North of the Border

Saskatchewan Health asked the Western Canada Onsite Wastewater Management Association (WCOWMA) to edit the Onsite Wastewater Practitioner training program for onsite installers and designers to ensure that the material addressed differences in the Saskatchewan regulatory framework from other provinces.

The program was developed by the organization and Manitoba Alberta Municipal Affairs and Housing. Manitoba Conservation has not reviewed the program, but recognizes it on a federal agreement that allows for cross-border transfer of certain certified professionals.

In 2010, WCOWMA held several training sessions in British Columbia and formed relationships with provincial and regional regulatory bodies, highlighted by significant input on a provincial training review study.

Last year, installers reported to the Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association (AOWMA) that the updated provincial Standard of Practice magnified some long-standing permitting, inspections and enforcement issues.

The association developed an ad hoc task force with key officials in Alberta Municipal Affairs and the Safety Codes Council to address them. Task force members called for changes, especially development of a standardized permitting process and a more efficient and accountable enforcement structure. Dale McLure, president of AOWMA, represents the association on the Alberta Septage Advisory Committee.

The Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association (OOWA) began a Registered Professional Program as part of an ongoing education initiative and became a Certified Delivery Agent for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing to deliver onsite installer courses through various partners.

The association is working with regulators to update the Ontario Building Code. One revision includes mandatory inspections of onsite systems in areas where source water protection is required. OOWA is developing the inspection procedures and protocols, stressing that inspectors have proper liability insurance coverage.

The Onsite Wastewater Systems Installers of Manitoba hired Trisha Baldwin as a part-time training facilitator. Baldwin will plan training sessions and coordinate efforts with the Continuing Education Committee.

 

Battling Ban

The Florida Onsite Wastewater Association created a Septage Land Application Committee chaired by Ellen Vause of Florida Septic Inc. in Hawthorne, in response to state legislation that bans land-applied biosolids in 2016.

Besides providing the state Department of Health with comments on the ban, the committee provided industry expertise and support for a report to the governor on methods and alternatives for improving land application requirements. The committee states that a few rule upgrades would ensure that the practice of land application meet the requirements to protect public and environment.

 

On the Move

The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association will take over the state’s credentialing process for the Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems. Iowa has 207 certified professionals. The association received a $100,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Technical Assistance and Training grant to develop training materials on installing, maintaining, and sampling advanced treatment systems. Members will work with various manufacturers to develop the program. Darwin Bengford of Municipal Supply in Des Moines was elected to a three-year term as president.

 

Level Playing Field

The Nebraska On-site Waste Water Association is monitoring how the state Department of Environmental Quality applies the Title 124 onsite wastewater standards, as violations continue to threaten ground and surface waters.

Members working with the Onsite Wastewater Advisory Committee are waiting for the department’s preliminary plans for a mound endorsement program. If accepted, it would allow common mound systems for 3- to 5-bedroom homes with high groundwater. The systems, following a basic design, would not require an engineer of record.

The association also is working through the committee to keep the code current, to clarify gray areas, and to develop more challenging tests for certification based on new products, methods, and code changes.

 

New Local Chapter

Hill Country is a new chapter of the Texas Onsite Wastewater Association. Officers are Greg Johnson, president; Miguel Arreloa, vice president; and Wiley Cloud, secretary.

 

Lift and Signal

The January Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association newsletter states that the OSHA requirement for crane operator licensing on construction sites will mean liability for installers, as a certified signal person must be on site when contractors deliver and set septic tanks. The regulations do not say who provides the signal person, so installers must clarify that detail with crane owners or operators before delivery.

Installers who modify their excavators to lift items and set their own tanks also fall under the licensing rules and must be operator, rigging and signalmen certified. Crane operators have until 2013 to certify; the signal person requirements are in effect.

 

Calendar of Events

April 3-5

Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Exhibition, Deerhurst Resort, Huntsville. Call Denis Orendt at 905/372-2722 or visit www.oowa.org.

 

April 27-29

Georgia F.O.G. Alliance Conference and inspector training course, Merle Manders Conference Center, Stockbridge. E-mail Kemnetta Pillette at kpillette@atlantaga.gov or visit www.georgiafog.com.

 

June 9-10

Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Onsite Wastewater Educational Conference, Radisson Suites, Tucson. E-mail Suzanne Ehrlich at suzanne.ehrlich@co.yavapai.az.us.

 

June 18-20

National Environmental Health Association, National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, and State Onsite Regulators Alliance joint Onsite Wastewater Summit and NEHA 75th Annual Educational Conference and Exhibition, Columbus, Ohio. Visit www.neha 2011aec.org/wastewater.html.

 

Training & Education

Small Flows Online

The cover story of the fall/winter Small Flows from the National Environmental Services Center examines wastewater reuse. Other articles include the continued use of honey buckets in Alaska, an overview of services provided by university-based extension services, a report about meth labs and their impact on environmental health, information about water-efficient plumbing and how these fixtures can prolong the life of onsite septic systems, and a humorous look at luxury toilets. The issue is available only in PDF format at www.nesc.wvu.edu/smallflows.cfm.

