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In 1973, a master sewage plan was developed for the county. That plan identified the need for publicly owned and operated regional facilities to protect the public health and prosperity of the community. The plan outlined proposed service areas in the eastern portion of the county as well as the necessary facilities and capitalization required to implement the plan. The plan also recommended eventually incorporating private sewer treatment facilities into the county system. Also in 1973, the County and the City of Vero Beach entered into an agreement regarding the provision of sanitary sewer services. This agreement established boundaries for areas in the county that would receive services from the city. CENTRALIZED REGIONAL SYSTEM The county's first direct provision of wastewater treatment services took place in 1978, as the result of problems at two private sewer systems. The Gifford system (later to be known as the Central Plant) and Ixora Park facilities had experienced system failures that resulted in the release of raw sewage into the surrounding areas. Because of these problems and their environmental impacts, the County Utilities Department assumed responsibility for the operation of these plants. The Central Plant has since been expanded, while the Ixora plant has been decommissioned. In 1982, county wastewater services expanded when the Utilities Department took over the operation of the Vista Royale and Vista Royale Gardens plants in the southern part of the county. This expansion continued with construction of the West Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant which began operation in 1986. Located south of SR 60 and east of I-95, the West Regional Plant provides wastewater service for the rapidly growing SR 60 Corridor area. Utilities system expansion continued in the 1990's. In 1990, the county completed construction of the North County Plant. Then, the County acquired the South County Plant from General Development Utilities in 1993. In 1995, the county purchased the City of Sebastian's utilities system. In 1987, Indian River County adopted a Wastewater Master Plan which has been updated several times since then, most recently in December 2004. That plan identified a system of wastewater treatment facilities to accommodate the anticipated growth of the county. The Master Plan identifies five sewer service areas. Those areas are North, West, Central, South, and City of Vero Beach. One publicly owned and operated regional wastewater treatment plant exists within each of the five service areas. In addition to public facilities, septic tanks and private treatment facilities currently exist and will continue to exist in the county. Table 3.A.1 lists existing wastewater treatment plants in Indian River County with their capacity and service area. Community Development Department Indian River County 5