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Comprehensive Plan Sanitary Sewer Sub -Element <br />Besides capital improvements programming and the assessment process, another way to expand <br />the collection system is through the platting and site plan approval requirements of new <br />development. For example, current comprehensive plan policies and land development <br />regulations mandate that each new subdivision within the Urban Service Area connect to the <br />centralized wastewater service system, if the proposed subdivision meets either of the following <br />criteria. <br />It is within one-quarter of a mile of existing wastewater lines; or <br />It contains 25 or more lots <br />For non-residential projects, only those located more than '/ mile from the existing system and <br />generating less than 2000 gallons per day are not required to connect to the regional system. <br />Even non-residential projects meeting those requirements must connect if the system expands to <br />within % mile of the project. <br />Those requirements need to be maintained to ensure that expansion of the regional sanitary sewer <br />system occurs and to ensure that the costs of that expansion are paid by the beneficiaries of the <br />expansion. Even when a development project does not meet the above criteria, the project must <br />connect to the regional sanitary sewer system if the project is deemed unacceptable for septic <br />tank system use due to increased health and groundwater contamination risks. <br />There are several reasons for requiring nearly all new development to connect to the regional <br />system. Those reasons are listed below. <br />• Regional systems are less likely to fail. <br />• Regional systems are better regulated and inspected. <br />• Regional systems provide a higher level of treatment. That higher level of treatment <br />allows the effluent to be reused, rather than injected into the ground where the effluent <br />increases the risk of groundwater contamination. <br />• Regional systems are economically more efficient to build and operate, but only if all <br />new development connects to the system. <br />Septic Systems <br />Between 2007 and 2016, 1,217 new septicsystems (average of 121 per year) were permitted. <br />Additionally, during that time period 5,919 septic systems were repaired typically requiring a <br />drainfield replacement. <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 28 <br />AttaciMent 4 <br />