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EXISTING CONDITIONS <br />In assessing existing conditions, it is necessary to address the sanitary sewer system on several <br />levels. First, it is necessary to differentiate among the various types of systems in the county. <br />This involves separate consideration of the publicly -owned sewer systems, the privately -owned <br />sewer systems, and individual septic systems. Second, it is necessary to identify individual <br />service areas for both the public system and private systems. Finally, it is necessary to assess <br />each type of system and service area in terms of collection, treatment, and disposal. <br />SANITARY SEWER PROCESS <br />Within the county, there are various sanitary sewer systems and service areas. Although specific <br />aspects of the sanitary sewer process vary with the type of system, certain characteristics are the <br />same, regardless of system type. <br />Collection <br />Once wastewater is generated by residences, businesses, industries, and other land uses, it is then <br />conveyed from an individual establishment to a wastewater treatment plant by the collection <br />network. Alternatively, the wastewater may go to an individual septic tank for on-site treatment. <br />Where a centralized system is involved, however, the collection network is generally laid out in a <br />pattern roughly comparable to the branching pattern of a tree. Whereas the smallest sewer pipes <br />connect individual establishments to components of the collection system called trunk mains and <br />interceptors, interceptors and trunk mains connect with and convey wastewater directly to the <br />treatment plant. <br />Treatment <br />After being collected, wastewater is processed by a wastewater treatment plant. Presently, both <br />Indian River County and the City of Vero Beach maintain regional wastewater treatment plants. <br />In addition to those five regional facilities, there are four private package wastewater treatment <br />facilities and the one public package treatment facility (the Blue Cypress Lake wastewater <br />treatment plant) in the county. The existing wastewater treatment plants use a variety of methods <br />to treat wastewater. <br />Once at the treatment plant, the wastewater is treated to remove solid and organic materials. The <br />level of processing of the wastewater is either primary, secondary, advanced secondary, or <br />tertiary. Overall, the treatment level is based on the treatment method and the proportion of <br />materials removed from the wastewater. <br />Community Development Department Indian River County 8 <br />Appendix A <br />