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Comprehensive Plan Potable Water Sub-Element Community Development Department Indian River County 22 • Organic based contaminants. FDEP has established maximum contaminant levels for dozens of organic constituents. Because of the serious concern for organics in drinking water, the county has decided to avoid the use of the surficial aquifer. Since the surficial aquifer is the principal potable water source for many of the 17,000 private wells in the county and because that aquifer is subject to the contamination problems identified above, many county residents are potentially subject to health problems from their potable water. There are two principal ways to address this problem, and the county is currently doing both. As discussed in the Natural Groundwater Aquifer Recharge Sub-Element, the county is taking various actions to preserve the quantity and quality of the surficial aquifer. The other action which the county is taking to address the potential contamination problems with shallow wells is to expand the centralized potable water system throughout the urban service area, so that those residents who have surficial aquifer wells can connect. Because the centralized system uses the Upper Floridan aquifer as a water source and then treats the water, that water is usually better quality and safer for residents. Public Water Supply In 2005, the Florida Legislature enacted Senate Bills 360 and 444. That legislation significantly changed Chapters 163 and 373, F.S. to require coordination of water supply and land use planning. In so doing, the legislation strengthened the statutory linkage between regional water supply plans prepared by the state’s water management districts and comprehensive plans prepared by local governments. Because Indian River County is included in the St. Johns River Water Management District’s regional water supply plan, the county must coordinate with the district to assess future water needs. With Senate bills 360 and 444, two sets of requirements were established, one set for jurisdictions subject to a regional water supply plan and one set for jurisdictions not subject to a water supply plan. While Indian River County is not subject to a regional water supply plan, the county wants to be proactive in identifying and utilizing alternative water supplies. Alternative Water Supply In 2003, the SJRWMD concluded that the UFA (Upper Upper Floridan aquifer) groundwater resources in Indian River County can sustain continued development through 2025. Beyond 2025, however, there may not be sufficient capacity in the UFA to sustain continued development. In 2009, the SJRWMD will complete a new water supply assessment. If that assessment indicates that the UFA cannot sustain proposed withdrawals through 2030, then the County will be identified as a priority water resource caution area and will become a focus of the next District (SJRWMD) Water Supply Plan. To address the potential capacity issues with the UFA, Indian River County prepared a local Alternative Water Supply Master Plan in 2007. According to that plan, surface water may serve as