2010-252A (19) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Comprehensive Plan Potable Water Sub-Element Community Development Department Indian River County 26 for each production rate case, and an annual renewal and replacement (R&R) fund deposit (which is not included under O&M costs). Ranking of Alternative Water Sources Although a strictly quantitative ranking of the alternative water supply options is not possible, it is possible to make practical judgments regarding the three alternatives. While all three alternative water supply sources are positive with respect to water availability, all three possess uncertainties and some level of risk. All three differ in cost, some significantly. While implementation schedules are similar, the implementation timeframe for any of the three would be a number of years. At this point, seawater desalination is the least desirable alternative, because it is the most expensive technology and the most energy intensive. As an alternative to seawater, saline groundwater from the Boulder Zone may be feasible, but confirmation of this would be subject to a feasibility study that examines use of the Boulder Zone as a water source. As a potable water supply alternative, the surficial aquifer presents some difficulties related to water quantity protection, since all of the wells would be very shallow with the most productive zones in the central part of the County in the upper 50 feet of the aquifer. Water quality variability is also an issue. Because of low productivity, the surficial aquifer would require a large number of small wells producing small quantities of water. In addition, the impacts on adjacent users of the surficial aquifer could put the County in the same position as expanded use of the UFA with respect to agricultural wells. In the past, the County decided against using this source and elected to go to the UFA.