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Comprehensive Plan Sanitary Sewer Sub -Element expansion. Even when a development project does not meet the above criteria, the project must connect to the regional sanitary sewer system if the project is deemed unacceptable for septic tank system use due to increased health and groundwater contamination risks. There are several reasons for requiring nearly all new development to connect to the regional system. Those reasons are listed below. • Regional systems are less likely to fail. • Regional systems are better regulated and inspected. • Regional systems provide a higher level of treatment. That higher level of treatment allows the effluent to be reused, rather than injected into the ground where the effluent increases the risk of groundwater contamination. • Regional systems are economically more efficient to build and operate, but only if all new development connects to the system. Septic TanlisSystems Between x-99-5-2007 and 20816, X39-1,217 new septics sy tems (average of 655121 per year) were permitted. Additionally, during that time period 5,919 septic systems were repaired typically requiring a drainfield replacement. within the eounly. Generally, septic *"systems are a potential source of groundwater and surface water contamination, especially in areas where they are densely concentrated, and the water table is high and waterbody setbacks are less than 75 feet. According to theDDOH-Indian River, there have been aye many -cases of e " a of a well's water- wells and surface waters being contaminatedbeeem-ing pelted--due—to septie tann-disehafges from septic system discharges. As indicated in Table 3.A.5, septics sy tem effluent is of poor quality by today's wastewater treatment standards. Consequently, effluent discharges can cause detrimental increases in nitrogen, chloride, sodium, other ions, total dissolved solids, and the microbiological levels of the local groundwater. Community Development Department Indian River County 30 Appendix A