TO: Indian River County Board of County Commissioners
THROUGH: John A. Titkanich, Jr., County Administrator
Sean C. Lieske, Director of Utility Services
Richard D. Meckes, Assistant Director of Utility Services
FROM: Michael Loveday, Water & Wastewater Operations Manager
DATE: September 29, 2025
SUBJECT: Florida Department of Environmental Protection Consent Order/Settlement Agreement 22-0150 for the Indian River County Department of Utility Services Wastewater Collections System
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BACKGROUND
Indian River County Department of Utility Services (IRCDUS) owns and operates a wastewater collections system, ID No. FLSS0A483, for the purpose of collecting and ultimately treating wastewater generated by the customers of IRCDUS. This collections system is made up gravity sewer lines, force mains, manholes and other control structures, pneumatic/vacuum sewer systems, lift stations and master re-pumping stations for this purpose. All wastewater makes its way to one of three regional water reclamation facilities owned and operated by IRCDUS for wastewater treatment and effluent disposal.
ANALYSIS
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) has issued a Consent Order/Settlement Agreement (Order) to IRCDUS for sanitary sewer overflows occurrences beginning in 2021 through 2024 as outlined in the Order. The Consent Order/Settlement Agreement has been drafted to ensure that future sanitary sewer overflow occurrences are minimized and addressed in a timely manner.
The Order includes a penalty of $29,995; however, the Order allows the County to undergo either an in-kind project or a pollution prevention (P2) project in lieu of paying the fines stipulated within the order. If the County were to choose to pursue the in-kind option, the project cost must be equal to or greater than 1.5 times the cost of the penalty. On the other hand, if the County were to choose a P2 project, i...
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