South Indian River Water Control District
South Indian River Water Control District was established as a Special District in 1923. South Indian River Water Control District is organized and exists pursuant to Chapter 189 and Chapter 298, Florida Statutes, as amended and supplemented, and other applicable provisions of law, including a number of special acts of the Florida Legislature relating to the District, particularly Chapter 2001-313, Laws of Florida. Amendments to Chapter 2001-313 include Chapter 2003-332, Chapter 2004-467, Chapter 2008-274, and Chapter 2009-250.
The current fiscal year is 2024-2025.
The District is governed by a five-member Board of Supervisors that serve three-year terms and maintenance and operations are overseen by the Executive Director, William Kennedy.
The Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees, adopted by the Florida Legislature as Part III of Chapter 112, Florida Statutes, contains standards of ethical conduct and disclosures applicable to public officers, employees, candidates, lobbyists, and others in State and local government, with the exception of judges. The "Sunshine Amendment," adopted by Florida voters through a constitutional initiative in 1976 as Article II, Section 8, Florida Constitution, contains standards of ethical conduct and disclosures applicable to public officers and employees; it also requires the Legislature to adopt the code of ethics described above. For more information please visit the Florida Commission on Ethics website.
Special Districts are a unique form of government, providing special services that are not duplicated by other governmental agencies. They provide limited-purpose government on a local level with less administrative overhead than any other form of local government.
Originally South Indian River Water Control District was charged only with the task of water management - providing surface water drainage through construction and maintenance of canals, and other water control structures. In the mid-1970s, road construction and maintenance were added to the District's responsibilities, and in the early 1990s, a water distribution system in the eastern portion of the District. Today, the District continues to serve the landowners with operations and maintenance of its infrastructure and implementing capital improvement projects and landowner-initiated improvements.
At its inception, the District was a purely rural area west of Jupiter, Florida. Although the area largely retains a rural character, substantial residential growth has occurred in the last four decades and the District now serves Jupiter Farms, Palm Beach Country Estates, Egret Landing, and the Jupiter Park of Commerce. The District covers over 12,400 acres or approximately 20 square miles, with 189 miles of paved and unpaved roads, 60 miles of canals, and 376 miles of swales.
South Indian River Water Control District currently collects and expends assessments from District landowners to pay for maintenance and construction of roads, swales, canals, and other water control structures, as well as construction costs to install potable water in Palm Beach Country Estates.
The District does not have police or fire powers - these are provided by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's office and Fire/Rescue departments. Trash collection is provided by Solid Waste Authority.