The Integrated Water Master Plan
The Indian River County Department of Utility Services is developing an Integrated Water Master Plan. This plan will look at the future needs of our drinking water, wastewater, and reuse systems and set the course for the next 20 years.
Our Guiding Values
Quantity
Provide ample water resources to meet the future demands of our growing population
Quality
Meet or exceed current and future regulatory requirements to ensure safe and reliable service
Equality
Consider all customers fairly as we plan future improvements
Resiliency
Prepare our utility system to meet future challenges in sustainable ways
Integrated Master Planning
Integrated Master Planning helps us see water from every community element.
Resources:
View the Meeting Materials.
Download the Public Meeting Boards
Download the Public Meeting Roll Plots
Download the Septic-to-Sewer Conversion One-pager
Indian River County Department of Utility Services
Indian River County’s Department of Utility Services provides the following services:
- Drinking Water
- Wastewater
- Water Reuse
These are just three pieces of the larger Integrated Master Planning puzzle. We are meeting with partners across the county to plan for the entire water cycle.
Drinking Water Service Area
Wastewater Service Area
How Your Water Gets to Your Tap
Every day, IRCDUS treats 11.5 million gallons of drinking water through two treatment plants to serve 55,000 active accounts connected to our drinking water system. Here’s how we do it.
Drinking Water System Needs
The Integrated Water Master Plan will help us plan for:
Our Growing Population
- We need a water system that can support us for generations.
- Our infrastructure needs to be able to treat and distribute enough water to everyone.
- We also need to be able to extend the water service to new developments.
Aging Infrastructure
- Our treatment plants and drinking water mains are getting older.
- Proactive maintenance and upgrades are necessary to best serve you and protect public health.
Treatment Plant Improvements
- Embracing new technologies to be more efficient.
- Changing environmental conditions may require us to adjust.
- Making sure our treatment plants meet or exceed federal or state regulations.
Water Quality
- Future federal regulations may require us to change the way we treat water.
- Upgrades to our distribution system may also be necessary to maintain water quality in the future.
How We Reclaim Water
Every day, IRCDUS treats 12 million gallons of wastewater through four treatment plants to serve 34,000 active accounts connected to our wastewater system. Here’s how we do it.
Wastewater System Needs
The Integrated Master Plan will help us plan for:
Our Growing Population
- Our infrastructure needs to be able to collect and treat everyone’s wastewater.
- We also need to support developing areas with wastewater services.
Aging Infrastructure
- Our wastewater collection mains, lift stations, and treatment plants are getting older.
- Proactive maintenance and upgrades are necessary to best serve you and protect public health.
Treatment Plant Improvements
- Embracing new technologies to be more efficient.
- Changing environmental conditions may require us to adjust.
- Making sure our treatment plants meet and/or exceed federal or state regulations
Potential Water Recycling
- Explore opportunities for reclaimed water needs throughout the community and as a potential water source.
- Recycling water for outdoor use could free up tap water, helping our current water source last longer.
Septic-to-Sewer Conversion
Indian River County Department of Utility Services is working to connect residents with septic tanks to the county’s sewer system to protect water quality and have a positive impact on public health.
The Potential Environmental Risks of Septic Tanks
Septic tanks use soil to naturally filter wastewater. This comes with some challenges.
Some soil types are not very good at filtering water.
Too much wastewater in an area at once can overload the soil.
Septic tanks can also leak or fail, contaminating the local environment.
The Benefits of IRC’s Sewer System
Protects water quality
Regular monitoring
Supported by stringent state and federal regulations
Better supports a growing population
Less maintenance for homeowners
What’s on Your Bill
A bill for an average residential customer that uses 4,000 gallons of water includes:
Service Availability Charges
These fees stay the same no matter how much water you use. This makes up your minimum bill. The fees:
- Help cover the cost of infrastructure and maintenance.
- Provide reliable, consistent revenue for the utility despite changes in water use.
Water
Sewer
Monthly Use
You pay a flat rate for every 1,000 gallons used. The less you use, the lower the rate.
Water Consumption Charge
$3.14 per 1,000 gallons
Sewer Consumption Charge
$4.51 per 1,000 gallons
Total Bill
“Service Availability Charges”
Monthly Use
Your Bill
($67.70 effective 10/1/2025)
Lowest among 14 peer utilities.
Our Funding Needs
IRCDUS’ drinking water and wastewater service are funded solely through customer bills.
Rates are based on the cost of providing services.
- Day-to-day operations
- Ongoing maintenance
- Major infrastructure improvements
Our recent rate changes will help cover increasing costs.
IRC’s average residential water & sewer rates remain the lowest among 14 peer utilities.
2024 Rate
Phase 1
Phase 2
Total Difference
Rates are based on the average usage of 4000 gallons per month for water and sewer services.
We’re Planning for Future Investment Needs
Our Integrated Water Master Plan will help us evaluate and identify future infrastructure needs and help us evaluate our future rate and fee structure.
Integrated Water Master Plan
Identifies future needs for our systems
Integrated Water Master Plan
Prioritize the investments defined in the Integrated Water Master Plan and determine costs
Future Rate Study
IRC will continue evaluating rates to determine the best ways to cover the costs of implementing the plan
Which Costs More?
1,000 Gallons of IRC Water
= $2.80
One Premium Coffee
= $3.45
In-Person Public Meeting Presentation
IRCDUS held three public meetings for community members to learn more about the Integrated Water Master Plan process. All meetings shared the same information, much of which is available in this online version of the meeting.
A video of the presentation and access to the slides is available below.
Thank You to Our Partners
Collaborating for Our Water Future
In addition to working across Indian River County internal departments, we have connected with stakeholder groups across the county to provide an overview of the planning process and collected feedback on criteria we’ll use in the Integrated Water Master Plan.
Our Partners
Stay Connected
Thank you for participating in our Integrated Water Master
Plan public meeting.
Stay up-to-date on the process at
IndianRiver.gov/onewater.