EPA Supports Onsite Industry

The U.S. EPA SepticSmart program helps reinforce conversations installers and service providers have with homeowners about the care and maintenance of their onsite systems. The program, suggested by NOWRA and other members of the EPA's Decentralized Wastewater Management Partnership, provides print- and electronic-based tools for industry practitioners and local governments. Visit http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/septicsmart.cfm.

The EPA Decentralized Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Partnership developed four fact sheets that highlight the benefits of decentralized treatment systems. They demonstrate how such systems can be sensible, cost-effective, sustainable solutions. Visit http://water.epa.gov/infrastructure/septic/Decentralized-MOU-Partnership-Products.cfm.

Adjudicative Tribunal Favors Tree

Rob Palin's article in the fall Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association newsletter discusses a Building Code Commission (BCC) ruling that allowed a homeowner to replace his holding tank with a larger one rather than upgrade to an onsite system. The ruling came after the homeowner appealed a decision by a regulator enforcing the installation of a filter media bed that would possibly kill an old-growth tree on the property. High groundwater required a partially raised drainfield, and the driveway running through part of the soil mantle was a design challenge. Palin views the decision that favors the tree and aesthetic appeal over environment protection as a "tremendous setback to the industry's efforts toward long-term sustainable private servicing."

First Association Meeting

The Onsite Wastewater Association of Idaho will hold its first annual meeting at Boise State University on March 14 in conjunction with the Idaho Environmental Health Association Education Conference March 13-14. The half-day meeting will include presentations from distinguished industry members. For more information, call 208/664-2133 or visit www.owaidaho.org.

Instructional Videos

The Waste Water Nova Scotia Society shot two more training videos last year. "Flushing a Septic System" shows how to flush and repair a malfunctioning drainfield and what reports to file. The association will use the video with a flushing course it is developing for pumpers needing certification for the work. "Installation of a C3" details the installation of a pressurized disposal bed. The video also covers installation of leaching chambers and gravel-and-pipe drainfields. The first in the series, "The Selection and Installation of a Raised C2", is at www.wwns.ca.

New Directors Join Michigan Association

Misty DeJonghe of Matt DeJonghe Septic Tank Cleaning Service in Britton and Paul Lawrence of All American Septic Service in Imlay City were elected to the Michigan Septic Tank Association Board of Directors. Former MSTA President Rep. Ken Goike introduced a bill to eliminate the ban on storage tanks by 2025 along with language to allow haulers to access the receiving stations of their choice.

Canadian Onsite Wastewater Study

The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation commissioned a study on onsite wastewater infrastructure in Ontario and Alberta. The study will determine what effects the systems have on potable and surface water and design protocols to alleviate environmental stresses.

Association Commendation

The State Senate adopted a resolution congratulating the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association on its 25th anniversary. Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee Majority Chair Mary Jo White sponsored resolution SR 390.

NOWRA Nuggets

NOWRA elected new officers and members to the 2012-2015 board of directors. Officers are President Tom Fritts, Residential Sewage Treatment Co., Grandview, Mo.; Vice President Greg Graves, Norweco; Secretary/Treasurer Robert Mayer, American Manufacturing Co.; and immediate past President Richard Otis, Otis Environmental Consultants, Madison, Wis.

Joining the board are installer Robert Himschoot, Crews Environmental, Ft. Myers, Fla.; regulator James Vincent, New Mexico Environment Department; and service provider David Ritchie, Zaring Septic and Drain Service, Crestwood, Ky. Allison Blodig of Bio-Microbics was appointed to fill the remainder of Mayer's term.

March 3-5

Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Blue Mountain Ski Resort, Collingwood. Call Don Krauss at 855/905-6692 or visit www.oowa.org.

March 3-5

Pennsylvania Association of Sewage Enforcement Officers Conference and Trade Show, Holiday Inn, Grantville. 717/761-8648; www.pa-seo.org.

March 7-8

New Mexico Onsite Wastewater Association Onsite Wastewater Conference, Ruidoso Convention Center. 575/937-9429; carboyman@hotmail.com.

March 14

Onsite Wastewater Association of Idaho Conference, Boise State University Conference Center, Boise. Call Justin VanCleave at 208/664-2133, Matt Gibbs at 208/660-8982, or visit www.owaidaho.org.

March 15

Saskatchewan Onsite Wastewater Management Association Trade Show and Convention, Travelodge Conference Centre, Saskatoon. 877/489-7471; www.sowma.ca.

