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In addition to differences in the methods of treating wastewater, the existing wastewater treatment plants also differ in the capacity of the facilities. Expressed in terms of gallons of wastewater per day, the capacity of a wastewater treatment plant is the number of gallons of wastewater that the plant can treat on an average daily basis. By -Product Disposal The by-products of the treatment process are effluent, screenings and grit, as well as sludge and septage. Effluent is liquid waste. At county operated wastewater treatment facilities, effluent is usually disposed of through either discharge to a percolation pond or by reuse. Reuse is an effluent disposal method involving spray irrigation. Screenings and grit are the accumulated coarse sewage solids retained by the screening process. Screenings and grit are disposed of at the county landfill. Sludge and septage are the biological organisms that accumulate in the plant. Prior to final disposal, sludge is usually subjected to an additional biological treatment process to remove pathogens. It is also subject to physical dewatering processes which facilitate transportation and disposal. Sludge and septage are disposed of at a special facility at the County landfill. PUBLIC SEWER SYSTEM The five geographic areas comprising the county public sewer system are: the south regional area, the west regional area, the central regional area, the north regional area, and the City of Vero Beach service area. Within the county system, the south county regional plant is connected to the west county regional plant; the north county regional plant is connected to the central county regional plant; and there is a limited connection between the central regional plant and west regional plant. Because the county's regional wastewater treatment plants are interconnected, there is flexibility as to which plant or plants will need to be expanded to accommodate future demand. At the county's central plant, the county also treats the City of Fellsmere's sewage for a bulk rate. Currently, the city's average daily sewer flow is about 71,000 gallons per day, with a maximum flow of 100,000 gallons per day. Besides its regional plants, Indian River County also operates the Blue Cypress Lake package treatment facility. In 2006, 21,349 (44.30%) of the unincorporated county's 48,188 residential units were connected to the regional sewer system. At that time all customers of the county's system, including those living in municipalities, totaled 24,250. Community Development Department Indian River County 9