Installers can open an entirely new revenue source by maintaining community and cluster onsite systems, said Michael Stephens of SCS Systems in Haslett, Mich. He spoke in an Education Day seminar this afternoon at the Pumper & Cleaner Expo in Indianapolis.
Clusters systems serve multiple homes, usually with individual septic tanks but with one wastewater collection system, one treatment plant and one soil dispersal area or surface water discharge. Benefits of cluster system maintenance contracts for installers versus for individual homes include larger contracts, broader scope of services, potential for add-on services, economies of scale, and a year-round revenue stream, Stephens said. Key elements in managing these systems include:
* Managing the input – tracking excess flow or high-strength waste back to the source and holding the homeowners accountable.
* Proper installation – making the collection system watertight, standardizing components, installing risers on all tanks, and bedding all components properly.
* Efficiency in O&M – Combined site visits for alarms, planned maintenance, and other services.
If you’re at the Expo today, good for you! If not, consider ordering CDs of the Education Day presentations of your choice. Visit www.conventioncds.com.
