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BACKGROUND An important aspect of wastewater or sanitary sewer planning involves examining existing conditions. Prior to that, however, it is helpful to consider the background or history of the wastewater system in the county. That provides a perspective regarding county policy on this matter. Instead of a static view of current conditions as the existing conditions section provides, the background section identifies recent trends in this area. HISTORY A review of recent history shows that Indian River County has owned and operated sanitary sewer facilities for only a relatively short time. Prior to the 1970's, the use of centralized facilities which provide the highest level of treatment and efficiency was limited to the densest and most intensely developed urban areas of the county. Those areas were located within or adjacent to the City of Vero Beach. While centralized sewer service has been available to the City of Vero Beach since 1926, the rest of the county did not have access to such service until the late 1970's. In the past, the use of privately owned sewer facilities provided the county with an alternative to publicly owned, centralized sewer services. Private sewer facilities are operated by private companies which are given the authority to provide wastewater service to specified areas. Most private wastewater systems provide service only to an individual subdivision or development. Prior to the establishment of the County Utilities Department in 1972, the regulation of wastewater facilities rested with several state and federal agencies and often focused on the permitting of new and the expansion of existing treatment facilities. By 1972, the regulatory agencies were becoming more intent on discouraging the use of individual septic tanks and small package systems. COUNTY UTILITIES DEPARTMENT Authorized to develop procedures and standards for utilities in the county, the County Utilities Department also issues utility permits. Initially formed to regulate privately owned utility systems, the Utilities Department was also charged with establishing a countywide utilities system. At the time that the utility department was created, centralized sewer services in the county were provided by the City of Vero Beach, by private utility companies, and by private systems serving individual buildings and developments. A majority of residential developments in the unincorporated county, however, relied on individual septic tanks for wastewater treatment and disposal. In 1973, a master sewage plan was developed for the county. That plan identified the need for publicly owned and operated regional facilities to protect the public health and prosperity of the community. The plan outlined proposed service areas in the eastern portion of the county as well Community Development Department Indian River County 4 Appendix A