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Comprehensive Plan Potable Water Sub-Element Community Development Department Indian River County 6 PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS Operated by the County Utilities Department, the county water system is the largest provider of potable water in Indian River County. This system presently consists of two geographic service areas (North County and South County). Although each service area has its own water plant, the system is interconnected to allow either plant to serve the service area of the other plant. In 2006, 30,402 (63.09%) of the unincorporated county’s 48,188 residential units were connected to the regional potable water system. At that time, all customers of the county’s system, including those living in municipalities, totaled 40,300. This reflects a significant expansion of the County’s potable water system that occurred during the 1995 to 2006 period. During that time, expansion of the county's water system was extensive in terms of increased geographic area served and in terms of new customers. Currently, every new subdivision within the Urban Service Area is required to connect to the regional water system if the development meets either of the following criteria. - It is within one-quarter of a mile of existing water lines; or - It contains 25 or more lots/units. At the present time, the existing regional potable water system serves commercial/industrial development as well as residential development. Since plan adoption, the regional potable water system has been expanded to serve most of the commercial/industrial areas in the county, including the three I-95 commercial/industrial nodes. Because most of the main water lines referenced in the 2004 Master Plan have been installed, centralized potable water service is now available to most of the county’s urban service area. As a result of that expansion, the development potential of land within the Urban Service Area (USA) has greatly increased for both residential and commercial projects. Currently, there are four public regional water treatment plants operating in the county. Two of those plants are operated by the Indian River County Utilities Department; a third plant is operated by the City of Vero Beach, and a fourth plant is operated by the City of Fellsmere. At present, there are three privately owned treatment plants within the county. The City of Vero Beach provides potable water service to the Town of Indian River Shores as well as to the unincorporated parts of the south barrier island and to other unincorporated areas around the city limits. Besides providing water service to the unincorporated area, the county provides potable water service to the City of Sebastian, the Town of Orchid, and the northern portion of the Town of Indian River Shores. In addition, the county has an agreement with the City of Fellsmere to provide emergency water if needed.