 

NAWT

The National Association of Wastewater Transporters has these training sessions:

• June 8 – Inspector Training and Recertification, Tucson, Ariz.

• July 21-22 – Inspector Training and Certification, Sonora, Calif.

For Arizona classes, call Kitt Farrell-Poe at 520/621-7221. For New Mexico classes, call Coda Omness at 575/257-3012. For California classes, call Kit Rosefield at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.

 

Alabama

Licensing classes are the joint effort of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association (AOWA) and University of West Alabama (UWA). Courses are at UWA Livingston campus unless stated otherwise:

• May 4-6 – Advanced Installer II

• June 1-3 – Basic Installer

• June 23-24 – Continuing Education, Dothan

The first day of Continuing Education classes is for installers and the second day for pumpers and portable restroom operators. Call the training center at 205/652-3803 or visit www.aowatc.uwa.edu.

 

Arizona

The Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association is sponsoring the NAWT Inspection Training and Recertification course on June 8 at the Radisson Suites Hotel in Tucson. Call Kitt Farrell-Poe at 520/621-7221 or e-mail kittfp@ag.arizona.edu or visit www.ag.arizona.edu/waterquality/onsite.

 

California

The California Onsite Wastewater Association is offering these NAWT classes:

• May 13 – Science of Soils, San Luis Obispo

• July 21-22 – NAWT Onsite Inspector Training and Certification, Sonora

Call Kit Rosefield at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.

 

Florida

Courses are at the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association Training Center in Polk City unless stated otherwise.

• May 4 – High-Strength Wastewater Treatment Systems, Daytona Beach

• May 10 – Installer Program III, Jacksonville

• May 11 – Installer Program III, Tallahassee

• May 16 – Master I: Onsite Wastewater Concepts, Mats, Regs, and App Process

• May 17-18 – Master II: Intro to Soils and the Evaluation Process

• May 19-20 – Master III: Onsite System Construction Permits and Inspections

Contact FOWA at 321/363-1590 or www.fowaonsite.com.

 

Iowa

The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association has these courses:

• May 16 – Sand Filters At-Grades and Mounds, Mason City

• June 17 – Site Evaluations and Soils, Emmetsburg

Call Alice Vinsand at 515-225-1051, e-mail execdir@iowwa.com, or visit www.iowwa.com.

 

Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Extension has these classes:

• May 2-4 – Pumping and Maintaining Onsite Systems, Mankato

• May 2-6 – Pumper/Maintenance and Service Provider, Mankato

• May 3-6 – Service Provider, Mankato

• May 10-12 – Basic Design of Onsite Systems, Mankato

• May 18 – Soils Continuing Education, Farmington

• May 24-27 – Advanced Design on Onsite Systems, Mankato

• June 1-3 – Soils, Alexandria

• June 7-8 – Inspecting Onsite Systems, Waseca

• June 15 – Soils Continuing Education, Forest Lake

• June 21 – Soils Continuing Education, Worthington

• June 22-24 – Soils, Mankato

• June 29 – Soils Continuing Education, St. Cloud

Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 or visit www.septic.umn.edu.

 

Missouri

The Missouri Smallflows Organization is offering these CEU courses:

• May 10-11 – Operations and Maintenance, Springfield

• June 28 – Selling the System to the Site Conditions, Sedalia

• June 29 – Media Filters, Sedalia

Call Tammy Yelden at 417/739-4100 or visit www.mosmallflows.org.

 

New England

The New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston has these courses:

• May 5 – Functional Inspections

• May 12 – Innovative & Alternative Technologies

• May 19 – All About Series: Sand Media

• May 26 – Installing Conventional Onsite Systems

• June 2 – Installing Advanced Onsite Systems

• June 2 – Innovative and Alternative Technology Field Training, Peckham Farm

• June 8 – Soil Basics for the Onsite Wastewater Contractor

• June 16 – Hands-On Component Installation

• June 23 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation

Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq. For soil course information, call Mark Stolt at 401/874-2915 or e-mail mstolt@uri.edu.

 

New Hampshire

The Granite State Designers and Installers Association is offering Certified Septic Evaluator training May 3-7 in Bow. Call 603/ 228-1231 or visit www.gsdia.org.

 

Virginia

The Virginia Center for Onsite Wastewater Training has these classes:

• May 9-13 – Soils (Site Evaluation), Ashland

• May 23-27 – Onsite Design Camp II, Farmville

Contact Lydia Shepherd at 434/ 292-3101, e-mail lydia.shepherd@southside.edu, or visit www.south side.edu.

 

Washington State

The Washington On-Site Sewage Association and Washington State Department of Health in cooperation with Washington State University are offering these certification courses at the training center in Puyallup:

• May 3-4 – Basics of Electrical Applications in Onsite Systems

• May 11 – Basics of Installing, Part 3

• May 25 – Electrical Control Panels

Call WOSSA at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.

 

Wisconsin

The Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association is holding a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Evaluator Course May 16-17 in Manitowoc. Call 608/256-7757 or visit www.wowra.com.