Indian River County starts wellfield expansion push ahead of 2031 water limit
Indian River County Utilities, Florida · Meeting date: November 3, 2026 · Published: November 4, 2026
County commissioners approved a $258,369 Kimley-Horn work order, with authority for a further $51,674 reserve, to plan new Upper Floridan Aquifer supply wells and seek a larger consumptive-use allocation. The decision followed public warnings that additional withdrawals could affect agricultural wells.
Key points
- The approved Phase 1 work order totals $258,369.03, with a 20% project reserve of $51,673.81, for a total proposed budget of $310,042.84.
- Indian River County's current St. Johns River Water Management District consumptive-use permit caps withdrawals at 16.228mgd and expires in October 2031.
- The county projects average daily raw-water demand will exceed its current allocation in 2031; the director said demand is forecast to reach about 18.3mgd by 2040.
- Kimley-Horn will test Hobart Water Production Facility capacity, assess up to eight prospective well locations, model impacts on existing legal users and prepare a permit-renewal application.
- A Soil and Water Conservation District representative called for a countywide workshop and survey of existing wells, citing potential drawdown risks to agricultural users.
Full report
Indian River County is moving to secure new Upper Floridan Aquifer supplies before its current groundwater allocation is overtaken by demand, approving the first planning and permitting phase of a wider wellfield expansion programme.
The Board of County Commissioners approved Work Order 35 to Kimley-Horn and Associates for $258,369.03. It also authorised the procurement manager to approve amendments of up to $51,673.81, creating a total proposed Phase 1 budget of $310,042.84. The work is funded through the county's water impact-fee work-in-progress account.
The county operates a consolidated potable-water system supplied by Upper Floridan Aquifer groundwater, treated by nanofiltration and raw-water bypass blending. Its consumptive-use permit from the St. Johns River Water Management District limits withdrawals to 16.228mgd and expires in October 2031.
Utilities director Sean Lieske told commissioners the system currently produces about 11.4mgd of finished water, requiring 13.5mgd of raw water because of treatment losses. County projections indicate raw-water demand will exceed the permitted allocation in 2031 and rise to about 18.3mgd by 2040.
The approved work is intended to identify new well sites that can feed the Hobart Water Production Facility rather than intensifying withdrawals at its existing wells. Lieske said prior modelling indicated that withdrawals above roughly 9mgd at the Hobart wellfield could begin affecting existing legal users.
Phase 1 will include performance testing and a capacity analysis report for Hobart, where the current 11.44mgd rated capacity is constrained by available raw water. Kimley-Horn will determine the number, location and pumping capacity of new wells; evaluate up to eight potential sites; undertake groundwater modelling; prepare a strategic plan; and submit a consumptive-use permit renewal application seeking allocation sufficient to meet projected demand through 2046.
The scope also includes a $25,000 allowance for wellsite property-acquisition support, including up to five Phase I environmental site assessments. Subsequent phases are expected to cover test wells, production wells and raw-water main infrastructure.
Robert Adair, chairman of the Indian River Soil and Water Conservation District, backed the county's decision to undertake research but cautioned against effects on existing users. He said the county has 1,520 consumptive-use wells and cited a 2017 case in which a farm lost well flow and the county was required to fund replacement works. Adair asked the board to convene a workshop with the water management district, US Geological Survey, conservation district and water users, alongside a countywide survey of active, leaking and free-flowing wells.
Commissioners approved the work order after discussion of how projected development demand is incorporated into water-supply planning. Lieske said staff continually assess system capacity for proposed subdivisions, using 250 gallons per equivalent residential unit in their planning assumptions.
This summary was generated by AI based on the source document and may contain errors.
Source: Board of County Commissioners Meeting, Indian River County Utilities