MINNESOTA
MPCA videos help onsite training
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency requires county, city and township onsite program administrators to receive basic training from agency staff. The training has progressed from workshops to a webcast to 12 online videos of less than 15 minutes each. “Online training is best served in small doses,” says Gretchen Sabel, subsurface sewage treatment system coordinator. “This format makes it easier to find and view specific topics.” Each video segment includes a summary and quick quiz to help viewers understand and remember key issues. The videos are at www.pca.state.mn.us.
MISSOURI
Smallflows group names new board members
The Missouri Smallflows Organization announced that Kerry Clark of New Bloomfield and Tom Dewitt of Rogersville replaced board members Nancy Leighton, president, and Tracy Rank. Clark is working toward her Ph.D. in soil science; Dewitt is a professional soil scientist. The board elected Michael Bowers as president.
PENNSYLVANIA
Association supports land application practices
The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association joined 10 other organizations, including the Mid-Atlantic Biosolids Association and the Pennsylvania Water Environment Association, in filing a friend-of-the-court brief supporting a decision that land application of biosolids is a normal farming practice protected by the state’s Right-to-Farm Act. The issue is whether private lawsuits can be brought against those who apply biosolids despite being compliant with state and federal requirements and protected by the law.
The association also submitted a letter opposing a petition from the Delaware River Riverkeepers to the state Environmental Quality Board. The letter suggested that the petition, if granted, would hamper economic development in the middle and upper parts of the Delaware River and would pose difficulties in the installation of onsite systems, affect biosolids applications and increase costs to municipal wastewater treatment plants.
CALIFORNIA
November conference planned
The California Onsite Wastewater Association Integrated Water Technology Conference and Exhibition is a collaborative effort with the American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, Graywater Alliance and stormwater interests. Held at the LEJ Eco Center in San Francisco on Nov. 12-13, the event recognizes all onsite water resources and the benefits and effects they have on treating wastewater. Panels of industry experts and a regulatory representative will cover design, installation, operation and maintenance, and a concluding discussion on commonalities. 530/513-6658; www.cowa.org.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Oct. 6-8
Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Annual Conference, Sheraton Roanoke Hotel and Conference Center, Roanoke. 540/465-9623; www.vowra.org.
Oct. 8-10
Onsite Water Protection Conference, Jane S. McKimmon Conference & Training Center, Raleigh, N.C. Contact Joni Tanner at 919/513-1678, soils_training@ncsu.edu or visit www.cvent.com/events/29th-annual-onsite-water-protection-conference/event-summary-733a0e99dfd84a8eb17f28e297bc425d.aspx.
Oct. 15-16
Delaware On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association, Harrington Raceway and Casino/Delaware State Fair grounds, Harrington. Contact Hollis Warren at 302/284-9130, Dan String at 302/854-9450, or www.dowra.org.
Oct. 31-Nov. 2
Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services Conference and Expo, Waterloo Inn Conference Hotel, Waterloo. 877/202-0082; http://oasisontario.on.ca.
Nov. 12-13
California Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, LEJ Eco Center, San Francisco. 530/513-6658; www.cowa.org.
Nov. 12-13
Trenchless Technology Road Show, Holiday Inn, Boxborough, Mass. http://trenchlessroadshows.com.
Nov. 17-20
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Technical & Education Conference and Trade Show, Millennium Maxwell House Hotel, Nashville, Tenn. 800/966-2942; www.nowra.org.
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
Alabama
Licensing classes are the joint effort of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association and University of West Alabama. Courses are at UWA Livingston campus:
- Nov. 6-8 – Advanced Installer II
- Dec. 5-6 – Continuing Education
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 http://aowatc.uwa.edu.
California
The California Onsite Wastewater Association is offering these classes:
- Nov. 12-13 – Integrated Water Technologies, Sacramento
- Dec. 4-5 – National Association of Wastewater Technicians Operations and Maintenance Level 2, Sonora
Call Kit Rosefield at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.
Delaware
The Delaware Technical Community College-Owens Campus has these courses:
- Online: Pumps, Motors and Controls – enrollment until Dec. 13
- Nov. 7 – Innovative and Alternative Onsite Systems
- Nov. 7 – DOT Regulations Review For Pumpers
- Nov. 8 – Pumps: Installation, Maintenance and Repair
- Nov. 13 – Risers, Baffles and Filters: Installation and Repair
- Nov. 13 – Vacuum Truck Basics
- Nov. 13 – Operation and Maintenance of Innovative and Alternative Systems
- Nov. 14 – Aggregate-Free Alternatives for Onsite Disposal Systems
- Nov. 15 – Pump Hydraulics
- Nov. 20 – Alternative Treatment and Disposal Options for Wastewater Facilities
- Nov. 22 – Onsite Control Systems
- Nov. 22 – Submersible Pumps
- Nov. 26 – Soils-Based Approach to Siting Wastewater Disposal
- Nov. 27 – Replacement of Onsite Systems
- Dec. 4 – Onsite 101
- Dec. 5 – Biological Nutrient Removal Process Control
- Dec. 12 – Soils
- Dec. 18 – Tracking Water Movement Through Doppler and Transit Time Flowmeters
Call Hilary Valentine at 302/259-6384.
Georgia
The University of Georgia Center for Urban Agriculture is offering Onsite Wastewater Management classes:
- 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 Waste Water Association has an Installation Overview with CIOWTS test Nov. 22-23 at Knoxville. Contact Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051, execdir@iowwa.com or visit www.iowwa.com.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program has these classes:
- Nov. 20-21 – General Continuing Education, St. Cloud
- Dec. 9-11 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, Mankato
- Dec. 12-13 – Installing Onsite Systems, Mankato
- Dec. 16-17 – General Continuing Education, Brainerd
- Dec. 18-19 – Installer Continuing Education, Mankato
- Dec. 19 – Pipelayer Certification, Mankato
Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 or visit http://septic.umn.edu.
Missouri
The Missouri Smallflows Organization has these CEU courses:
- Nov. 5-6 – Operations & Maintenance, Liberty
- Nov. 25-26 – Operations & Maintenance, Springfield
- Dec. 11 – Drip Irrigation, Camdenton
- Dec. 12 – Pumps, Panels and Electrical, Camdenton
Call Tammy Trantham 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:
- Nov. 5 – AutoCALCS - Automated Support Materials for Pump Timers, Tanks, Chambers, Bottomless Sand Filter Sizing and Buoyancy Calculations
- Nov. 14 – Identifying and Managing High Strength Wastewater
- Nov. 21 – Rhode Island Regulatory Setbacks and Buffers
- Dec. 5 – Nitrogen in the Environment and Onsite Wastewater Systems
- Dec. 12 – Designing Nitrogen Removal Technologies
Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Septic Tank Association has these classes:
- Nov. 11 – Installer/Inspector, Greensboro
- Nov. 12 – Pumper and Land Application, Greensboro
Call 336/416-3564 or visit www.ncsta.net.
The North Carolina Pumper Group and Portable Toilet Group have an educational seminar on septage management and land application Dec. 14 in Raleigh. Call Joe McClees at 252/249-1097 or visit www.ncpumpergroup.org or www.ncportabletoiletgroup.org.
Oregon
The Chemeketa Community College in Salem has a Maintenance Operator class Nov. 4-5. Call 503/399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu/busprofession/ccbi/customizedtraining/deq/classes.html.
