Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio – Location of ... Journal...Groves, Tom New England IWPPCom 100 Foot of John St Lowell, MA 01852 Phone: 978/323-7929 [email protected]

Vol. 14 No 1

Winter 2005

2005 Programs, Plans& Legislature ActivitiesUnderway

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame

in Cleveland, Ohio –

Location of the 2005

Annual Technical

Education Conference

and Exposition

2 • ONSITE journal | Winter 2005

Special “Recognition” and Appreciation to the following

2005 Donors to the NOWRA Model

Performance Code Project

INFILTRATOR

SYSTEMS, INC.

PREMIER TECH

LAKE SHORE BURIAL

VAULT

WISCONSIN PRECAST

ASSOCIATION

WISCONSIN ONSITE

ASSOCIATON

HOOT AEROBIC

SYSTEMS, INC.

DONOR BENEFITS

Company Recognition in the NOWRA Onsite Journal

Preferred Selection of Exhibit Space for the2005 NOWRA Technical EducationConference & Eexposition

Company Rrecognition on the NOWRAWebsite

PresidentPeat, RaymondBio-Microbics, Inc.8450 Cole ParkwayShawnee, KS 66227Phone: 800/753-3278Mobile: 913/[email protected]

Past PresidentFrank, Tim A.Tim Frank’s Septic TankCleaningP.O. Box 277Huntsburg, OH [email protected]

Vice PresidentStonebridge, Jerry Stonebridge ConstructionP.O. Box 594Freeland, WA 98249Phone: 360/[email protected]

Secretary – TreasurerMcQuestion, BrianLake Shore Burial Vault783 Tipperary RoadHartford, WI 53027Phone: 262/[email protected]

Executive DirectorHanifin Bonner, LindaP.P. Box 1270Edgewater, MD 21037phone - 800-966-2942lhbonner @ hanifin.com

Directors Bassett, GeneE.C. Bassett Co.P.O. Box 100Edgewood, NM 87051Phone: 505/[email protected]

Byers, Matthew E.Zoeller Pump Co .P.O. Box 163473649 Cane Run Rd.Louisville, KY 40256Phone: 800/[email protected]

Christopherson, SaraUniversity of Minnesota1390 Eckles AveSt. Paul, MN 55108Phone: 612/[email protected]

Converse, James C.Biological Systems Engr.University of Wisconsin460 Henry MallMadison, WI 53706Phone: 608/[email protected]

Edvardsson, TinaMicroSepTec, Inc.360 Forbestown RoadOroville, CA 95966Phone: 530/[email protected]

Groves, TomNew England IWPPCom100 Foot of John StLowell, MA 01852Phone: 978/[email protected]

Himschoot, RobertCrews EnvironmentalP.O. Box 27Ft Myers, FL 33902Phone: 239/[email protected]

Kaminski, Roman A.WI Dept. Comm.-Safety & Bldgs.2715 Post RoadStevens Point, WI 54481Phone: 715/[email protected]

Otis, RichardAyres Associates1802 Pankratz StreetMadison, WI 53704Phone: 608/[email protected]

Smithson, AnthonyLake County Health Department3010 Grand AveWaukegan, IL 60085Phone: 547/[email protected]

Stephens, Larry D.Stephens Consulting Services, Inc.P.O. Box 7081549 Haslett Rd.Haslett, MI 48840Phone: 517/[email protected]

Suchecki, RonHoot Systems, Inc.2885 Hwy 14East Lake Charles, LA 70607Phone: 254/[email protected]

Thompson, CarlInfiltrator Systems6 Business Park RoadP.O. Box 768Old Saybrook, CT 06475Phone: 860/[email protected]

Committee ChairsBorgeson, KarenCommunications and InformationSJE Rhombus22650 County Highway #6Detroit Lakes, MN 56501Phone: 218/[email protected]

Byers, Matthew E.Technical PracticesZoeller Pump Co .P.O. Box 163473649 Cane Run Rd.Louisville, KY 40256Phone: 800/[email protected]

Christopherson, SaraEducationUniversity of Minnesota1390 Eckles AveSt. Paul, MN 55108Phone: 612/[email protected]

Corry, MichaelModel CodeCorry Associates16 N Carroll St. Suite 920Madison, WI 53703Phone: 608/[email protected]

Guy, Brenda R.Business Advisory CommitteDelta Environmental Products, Inc.P. O. Box 9698275 Florida Blvd.Denham Springs, LA 70727Phone: 225/[email protected]

