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Comprehensive Plan Sanitary Sewer Sub -Element Currently, reuse through spray irrigation is the county's primary effluent disposal method. This method is consistent with the county's emphasis to conserve potable water. For that reason, the County Utilities Department is planning to modify the county's sanitary sewer system connection regulations to require that all new subdivisions of 25 or more lots within one-quarter of a mile of an existing re -use line connect to the re -use line for irrigation purposes. Perhaps the most successful and efficient effluent reuse method currently used by the county is at the West County Plant. At that site, a ±165 acre man-made wetland has been created and maintained with effluent from the plant. Besides the creation of habitat for many species of plants and animals, the benefits of that method of effluent disposal include greatly decreased operating costs. Although the wetland at the West County Plant is adjacent to the plant, such man-made wetlands are not required to be located near a treatment plant. If not located near a plant, however, they must be located near a reuse water transmission line. Because the long term benefit of developing such wetlands may outweigh the initial land acquisition and construction costs, the county should begin studying the feasibility of developing additional wetlands. SUMMARY OF ANALYSIS Currently, the county's sanitary sewer system is meeting the needs of the community. There is, however, a need to expand the regional wastewater treatment system. That expansion is needed to meet the demand of projected population growth through 2030, and is currently planned to occur with incremental plant expansions. While the county's wastewater system works well, septic systems are still an issue. In the future, the county needs to ensure that even fewer new units use septic systems, while also connecting existing septic systems users to the regional system where problems exist. To address the thousands of existing septic systems, the county and Health Department need to evaluate the feasibility of establishing a mandatory septic system maintenance system. Although the county has successfully extended sewer lines within the urban service area, the county needs to continue to expand its collection system to serve the entire urban service area. Along with that, the county needs to expand its reuse system. 264 Community Development Department Indian River County 38