Discussion forums

The Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Community Bulletin Board System is now online. The need for a discussion forum became critical during last year’s legislative session, when e-mail distribution lists failed to keep members abreast of what was happening. Access the bulletin board from www.vowra.org.

Change in leadership

Ken Walsh and Jim Williams are president and vice president of the Delaware Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association through 2009. Walsh (302/436-8822) owns Multi Koastal in Ocean View and has more than 20 years of experience in the wastewater industry. Williams (302/492-3915) is a service manager and salesman for Freemire & Associates and has more than 15 years of experience in the industry.

Death toll too high

Deputy Fire Chief John Andersen with the Chippewa Fire District stated in Wisconsin newspapers that eight to 12 residents die in septic tanks each year. Members of the Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association believe the actual number is much lower.

Andersen’s quote was part of a news report about an 82-year-old man who, while doing repairs on his septic tank, fell head first down the riser and drowned. WOWRA asked area media to follow up and review the statistic and stress septic tank safety.

Board member Bill Bergh did a follow-up interview with the newspaper, advising people to keep the tank covers locked and encouraging them to let licensed professionals do maintenance. WOWRA sells brochures on how to maintain onsite systems and advising people never to enter a septic tank. Call 608/256-7757 for more information.

Business and private lives

Psychologists claim that business owners are twice as likely to be unable to separate their business and private lives. Sara Bertran of Black Tie Event Services Inc. wrote in the March newsletter of the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association that a steady diet of long hours can produce poor mental nutrition and reduce efficiency. When 12- to 14-hour days begin piling up, she says to ask yourself:

• Is everyone in the business pulling his or her weight?

• Can tasks be restructured so I don’t have to be involved at every step?

• Can I hire more help?

• Can I occasionally outsource overloads?

Bertran suggests setting boundaries, such as leaving work at 5:30 twice a week, having lunch with a friend once a week, setting a weekday family night, working in the garden with your spouse once a week, or helping a child with homework twice a week.

“Make quiet time at work for overtime tasks like e-mails and paperwork, rather than taking time away from yourself or your family,” Bertran says. “Get a biannual or annual physical to make sure that work pressures aren’t triggering health problems.”

Calendar Of Events

Aug. 22-23

Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers Association Summer Convention, Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton. Call 608/255-2770 or visit www.wlwca.com.

Sept. 10-11

Septage/Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposium, Holiday Inn at Six Flags, Eureka, Mo. Call 800/ 236-6298 or visit www.nawt.org.

Oct. 12-15

Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Trade Show, Blacksburg. Call Trapper Davis at 804/966-9190 or visit www.vowra.org.

Oct. 14-15

Delaware Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Exhibition, Dover Downs Hotel and Casino, Dover. Call 302/ 739-9331 or visit www.dowra.org.

Oct. 23-26

Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services Conference and Exposition, Best Western Confer-ence Centre, Orillia. Call Don Kelloway at 877/202-0082 or visit www.oasisontario.on.ca.

Jan. 13-15, 2009

Michigan Onsite Wastewater Conference, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing. Many sessions count for required CEU hours. Call Mark Scott at 989/275-5011 or e-mail mscott@i2k.com.

Jan 30-31

Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers Association and Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association Joint Convention, Marriott West Hotel, Madison. Call 608/255-2770 or visit www.wowra.com.

Training & Education

National Association of Wastewater Transporters

NAWT has scheduled these training sessions:

• June 5 – Inspector Training and Certification, Flagstaff, Ariz. Contact Kitt Farrell-Poe at 928/782-3836; kittfp@ag.arizona.edu.

• July 17-18 – Operation and Maintenance Training, northern Calif.; Call 707/579-4882; www.cowa.org,

• Aug. 6-7 – Operation and Maintenance Training, central Calif.; Call 707/579-4882; www.cowa.org,

• Aug. 26-27 – Inspector Training and Certification, Tucson, Ariz. Contact Kitt Farrell-Poe at 928/782-3836; kittfp@ag.arizona.edu.

Alabama

Licensing classes are the joint effort of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association (AOWA) and University of West Alabama (UWA). Courses are at UWA’s Livingston campus:

• June 11-13 – Basic Installer

• June 26-27 – Continuing Education, Dothan

• Aug. 7-8 – Continuing Education

Call Allen Tartt at 205/652-3803 or visit www.aowatc.uwa.edu.