McQuestion, BrianFinanceLake Shore Burial Vault783 Tipperary RoadHartford, WI 53027Phone: 262/[email protected]

Novickis, RichardConference Host CommitteeCuyahoga Board of Health5550 Venture AvenueParma, OH 44130Phone: 216/[email protected]

Thomas, JohnState LeadersWashington Onsite Association7201 N 25thTacoma, WA [email protected]

Thompson, CarlGovernment RelationsInfiltrator Systems6 Business Park RoadP.O. Box 768Old Saybrook, CT 06475Phone: 860/[email protected]

2005 NOWRA Board and Committee Members

www.nowra.org Winter 2005 | ONSITE journal • 3

Winter 2005

National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Vol. 14 No. 1

ADVERTISERS’ INDEXContainment Solutions, Inc . . . . .IFC*Delta Environmental Products. . .IFC*Orenco Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1Lombardo Associates, Inc . . . . . . . . .5Ring Industrial Group . . . . . . . . . . .17American Manufacturing Co, Inc . .18Board Na Mona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Zoeller Pump Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23Waterloo Biofilter Systems, Inc . . .23Crumpler Plastic Pipe, Inc. . . . . . . .24Rietschle Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25Ayres Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Arcan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28Geoflow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32SJE-Rhombus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32Concrete Sealants . . . . . . . . . . . .IBC*BioMicrobics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .BC*

* IFC – Inside Front Cover; IBC –Inside Back Cover; BC – Back Cover

NOWRA HeadquartersP.O. Box 1270Edgewater, MD 21037-7270Phone: 800|966-2942 or 410|798-1697Fax: 410|798-5741E-mail: [email protected]: www.nowra.org

FEATURESNOWRA Board and Committee Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

NOWRA State Group Activities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

2005 Conference & Exposition Announcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Industry Organizations Join Forces . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Water Conditioning Symposium Planned . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

INDUSTRY REPORTSOnsite Management a Priority at Table Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Pretreatment of Septage & Grease Trap Wastes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Industry Advice: Managing Large Volumes of Food Waste . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Editorial Opinion: Zoning Regulations & WastewaterTreatment Capacity Decisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

STATE PROGRAMSColorado: A New Direction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

State Groups Leaders Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Iowa: Heartland Habitat for Humanity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Virginia: Why VOWRA? Why NOWRA? Why Now? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25

Planning for Virginia’s 2006 Sewage Summit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26

VOWRA Spring Workshop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

News from the Northeast and the Washington Onsite Sewage Associaiton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27

Washington: Crackdown on Broken Septic Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

SPOTLIGHT: Members Products and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30


NOWRA STATE GROUPS KICK OFF’05 WITH MAJOR ACTIVITIES

The traditional round of state meetings, conferences and education programs occurring in the early

winter months of 2005 were not only highly successful – but is also sending a message about the

growing recognition of the increasing importance of the work of the onsite industry. Here’s a snapshot

of activities in some of the State Groups, with greater detail – most of whom are working to produce

strategic action plans that define key membership and fundraising activities.

In addition, State Leaders continue par-ticipating in their monthly teleconfer-ence meetings to address issues affect-ing their work. The most significantproject discussed in the past twomonths has been the “PractitionerCertification Program.” Any concernsand items affecting the State programshave been addressed. This document isnow ready to go to the NOWRA Boardfor action at their March 31 Businessmeeting.

North Carolina (COWA) under newleadership of Steve Branz is tacklinghead-on renewed efforts to get theAssociation more active and involvedin building its membership. Severalmeetings have occurred during the pastmonth with the result of new plans fora larger membership meeting scheduledin the future addressing needed activi-ties and programs for the coming year.One of the older members has statedthat COWA faces a major challenge inits work with the presence of a stronguniversity; however, it is quite clear,that the regulators and industry mem-bers want certification requirements.

Florida (FOWA) activities with thestate legislature have focused on devel-oping a request for a certificationprocess of portable restrooms. With theadvent of a successful FOWA confer-ence in February, the Association hasbegun laying ground work to removerequirements from existing legislationthat public sewer must be used forwastewater and not onsite systems.

Additionally, the Association is seekingreplacement for position of EducationDirector, currently held by KevinSherman, that will be vacated in 2006.FOWA is advertising the position,preparing to conduct interviews thissummer, with the goal is to select thenew Director by July 2005 to work withKevin in a training process (allows a 6months transition).

