disposal. <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 4 <br />