March 19-20

Texas Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Waco Convention Center, Waco. 281/738-3355; www.txowa.org.

March 21-22

Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association Trade Show, Civic Complex, Pelham. 334/396-3434; www.aowainfo.org.

March 25-26

Granite State Designers and Installers Association Septic System Conference and Exposition, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, N.H. 603/228-1231; www.gsdia.org.

April 5-6

Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Riverhouse Hotel and Convention Center, Bend. 541/389-6692; www.o2wa.org.

April 11-12

Ohio Water Quality and Waste Management Conference, The Woodlands, Cleves. Call Keith Smith at 614/292-1868; http://setll.osu.edu/programs/owqwm_conf.html.

April 13

Waste Water Nova Scotia Society Conference, Best Western Glengarry, Truro. 902/246-2131; www.wwns.ca.

April 23-25

Fats, Oils and Grease Training Conference, Stockbridge, Ga.. www.georgiafog.com.

Alabama

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

April 17-19 – Advanced Installer II

May 8-10 – Basic Installer

May 30-31 – Pumper

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:

April 24-25 – Soils, Hydrogeology and Site Evaluation, Monterey

May 22 – Low-Pressure Pipe Drainfield and Drip Dispersal Design, Sacramento

Call Kit Rosefield at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.

Minnesota

The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center has these classes:

April 3-4 – Solutions for Difficult Sites Continuing Education, Alexandria

April 9-11 – Basic Onsite System Design, Owatonna

April 17 – Design Continuing Education, St. Cloud

April 18 – Inspector Continuing Education, St. Cloud

April 17-18 – Design/Inspector Continuing Education Combo, St. Cloud

April 23-26 – Advanced Onsite System Design and Inspection, St. Cloud

April 29 - May 1 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, Bemidji

May 2-3 – Installing Onsite Systems, Bemidji

May 7-9 – Basic Onsite System Design, St. Cloud

May 20-22 – Maintaining Onsite Systems, Mankato

May 20-24 – Maintenance and Service Provider Combo, Mankato

May 21-24 – Service Provider, Mankato

May 29-31 – Soils, Mankato

Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit http://septic.umn.edu.

North Carolina

North Carolina State University has these courses:

April 2-3 – 18-hour Introductory Installer Training, Raleigh

April 4 – Gravity and Pump Systems: A Better Installation Equals a Better System, Raleigh

April 5 – Advanced Septic System Installer Guidance, Raleigh

April 9-10 – Soil Profiling for Wastewater and Stormwater System Siting, Carthage

April 24 – Soils for the Outer Piedmont and Foothills, Morganton

May 8 – Saprolite, Morganton

May 15 – Principles of Gravity System Design, Greensboro

May 16 – Onsite System Layouts, Greensboro

May 22 – Soils of the Low Mountains in the Southeast U.S., Mills River

May 28 – Basic Troubleshooting of Onsite System Malfunctions, Greenville

May 29-30 – Advanced Troubleshooting of Onsite System Malfunctions, Greenville

Contact Joni Tanner at 919/513-1678 or soils_training@ncsu.edu, or visit www.soil.ncsu.edu/training/training.htm#38, scroll down, click No. 8.

Oregon

The Chemeketa Community College in Salem has these classes:

April 2-3 – Maintenance Operator, Bend at O2WA Conference

April 4 – Installer, Bend at O2WA Conference

May 30 – Installer

Call 503/399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu/busprofession/ccbi/customizedtraining/deq/classes.html.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association is offering these courses at Wyomissing:

April 2-3 – Basic Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

April 2-3 – Advanced Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection

Call 717/763-7762 or visit www.psma.net.

Virginia

The Virginia Center for Onsite Wastewater Training has these classes at Pickett Park:

April 9-10 – Water Movement in Soils

April 12 – Nitrogen Dynamics, online

May 10 – Foundational Concepts of Pump Systems

Contact Latonya Fowlkes at 434/292-3101 or latonya.fowlkes@
southside.edu or visit www.southside.edu.

Washington

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 Puyallup training center unless stated otherwise:

April 3 – Design High-Strength Waste

April 17 – Design/Install Subsurface Drip, Moses Lake

April 18 – First Aid/CPR

April 24 – Pumper, Vancouver

May 1-2 – Certification for Proprietary Devices

May 15 – Electrical Control Panels

May 22 – Design/Install and O&M of Subsurface Drip, Bremerton

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