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: April 8, 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 (CWSs) serving more than 3,300 people to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs). CWSs were required to self-certify, with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), the completion of their AWIA compliant RRAs and ERPs by specified deadlines based on the population served. Thereafter, CWSs must review, revise where applicable, and recertify their RRAs and ERPs to 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 5-year renewal on March 31, 2025.
ANALYSIS
On September 10, 2024, the 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. On March 24, 2025, Arcadis submitted its draft RRA Report summarizing the required updates, and IRCDUS certified the same with the US EPA on March 28, 2025. Arcadis is now in the process of completing updates to the IRCDUS ERP which is due by no later than September 30, 2025.
BUDGETARY IMPACT
There is no budgetary impact for the agenda item.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTIONS
Approved WO 1 to Arcadis on September 10, 2024.
POTENTIAL FUTURE BOARD ACTIONS
Review of the AWIA ERP updates on October 21, 2025.
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.
OTHER PLAN ALIGNMENT
None noted.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
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.
ATTACHMENTS
None