SEPTIC TO SEWER HELP AVAILABLE
FOR SOME VERO BEACH RESIDENTS
More than 22 local homeowners have connected their septic system to sewer with financial help from a project initiated by the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County. To comply with a new State mandate to address pollution of our waterways from human waste, the City of Vero Beach recently passed an ordinance requiring connection to sewer by June 30, 2028. Recognizing that the cost of $15,000 to connect to the STEP system would be a struggle for many City homeowners, the CWC, in cooperation with the City and the Indian River Community Foundation, and funding from the Indian River Land Trust and CWC donors, organized to offer financial assistance.
Once a homesteaded resident is qualified, the City of Vero Beach credits the impact fee ($3,390) and finances the equipment cost ($5,500) at 0% interest for 10 years. The donors pay for all plumbing and permitting charges ($6,500). All maintenance, pump outs, etc. are the responsibility of the City that operates a 24-hour-a-day hotline for reporting any problems. The homeowner will pay a monthly sewer bill of $30-$40.
Over half of the funding has been allocated so far, but it is not too late for qualified homesteaded owners to apply for assistance. There is more funding available for additional connections. To inquire, contact Judy Livingston at The Economic Opportunities Council of Indian River County at 772-562-4177.
MRC Indian River Lagoon Community Action Assembly
On July 24th and 25th the Marine Resources Council (MRC) held its 21st Indian River Lagoon Community Action Assembly at the Florida Institute of Technology (FIT) in Melbourne, Florida. The Assembly included 147 delegates – representing nonprofit organizations, businesses, municipalities, and concerned citizens - to address the key public interest issues afflicting the IRL including:
pollution – due to stormwater runoff and septic systems;
habitat loss and species decline - due to climate change, overfishing, and invasive species; and
the “urgency to address these issues”.
MRC’s “Assembly Summary, Action Items, and Progress Reporting” cites 14 “Top-priority action
Items” including as related to:
organization and communication - among delegates and other IRL interests;
recognition of technical data gaps with “development and testing of new technologies while sustaining existing projects”;
economic and regulatory incentives for Low Impact Development and Green Stormwater Infrastructure; and
Political Action – to advocate public funding for Lagoon restoration.
Effective Political Action will drive the needed public funding to implement all other Action Items. The greatest impediment to restoration of the Lagoon is insufficient “willingness to pay” by our elected officials and many of their constituents. The Brevard IRL Coalition and Right to Clean Water are working on development of an IRL Political Action Committee (PAC) to educate the public and drive government funding.
Riverkidz Update
Riverkidz campers kayaked while enjoying the beauty of St. Sebastian River and learned ways to protect and care for the Indian River Lagoon.
The campers worked on making cordage taught by Ms. Laura. While taking a break from seining and clean up trash.
They all had a great time, and can not wait to meet up again! Summer nature camps have ended, but the fun continues.
Riverkidz will meet every second and fourth Saturday of the month thru the school year. Riverkidz of all ages are welcome. The next event will be August 24th at the Wabasso causeway at 10 am until noon. For more information contact Miss Jen at piaudubonedu@gmail.com
Hope to see you there!!
City of Vero Beach Breaks Ground
on Stormwater Pipeline to Benefit Lagoon
Pictured above from left to right: Mayor John Catugno, City of Vero Beach; Monte Falls, City Manager, City of Vero Beach; Rob Bolton, City Director of Utilities, City of Vero Beach; Michael T. Korpar, General Manager, John’s Island Property Owners Association Inc., and John’s Island Water Management; Sam Nelson , Director of Utilities and Maintenance, John’s Island Property Owners Association ; Ken Grudens, Executive Director, Indian River Land Trust; JD Hart, Land Stewardship Manager, Indian River Land Trust.
The City of Vero Beach has officially broken ground on a new project designed to enhance the health of the Indian River Lagoon. This new system will withdraw stormwater from the main relief canal, filter out pollutants, and pump the cleaned water through a pipeline to John’s Island for irrigation.
Set for completion in early 2025, this initiative will reduce reliance on the aquifer and minimize the use of nutrient-rich reclaimed wastewater, which can contribute to harmful runoff into the Lagoon. The drilling, taking place from Gifford Dock Park to Bee Gum Point, is strategically timed to avoid disrupting bird migration and nesting seasons.
The Clean Water Coalition collaborated closely with City staff and other stakeholders to enhance this project. CWC supported the shift from using reuse water to filtered canal water, which helped address many of our concerns. Additionally, the decision to cap some of John’s Island’s wells, no longer needed due to this new water source, further improved the project.
The Indian River Land Trust, which owns Bee Gum Point, supports the project and, along with the CWC, recognizes its long-term benefits for the Lagoon’s health.
Your Guide to Voting in the Primary Election
As we near the end of early voting, it's important to vote if you haven't yet and to be prepared for the primary election. Early voting is available through Saturday, August 17, at three locations: Sebastian City Hall, the Supervisor of Elections Office in Vero Beach, and the Indian River County Main Library. Polls are open daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
On Election Day, August 20, polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Remember, you'll need to vote at your assigned polling location based on your legal address. You can find your polling place and check if your address is current here. Don't forget to bring a valid photo and signature ID!
To help you make an informed decision, the Indian River Neighborhood Association and the Clean Water Coalition of Indian River County reached out to all County Commission candidates with important questions on issues like water quality, sustainable growth, and environmental conservation. Their responses are available on this page. If you're not sure who to vote for in the County Commission race, look for answers to important issues in the words of the candidates themselves! For more information on different candidates, please check out the TCPalm Election Page with all their endorsements and candidate information.
For those voting by mail, secure ballot drop boxes are available at all early voting sites during voting hours. On Election Day, mail ballots must be delivered to the Supervisor of Elections office. If you are filling out a mail in ballot, it MUST reach the Supervisor of Elections office on Election Day, August 20. If you do not think USPS is fast enough, please take the time to drop your ballot off.
Your vote is vital in shaping the future of our community. We would argue that local elections like County Commission, School Board, and others can impact your day-to-day lives as much, if not more than federal or statewide offices. Turnout will likely be low, but you can help change that....Make sure you're informed and ready to cast your ballot. Happy voting!
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