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OWASA utility systems, 2) as an investor controlled company <br />with public sale of stoc)C or 3) as a private company which <br />operates for the purpose of generating a profit from the <br />operation of a utility and the billing of the utility's <br />customers. Public utility systems also tend to be larger <br />than private cluster systems, but this is not always true. <br />There are several advantages in having waste treatment <br />systems operated as a public cluster system rather than as a <br />private cluster system. The rimary advantage is that <br />operators of systems regulate by the Utilities Commission <br />are required to post a bond for the operation or each of <br />their systems with the Commission. This bond can be cashed <br />by the Commission if required to make repairs on a failing or <br />inadequate system or to secure a new operator for.a system. <br />The Utilities Commission also reviews the financial status of <br />utilities operating under its jurisdiction and sets utility <br />rates. This allows the Commission to be somewhat prepared to <br />replace any utility operator which appears to be financially <br />unable to continue operation of any particular utility <br />system. The disadvantage to a public cluster system is that <br />when a local governments try to become involved in regulating <br />these systems, utility rates are likely to rise. <br />Class Vi Systems - Discharging Package Plants <br />Package plants can be generally described as a miniaturized <br />waste treatment plant. Treatment processes and components for <br />both types of systems usually include some form of aeration, <br />clarification, filtration and chlorination. Package plants <br />are available in sizes ranging up to a treatment capacity of <br />one million gallons per day. Package plants are usually <br />prefabricated units and on -site construction of the plant is <br />generally limited to preparation of the site for placement of <br />the treatment units, installation of piping between <br />individual units, installation of the waste inlet and outlet <br />piping and installation of miscellaneous power and control <br />wiring. <br />The advantages to cluster package plants are numerous. <br />Correctly operated package plants can produce very high - <br />quality effluent which is satisfactory for surface water <br />discharge. Package plants can be used when soil quality or <br />space availability prohibits on -site non - discharging waste <br />disposal. Package plants can be used to replace elements of <br />non - discharging systems and provide very high quality waste <br />treatment. Discharging package plants are very closely <br />regulated and require design, operation and monitoring by <br />certified waste treatment professionals. Disadvantages are <br />equally numerous. Package plants are expensive, complex, <br />maintenance intensive, difficult to operate correctly, and <br />system failures can have major negative environmental <br />impacts. Package plants are now permitted only where there <br />are major streams or water bodies nearby. <br />G <br />