Association News

Positive experiences

After attending the NAWT-sponsored Septage/Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposium in Harrisburg, Pa., last September, Bob “Pepi” Murrell spearheaded the first Rural Waste Water Treatment Expo during the 2008 Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services conference. More than 85 members attended.

David Bell from Saxe Law Office in Toronto spoke of the liability issues members could face. According to Bell, the government, by taking away options and offering nothing in their place, has increased the challenges of doing business. “Those in the septage industry are faced with a myriad of liability possibilities: personal injury, failure to comply, and the potential of accidentally causing environmental harm,” he says.

Bell encouraged members to perform a business risk assessment and look at their hiring practices. “How you hire, with a contract or with a written or verbal agreement, will have a direct bearing on your liability,” he says. Bell also suggested scrutinizing contracts with municipalities. He pointed out the importance of understanding exactly what the agreement says about sampling responsibilities, proving what is in a load, and similar issues. Call Bell at 416/962-5882 or e-mail admin@envirolaw.com.

Funding assistance for onsite systems

Onsite or decentralized systems serve more than 25 percent of Missouri households, but funding assistance to individuals or small communities is limited. To help focus State Revolving Funds and other funding efforts for the greatest good, the Department of Health and Senior Services is asking pumpers to identify, quantify, and prioritize the needs in their areas.

The agency is seeking information about the cost of repairing or replacing different types of onsite systems. This will allow the state to include onsite/decentralized needs in the Clean Watershed Needs Survey. Doing so may lead to increased funding assistance for individuals and small communities. To participate, contact the Onsite Sewage Program at 573/751-6095.

Events Calendar

March 2-5

Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Deerhurst Conference Centre, Huntsville. Call 905/372-2722 or visit www. oowa.org.

March 3-5

Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association Convention, Cragun’s Resort, Brainerd. Call 888/810-4178 or visit www.mowa-mn.com.

March 11-13

Northeast Onsite Short Course, Marriott Hotel and Spa, Groton, Conn. Call 978/323-7929 or www. neiwpcc.org.

March 24

Granite State Designers and Installers Association Septic System Conference & Exhibition, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, N.H. Call 603/228-1231 or visit www. gsdia.org.

April 7-10

National Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Cook Convention Center, Memphis, Tenn. Call 800/966-2942 or visit www.nowra.org.

April 15-17

North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Treatment Conference, North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Call Joni Tanner at 919/515-1678 or visit www.soil. ncsu.edu, then Training, Short Courses and Workshops.

May 12-15

California Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Expo-sition, DoubleTree Hotel, Sacra-mento, Calif. Call 707/579-4882 or visit www.cowa.org.

Training and Education

Ontario Onsite System Brochure

The Ministry of the Environment and the Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre developed a brochure with information about protecting the environment through the responsible operation and maintenance of onsite systems. Call 416/325-4000.

Effluent Pumps for Onsite Systems

The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association is presenting “Sizing Effluent Pumps for Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Selecting the Right Pump for the Job,” a non-credit training program, on March 14 as part of the Illinois Plumbing Heating Cooling Expo at the Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace. The program is in its certification stage and will become eligible for CEUs. Call Bev Potts at 800/795-7422 or visit www.ilphcc.com.

Florida

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

• March 6 – Master Contractor Maintenance

• March 11 – Onsite Systems: How Are They Approved?, northeast Florida (TBD)

• March 12 – Onsite Systems: How Are They Approved?, northwest Florida (TBD)

• March 25 – Work Smart, Not Hard, southeast Florida (TBD)

• March 26 – Work Smart, Not Hard, southwest Florida (TBD)

• April 7-8 – Master III-Basic Florida Soils

• April 9-10 – Master I-System Design and Function

• April 10-11 – Master II-System Materials and Regulation Requirement

• April 22 – Smart Business Practices: Portable Restroom Rental Industry

• April 23 –Septage and Grease in Florida

• May 6 – Smart Business Practices: Portable Restroom Rental Industry

• May 20-21 – O&M Service Provider Program I, II, III, Miami

Contact FOWA at 407/830-4381 or www.fowaonsite.com.

Iowa

The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Training Center has the following courses:

• March 17 – Basic 101, Calmar

• March 27 – Media Filters, Indian Hills

• May 14 – Drip Irrigation Dispersal Systems, Ankeny

• June 19 – Basic Soils, TBD

Call Annette Adams at 800/ 362-2127, ext: 6464 or e-mail Dennis Hayworth at dahayworth@ dmacc.edu.

Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Extension has these hands-on workshops:

• March 11-12 – General-Continuing Education, Willmar

• March 14 – Contractor Safety/ Pipelayer Certification, Continuing Education, Mankato

• March 25-26 – Pumping/ Maintaining-Continuing Education, Brainerd

• March 31-April 1-2 – Introduction To Onsite Systems, Bemidji

• April 3-4 – Installing Onsite Systems, Bemidji

• April 11 – Contractor Safety/Pipelayer Certification, Continuing Education, Little Falls

• April 14-15 – General-Continuing Education, White Bear Lake

• April 16-18 – Designing Onsite Systems, Detroit Lakes

• April 22-23 – Inspecting Onsite Systems, Waseca

• April 28-30 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, White Bear Lake

• May 1-2 – Installing, White Bear Lake

• May 5-7 – Pumping and Maintaining, Mankato

• May 5-9 – Pumper/ Maintaining and Service Provider Combo, Mankato

• May 6-9 – Service Provider, Mankato

• May 29-30 – Soils, Brainerd

Call 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit www.extension. umn.edu.

Missouri

The Department of Health and Senior Services is offering the following training professional CEU courses:

• March 4 – Basics of Onsite Wastewater, El Dorado

• March 5 – Basic Drip Irrigation Design and Installation, El Dorado

• March 13-14 – Advanced Installer, Jefferson City

• March 18-19 – Operation and Maintenance, Sedalia

• March 25-26 – Advanced Installer, Springfield

• March 25 – Troubleshooting, Columbia

• March 26 – Hydraulics, Columbia

• April 15 – Troubleshooting, Springfield

• April 15-16 – Advanced Installer, Cape Girardeau

• April 16 – Hydraulics, Springfield

• April 22 – Basics on Onsite Wastewater, Chillicothe

• April 23 – Basic Drip Irrigation Design and Installation, Chillicothe

• May 6 – Troubleshooting, Grandview

• May 7 – Hydraulics, Grandview

• May 20-21 – Operation and Maintenance, Camdenton

• May 27 – Troubleshooting, Maryville

• May 28 – Hydraulics, Maryville

Call 573/526-6095 or visit www.dhss.mo.gov/Onsite

New Hampshire

The New Hampshire Depart-ment of Environmental Services is offering the following at its Concord auditorium:

• April 2 – Installers, review class

• April 8 – Installers, exam

• April 16 – Onsite Designers, review class

• April 22 – Onsite Designers, exam

Call NHDES Public Informa-tion Center at 603/271-2975.

North Carolina

North Carolina Soils and On-Site Wastewater Training Academy is offering the following courses:

• April 2 – Sediment and Erosion Control Workshop, Raleigh

• April 22-24 – Land Application/Residual Operator, Raleigh

• April 23-25 – Subsurface Wastewater Operator, Raleigh

• May 5-8 – Spray Irrigation Systems Operator, Raleigh

• May 13-14 – Writing A Certified Nutrient Management Plan, Raleigh

• May 20 – Introduction to Decentralized Wastewater, Fletcher

• May 21-22 – Onsite Wastewater System Inspector, Fletcher

Call Joni Tanner at 919/515-1678 or visit www.soil.ncsu.edu/ training.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association offers the following training on March 19-20 at Grantville:

• Vac-Truck Training and Certification

• Basic Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

• Advanced Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

• Basic Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

• Advanced Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

• Standards Refresher

New Jersey Septage Manage-ment Association members qualify for PSMA member tuition fees. Call Jackie at 610/350-0590 or visit http://psma.net.

Rhode Island

The University of Rhode Island’s Onsite Wastewater Training Center offers these professional development workshops at its Kingston campus:

• April 17 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation

• April 30-May 1 – Conventional Onsite Wastewater System Inspection

• May 8 – Innovative and Alternative Technology Overview

• May 14 – Hands-On Component Installation

• May 29 – Innovative and Alternative Systems Field Tour

• June 4-5 – Innovative and Alternative Systems Operation and Maintenance

• June 18 – Soils Basics for the Onsite Wastewater Contractor (contact Mark Stolt)

• June 25 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation

Call Holly Meehan at 401/874-5950 or Mark Stolt, when directed, at 401/874-2915 or visit www.uri. edu/ce/wq.

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 unless stated otherwise:

• March 5 – Markup and Profit

• March 13 – Control Panel Wiring

• March 19-20 – Exam Review

• April 2 – Maintenance Basics

• April 16 – Pumpers

• April 23 – Design/Install Subsurface Drip Systems

• May 6-7 – Combined Basics of Onsite Sewage

• May 14-15 – Installation Basics, Part 2

• May 20 – Mounds/Sand Filters

• May 22 – Maintenance Basics, Bremerton

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

Wisconsin

Wieser Concrete has a six-hour, general continuing education seminar that provides the necessary credits for installers, sanitarians, designers, and others working in the onsite wastewater treatment field,

• March 6 – Shell Lake

• March 13 – Fond du Lac

• March 20 – Wieser Concrete Maiden Rock Facility

• March 27 – Rhinelander

Call 800/325-8456 or visit www.wieserconcrete.com.