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Comprehensive Plan Potable Water Sub-Element Community Development Department Indian River County 13 Presently, the Indian River County Environmental Health Department (IRCHD) requires a minimum separation of 75 feet between wells and septic tanks. For new lots utilizing well and septic tank systems, the IRCHD requires that the lots be a minimum of ½ acre in size (approximately 20,000 square feet). If a lot is served by a public water system and a septic tank, the size of the lot may be reduced to ¼ acre in size (approximately 10,000 square feet). Private wells within the county use both the surficial aquifer and the Upper Floridan aquifer as sources of water. Approximately 95% of all wells within the unincorporated county, however, use the surficial aquifer as their source of water. On the mainland, private residential and commercial/industrial wells primarily use the surficial aquifer as their source of water. On the barrier island, both the Upper Floridan aquifer and the surficial aquifer are important sources of water for private residential wells. Generally, private well systems treat surficial aquifer water with ion- exchange water softening and filtration processes. BRINE DISPOSAL Presently, the county is working with the state Department of Environmental Protection to redirect the brine by-product from the north county water treatment plant into the Grand Harbor Spoonbill Marsh Site. The Spoonbill Marsh site is generally located on the west shore of the Indian River Lagoon, south of 63rd Street. At this site, the brine water will be mixed with brackish water from the Indian River Lagoon and further treated through a saltwater marsh treatment system prior to flowing into the Lagoon. This high marsh site is expected to further remove suspended solids, phosphorous and nitrogen through evapotransporation prior to the brine flowing into the Indian River Lagoon. The brine by-product from the south county water treatment plan is currently discharged into the South Relief Canal. STANDARDS Water demand can be expressed in terms of gallons per capita per day or in terms of gallons per dwelling unit per day. Each day, the average county resident consumes approximately 104 gallons of potable water. Table 3.B.4 identifies historical water demand per dwelling unit. These data were reported in records obtained from the County Utilities Department and General Development Utilities, Inc.