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to meet new standards which are much higher, resulting in a major cost differential. When the old systems are abandoned and the mobile home parks are connected to the County's system, the true costs of buying, maintaining, operating and repairing the system become apparent. Commissioner Adams asked whether we have an automatic increase in rates when there is a mandate from St. Johns River Water Management District to conserve water. Director Pinto noted that we do not have an automatic increase. In the original plan, there was a requirement to identify what we would do in case of an emergency. Our emergency water conservation plan will commence only when a water shortage is declared and only after a public hearing. Commissioner Bird described a typical situation where a development has its own utility system, the residents enjoy low rates and everything is working, but there is an agreement to connect to the County system. He asked Director Pinto to explain why the County cannot bypass that development. Director Pinto explained that we cannot replace certain systems and allow others to continue because it is not financially feasible, it would cripple the regional system, and because it involves the health and welfare of the entire community. Once we begin a project it cannot be handled on a selective basis. He pointed out that a private wastewater treatment plant is never built in the middle of the area it will service but rather on the edge of the development, so if that system fails, it affects the neighbors and ends up contaminating someone else's well. That makes wastewater a community problem. When that inevitable failure occurs and you have not provided capacity at the treatment plant for the failed system, it becomes a major catastrophe for the community. Director Pinto related that the County is also responsible for the proper disposal of solid waste, meaning garbage or trash. Indian River County does that through a landfill. Solid waste disposal has become a very technical field, a strictly regulated and expensive operation. In the past solid waste was handled on what was called a tipping fee, wherein the hauler paid a fee based on weight. When additional landfill area was needed, the tipping fee was not enough to pay for it. Now the County .applies an annual assessment on each improved parcel of property in the county, providing steady revenue to operate the landfill and to repay the borrowed money. Recently the State required a 30 percent reduction in solid waste which called for a rather sophisticated, elaborate and expensive recycling system. That cost is also included in that 3 DEC 17 1992 BOOK 88