Georgia Association Creates CEU Classes

The Georgia Onsite Wastewater Association began providing continuing education credits at its annual conference. Vice president Matt Vinson of Vinson Septic Solutions assembled presentations. Association legislative liaison Jim Free of Infiltrator Systems assisted Vinson with logistics.

"As a former health inspector, Infiltrator representative, and septic contractor, I heard so many misinterpretations and wrong information given out over the years," says Vinson. "I wanted to teach the regulations that are in the manual and how they tie to practices in the field." Most classes included outdoor hands-on activities and vendors demonstrating products. The fresh air classrooms were well received.

Minnesota Activities

The Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association elected Lori Ende, co-owner of Ende Septic in Rogers, as its first woman president. The organization encourages member participation and seeks a diverse industrial membership. To encourage members to attend functions and voice opinions, the board proposed a new convention format with an open forum held back-to-back with the board meeting during prime time. The board also considered making the forum part of the board meeting and including panel discussions.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency staff traveled to 66 counties and 22 cities across the state meeting with local onsite program representatives to share information on septage storage, the new Existing System Inspection form, septic tank and treatment product registration, and standards for ultralow-flow systems.

The University of Minnesota Extension Onsite Sewage Treatment Program published a fact sheet, "Antibacterial Products in Septic Systems." It says the cumulative effect of antibacterial soaps, cleaners and laundry bleach may destroy beneficial bacteria. Several professionals reporting little or no bacterial activity in systems said discontinuing antibacterial products restored proper treatment. Visit www.septic.umn.edu/factsheets/antibacterialproducts.

Online Precast Septic Tank Plans

Gizmoplans.com released plans for septic tank molds designed for 300- to 3,000-gallon precast concrete tanks with up to three compartments. Plans come with detailed drawings and specifications that include tank and cover weight, inlet and outlet invert sizes, liquid levels, and interior airspace. The goal is to help precasters recover in a shaky economy by building their own molds. Plans can be downloaded from the website.

Calendar of Events

Oct. 7-9

Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Trade Show, Williamsburg Hotel and Conference Center. 540/465-9623; www.vowra.org.

Oct. 15-16

Delaware Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Exhibition, Dover Downs Casino and Conference Center. Call Niki Glanden at 302/359-2210, Hollis Warren at 302/284-9070, or visit www.dowra.org.

Training & Education

Training at Michigan Directors Meeting

The fall Michigan Septic Tank Association Board of Directors meeting at Williams Pumping Service in Maple City on Oct. 13 will have continuing education classes after lunch. Contact Joe Williams at 231/228-7499 or williamspumping@cs.com.

Class for Precasting

WasteWater Education will offer an online class on Seals, Sealants, Mastics and Boots for Precast Installation on Oct. 17 from noon to 1:30 p.m. Eastern time (with an additional option of Oct. 24, same times, if necessary). The presentation will discuss how to choose, install and inspect for appropriate seals, sealants, gaskets and boots to ensure a watertight precast concrete tank. The presenter is Tim Andrews of Press-Seal Gasket Corp. Register online at www.wastewatereducation.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:

• Oct. 4-5 – Pumpers Class

• Oct. 10-12 – Advanced Installer I Class

• Oct. 25-26 – Continuing Education Class, Mobile

• Nov. 14-16 – Advanced Installer II Class

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

Arizona

The University of Arizona Onsite Wastewater Education Program has a Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Systems course Oct. 8-9 in Tucson. Contact Kitt Farrell-Poe at 520/621-7221, kittfp@ag.arizona.edu or www.ag.arizona.edu/waterquality/onsite.

Connecticut

The Connecticut Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (COWRA) is accepting applications for its 2013 Installer and Pumper/Cleaner courses. The Installer School is held six Thursdays, Jan. 17 to Feb. 21 (snow date of Feb. 28). Enrollees are automatically enrolled in the Pumper/Cleaner School, scheduled for Thursday, Feb. 21 (snow date of Feb. 28). Both courses are offered as preparation for the State Licensing Exam. For more information, contact Janice Cavanaugh at 860/267-1057.

Georgia

The University of Georgia's Center for Urban Agriculture is offering Onsite Wastewater Management classes:

• Oct. 5, Dublin

• Oct. 12, Albany

• Oct. 26, Valdosta

• Nov. 2, Fulton

• Nov. 16, Brunswick

Contact the Continuing Education Center at 770/229-3477, conteduc@uga.edu or www.ugaurbanag.com.

Iowa

The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association has these courses:

• Oct. 26 – Educating Homeowners/How to Prepare for Future Upgrade, Grimes

• Nov. 16-17 – CIOWTS Installation Overview and Test, Newton

Contact Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051, execdir@iowwa.com or visit www.iowwa.com.

Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center has these classes:

• Oct. 2 – Soils Continuing Education, Red Wing

• Oct. 23-26 – Advanced Design and Inspection of Onsite Systems, Part 2, Mankato

• Nov. 28-29 – Installer Continuing Education, Brainerd

• Nov. 29 – Pipelayer Certification, Brainerd

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

Missouri

The Missouri Smallflows Organization has these CEU courses:

• Oct. 17 – Aerated Treatment Units, St. Louis

• Oct. 18 – Hydraulics, St. Louis

• Nov. 13 – Troubleshooting, Liberty

• Nov. 14 – Hydraulics, Liberty

• Nov. 27 – Drainfields/Water Management, Springfield

• Nov. 28 – Pumps, Panels and Electrical, Springfield

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

Nebraska

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension has a state-approved Operations and Maintenance course on Oct. 11 in Wayne. Call the extension at 402/472-9390 or visit www.deq.state.ne.us/WasteWat.nsf/pages/OnsitePDH.

New England

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

• Oct. 4 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation

• Oct. 11 – Functional Inspections

• Nov. 1 – Rhode Island Designer Examination Prep

• Nov. 8 – AutoCALCS - Automated Bottomless Sand Filter Sizing, Pump Calculations, and Support Material

• Nov. 15 – Identifying and Managing High-Strength Wastewater

• Nov. 29 – Regulatory Setbacks and Buffers

Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq.

North Carolina

North Carolina Septic Tank Association has the following classes:

• Oct. 8-9 – Installer/Inspector, Hickory

• Oct. 24-25 – Installer/Inspector, Greensboro

• Oct. 26 – Pumper/Land Application, Greensboro

Pumper and land application credits apply for Oct. 8 and 26. Call 336/416-3565 or visit www.ncsta.net.

Oregon

The Chemeketa Community College in Salem has these CEU classes:

• Oct. 24 – Installer

• Nov. 7-8 – Maintenance Operator

Call 503/399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu/busprofession/ccbi/customizedtraining/deq/classes.html.

Utah

Utah State University has these On-Site Wastewater Treatment Certification renewal workshops:

• Oct. 3-4 – Level 2, Logan

• Oct. 23-25 – Level 3, Logan

Call Ivonne Harris at 435/797-3693 or visit http://uwrl.usu.edu/partnerships/training/classes.html.