One of the most effective working groups in the onsite industry goes by a name that reminds me of Garrison Keillor's Associated Federation of Organizations, made famous on the public radio program, "A Prairie Home Companion."

The Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment -- even its CIDWT acronym is a mouthful -- does some of the finest and most practical work to be found anywhere in the profession. It's easiest to remember the group if you simply think of its web address: www.onsiteconsortium.org.

Its members include the onsite programs of several leading universities, along with training centers, state onsite associations, and advisotry members. Within that membership you find some of the brightest lights in the onsite business -- people who also have a knack for coming together and getting practical tasks accomplished.

What, for example? Well, for starters, training programs for installers and O&M service providers, and a program on Analyzing Wastewater Treatment Systems for High Strength and Hydraulic Loading. Besides all those, there's a glossary of terms, so that practitioners from around the country can speak the same language. There's a library of onsite graphics. Installation and O&M service checklists. Brochures and guidance documents, including a homeowner's guide to evaluating service contracts. A cost estimation program for onsite systems is in the works.

This group operates quietly, behind the scenes, consistently producing items of value to the industry. Maybe they could help raise their profile and stay in memory a little better if they dropped the long- drawn-out name and just called themselves the Onsite Consortium. By any name, this group gets it done.