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Comprehensive Plan Potable Water Sub-Element Community Development Department Indian River County 28 County represents a good first choice. In the western part of the county, surface water resources appear to be abundant, and treatment would not be as energy intensive as other technologies. After the initial construction of approximately 20 miles of pipeline that may cost from $10 million to $20 million, the operating costs would be low. Currently, the SJRWMD is evaluating the availability of water from the St. Johns River. This evaluation will assess minimum flows and levels, and will determine water availability in the District’s existing and proposed water management areas. Preliminary analysis has shown that a significant amount of water is available in the C-25 canal basin and the adjacent Upper St. Johns basin. This water is currently discharged to tide. Recently, the SFWMD and the SJRWMD initiated discussions regarding construction of a reservoir in the area to capture currently wasted water. In addition, the proposed 10,000-acre Fellsmere Water Management Area (FWMA) is a potential significant additional source of fresh surface water. Prior to the county choosing surface water as an alternative water source, however, the SJRWMD will need to commit to the permittability of fresh surface water in western Indian River County. To determine the optimum location for withdrawals and ensure a sustainable withdrawal even during dry/drought periods, a great deal of coordination with the SJRWMD will be necessary. In addition, the use of an Aquifer Storage and Recovery system may be necessary to ensure dry season water availability. In terms of water supply, the UFA will continue to be the county’s water supply source until an alternative water supply source, such as surface water, can come on-line. A conservative estimate of when an alternative water supply such as surface water could be on line is 2018. Given that this is the case, an interim expansion of withdrawals from the UFA will be necessary. In 2018, raw water withdrawal is projected to be approximately 17.10 mgd. While current wellfield capacity is approximately 15.5 mgd (based on six wells at South County and three wells at North County), the current North County RO plant expansion will increase the county’s potable water capacity to 18.21 mgd. Water Supply Plan Because Indian River County is not currently in a SJRWMD Priority Water Resource Caution Area, the county is not required to complete a 10 year water supply facilities work plan at this time. Even though the county is not currently required to develop a water supply facilities work plan, the county is and has been proactive in identifying and working toward establishing an alternative water supply source. For that reason, the county is coordinating with SJRWMD in the district’s water supply assessment and in its water supply development-related initiatives that affect the county. According to the county’s alternative water supply analysis, in a best case scenario a new water supply source could not be on line until 2018. That timeframe could be even l onger if a surface water reservoir needs to be constructed. Given these constraints, another existing surface water alternative may be a better choice. That is to utilize water from the C-54 Canal. Regardless, the county will