California

Certification courses are sponsored by the California Onsite Wastewater Association and NAWT. Check the web site for locations.

• June 12 – Soils

• July 17-18 – Operation and Maintenance, Part 1

• Aug. 6-7 – Operation and Maintenance Part 2

Call Cliff Trammel at 707/579-4882 or visit www.cowa.org.

Florida

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

• June 10 – Management of Decentralized Systems, Jacksonville

• June 11 – Management of Decentralized Systems, Daytona Beach

• June 16-17 – Master III-Basic Florida Soils

• June 18-19 – Master I-System Design and Function

• June 19-20 – Master II-System Materials and Regulation Requirement

• July 8 – Master IV-Design Considerations and Dosing Systems, Jacksonville

• July 9 – Master IV-Design Considerations and Dosing Systems, Tallahassee

• July 15 – Septage and Grease in Florida, Sarasota

• Aug. 7 – Enhanced Nutrient Reduction, southeast Florida (TBD)

• Aug. 18-19 – Master III-Basic Florida Soils

• Aug. 20-21 – Master I-System Design and Function

• Aug. 21-22 – Master II-System Materials and Regulation Requirement

• Aug. 25 – Aerobic Treatment Units, Part I

• Aug. 26 – Aerobic Treatment Units, Part II

• Aug. 27 – Artificial Media Treatment Technologies

• Aug. 28 – Natural Media Treatment Technologies

• Aug. 29 – What’s New at the Training Center?

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

Iowa

The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Training Center has the following courses:

• June 19 – Basic Soils, TBD

• Aug. 21 – At-Grade and Mounts, Ankeny

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

Michigan

The Michigan Onsite Waste-water Training and Education Center at MSU Tollgate Center in Novi is offering these courses:

• Aug. 12-13 – Existing Systems Evaluator Training

• Aug. 20 – Pumped Systems Evaluator Training

Contact Barb DeLong at 517/355-4720 or visit www.egr.msu.edu/age, then Extension & Outreach.

Minnesota

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

• June 2-4 – Designing Onsite Systems, Mankato

• June 5-6 – Soils, Mankato

• June 10-11 – Soils, Sartell

• June 12-13 – Inspecting Onsite Systems, Waseco

• June 20 – Soils-Continuing Education, Sartell

• June 26 – Soils-Continuing Education, North Branch

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:

• June 17-18 – Operation and Maintenance, Hannibal

• June 24-25 – Operation and Maintenance, St. Louis

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

North Carolina

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

• June 10-12 – Subsurface Wastewater Operator Training, Fletcher

• June 25 – Soil Survey in the 21st Century, Raleigh

• June 26 – Installation of Pump Systems, New Bern

• June 27 – Installation of Advanced Systems, New Bern

• July 16 – Installation of Pump Systems, Williamston

• July 17 – Installation of Advanced Systems, Williamston

• July 18 – Installer/Inspector Exam, Williamston

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

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association offers the following training:

• July 16-17 – Advanced Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection, Chester County

• July 16-17 – Basic Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection, Bordentown

New Jersey Septage Manage-ment Association members qualify for PSMA member tuition fees. Call Jackie at 610/350-0590, press 3, or visit http://psma.net.

Rhode Island

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

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

• June 18 – Soils Basics for the Onsite Wastewater Contractor

• June 25 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation

• July 10 – Innovative and Alternative Systems Field Tour

• July 15 – Surveying Techniques for the Wastewater Professional

• July 17 – Microbiology for Wastewater Professionals

• July 30-31 – Advanced Soil Morphology: Understanding wet soil conditions

• Aug. 7 – Surveying Basics for the Onsite Wastewater Contractor

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

Virginia

The following courses by the Virginia Center for Onsite Waste-water Training (VCOWT) and Southside Virginia Community College are in Blackstone. Those labeled VOWRA are through the Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.

• June 4 – A to Z of Onsite Wastewater, Charlottesville (VOWRA)

• June 18-19 – Wastewater 101

• July 16-17 – Effluent Dispersal Systems

• July 23-24 – Basic Installation Practices for Conventional/Pump OWTS

• Aug. 5-6 – National O&M Training

• Aug. 12-13 – Designing with Easy/Fast CAD

For VCOWT classes, contact Debbie Campbell at 434/736-2011 or visit www.southside.edu/programs/wastetreat. For VOWRA courses, contact Trapper Davis at 804/966-9190 or visit www.vowra.org.