TO: Indian River County Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr, County Administrator
Sean C. Lieske, Director of Utility Services
FROM: Howard G. Richards, PE, Manager - Capital Projects
DATE: October 15, 2025
SUBJECT: Review of America’s Water Infrastructure Act Risk and Resilience Assessment Updates, IRCDUS Project ID 00.24.518
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BACKGROUND
Indian River County Department of Utility Services (IRCDUS) provides water, wastewater, and reuse services to major portions of Indian River County (IRC), including the City of Sebastian and Town of Orchid. IRCDUS’ water system is the largest in the County with a combined annual average Consumptive Use Permit (CUP) of 12.838 million gallons per day (MGD) that serves a population of over 110,000 across an urban service area (USA) of 96.44 square miles.
On October 23, 2018, America's Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law. Section 2013 of AWIA amended the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) to require community water systems (CWS) serving more than 3,300 people to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRA) and emergency response plans (ERP). CWS were required to self-certify, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the completion of their AWIA-compliant RRA and ERP by specified deadlines based on the population served. Thereafter, CWS must review, revise where applicable, and recertify their RRA and ERP to the US EPA every five years from the original deadlines specified in the law.
Per the AWIA population thresholds, IRCDUS is considered a large CWS (serving over 100,000 people). IRCDUS certified completion of its RRA during the inaugural round of AWIA on March 16, 2020, which then set the first five-year renewal on March 31, 2025, for the RRA and September 30, 2025, for the ERP.
ANALYSIS
On September 10, 2024, the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) approved Work Order No.1 (WO 1) to Arcadis U.S., Inc., (Arcadis) to provide professional services under its continuing contract agreement with the County dated May 2, 2023, to assist IRCDUS with completing updates to its RRA and ERP. Arcadis has completed updates to the RRA and ERP. IRCDUS certified the completion of its RRA and ERP updates prepared by Arcadis, to the US EPA on March 28, 2025, and September 19, 2025, respectively. The RRA was then presented to the BCC on April 22, 2025.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
There is no budgetary impact for this agenda item.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
On September 10, 2024, the BCC approved WO.1 to Arcadis in the amount of $456,330.10 to provide services related to AWIA.
On April 22, 2025, staff, along with a representative from Arcadis, gave a presentation to the BCC to provide updates on the AWIA, RRA updates. No action was taken.
On October 7, 2025, the BCC approved Amendment 1 to WO 1 to Arcadis in the amount of $28,506.08 to provide additional services to prepare for and present to the BCC.
STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT
Infrastructure: Planning, constructing, managing, and maintaining critical public infrastructure in response to our current needs, future demands, and the expectations of our community; embracing innovation, technology, and resiliency.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
This item will be a presentation by staff to the Indian River County Board of County Commissioners on the America’s Water Infrastructure Act, Risk and Resilience Assessment Updates. No action is required.