For many dedicated onsite septic system installers, business success is built on more than just a shovel and an excavator. It relies on current knowledge, professional credibility and a network of peers — all things that come with joining an association. 

Every month, one of my favorite stories to go through is the Snapshot feature, a column that highlights an individual who is involved with their state or national wastewater association. These writeups give great insight into the individual, their business and provide a perspective from an involved professional about what each state is excelling or lacking at in regards to the industry.

Being an active member in national associations like NAWT or NOWRA, or your state’s associatio,n is one of the easiest ways for installers to gain professional development and business support. Memberships grant access to essential training programs helping installers stay current with technology and regulatory changes. These affiliations are also good for business by boosting professional credibility to customers and visibility via resources like NOWRA’s Septic Locator. By providing technical resources, national advocacy and vital networking opportunities at annual conferences, associations equip installers to grow knowledge and their business. 

If you aren’t part of an association yet, I highly suggest joining. You can find a current list of associations and their contact information in every issue of Onsite Installer.

For the greater good

Aside from the personal benefits, joining an association makes you one piece of a larger cooperative that does nothing but benefit the industry as a whole.

One of the most common answers I see in Snapshot features when asking installers, pumpers and design engineers about issues facing their associations or the outlook for the industry as a whole, is a need for improvements in homeowner education.  

You’ll see comments supporting that in this month’s issue highlighting Cory Lawrence. He sees an influx of people moving from cities to rural areas and not understanding how a septic system works. One of the simplest ways people can make a difference is by bringing light to an issue by talking about it.

Another frequent topic we hear about is disposal. It’s voices like Cory’s raising concerns like these within his associations that make a difference and encourage action. For example, representatives from a collective of wastewater and portable sanitation associations recently formed a task force to address disposal issues. They put together a white paper to provide nationwide analysis of septage and portable sanitation disposal challenges. A collective effort to better the industry and promote change that stemmed from the voices of those in the field making up the associations.

The white paper can be downloaded on NAWT’s website under the tab, “National Septage Disposal Crisis Alliance Task Force.”

Speak up

Here’s where I invite you to raise your voice and shed light on things that are on your mind. If you are an active officer, on the board or a member of your state’s association, and willing to participate in Onsite Installer’s and Pumper magazine’s Snapshot column, please email me. 

This column is a great way for you to advertise your business, talk about your time as an installer, help other installers learn from what successes and failures you’ve experienced, discuss the work your association is doing and shed light on things affecting onsite wastewater treatment systems in your area.

Or if there is someone else in your association doing great work, encourage them to reach out to me, or drop me an email nominating them as a candidate.