Nebraska (NOWWA) had its most suc-cessful conference in its joint endeav-ors with the Nebraska Well DrillersAssociation attracting 320 registrants(181 contractors) for the combined edu-cation programs. NOWWA hasincreased their membership in 2004from 53 to 85. The Association is alsoparticipating in State DEP hearings onrules to put in place a certification of allpractitioners. The majority of continueeducation programs will transition toassociation to conduct. NOWRA’sExecutive Director provided thekeynote speech at the conferenceaddressing NOWRA programs andactivities, and also worked with Boardmembers to initiate a 2005 planningprocess that will be continued at a spe-cial early summer session. NOWWAhas elected new officers with StanKrose and Tony Mendez assuming theleadership positions.

Colorado (CPOW) under the leader-ship of President Jim Rada finalized itsstrategic action plan, which is nowready for adoption. NOWRA’s Ex.Dir,Linda Hanifin came to CO inNovember to facilitate the Board in

their work and to accomplish this task.The results of this effort are alreadyemerging with a clear direction on itswork. CPOW now has a powerpointpresentation about CPOW to promotethe onsite industry. They are currentlyplanning two spring conference(s) –one in Golden and one in Front Range.He also mentioned that he has beeninterviewed by pumper magazine onCO activities. It reports on CPOW’sapproach with the state health dept tocreate an advisory committee as a col-laborative effort to identify opportuni-ties for funding systems in a program –how they plan to build CPOW’s role inthe industry that the state should be car-ried out. He has posted a message onBoard to learn if anyone has adopted acode of ethics – what have been theirexperiences with implementation. Asreferences, NOWRA’s code of ethicsand that of the State of Washington hasbeen received.

The Washington Onsite Association(WOSSA) reported having their mostsuccessful conference ever – with over300 members attending sessions and 40exhibitors. John Thomas, ExecutiveDirector noted that within the severaldays, a significant high energy and theassociation made a good profit.WOSSA has also introduced a scholar-ship program for members where highschool students can apply for grants (ifmembership). Funds were raisedthrough contributions/auctions – dona-tions accumulated a pool of $30,000.WOSSA are also working on legislative


bills affecting hood canal – whereseptic systems are being blamedfor pollutants; but the big problemsare enforcement and funding (seeseparate article).

Kansas Small Flows Association(KSFA) reported on a successfulconference with increased contrac-tor participation to 40 in 2005.Vice President Alison Blodig alsostates that KSFA is looking toimplement a training program andhas begun working with JohnThomas (WOSSA) and other stategroups for a cross training process.The Association leadership is plan-ning a retreat to organize its con-ference and to begin the grant writ-ing process. They are forming arelationship with KansasAssociation of Counties, whichbegan with a round table discus-sion at their meeting titled, “wecan build a wwt for anything –anywhere”. This approach gaineda lot of attention with builders andrealtor association. They are con-tinuing to pursue a working rela-tionship with KDHP, with littleparticipation overall and only somesmall interest being expressed

Tennessee (TOWA) completed itsannual conference in February with70-90 attendees. With Dr. JerryTyler presenting his program onsoils. Vice President, JenniferBrodgdon, reported that this year,the conference had many more reg-ulators than ever before. TheAssociation is also working to getCEU’s legislated in the state.

California (COWA) President,Steve Braband reported the

Associations planned May 23 confer-ence is well underway with expecta-tions of a larger program than in previ-ous years. The focus of theAssociation’s Spring Conference isbased on the results of member survey– not what was anticipated – with mem-bers stating that they want to get onwith more continued education pro-grams, and less attention to the issue ofthe environmental regulatory process.At the same time, COWA is alsopreparing testimony on state assemblybill on an onsite code with the finaldraft the 3rd week of March. They arefinishing EIR the 3rd week of Aug.One major problem is that the state wasnot including certification for onsiteindustry; they are working this year onvolunteer basis with environmentalhealth association with hope to inte-grate into county regulations. The goalis to not have competitive training ses-sion.

Virginia’s (VOWRA) directors recent-ly completed a two-day workshop facil-itated by NOWRA Executive Director,Linda Hanifin, which resulted in theframework for its first strategic actionplan. This plan is scheduled for adop-tion before the March meeting. ThePlan elements begin with a voluntaryinstallers registration program – withregulators and environmental healthsupport – and moves to certification instate in 2006. The 2nd priority in theplan is to establish a VA training pro-gram and center, which currently isencountering competing interest withthe state health dept.

VOWRA President Mike Lynn reportsthat Board members have also beenactive regarding legislation in the state

and are working to change the state codethis year that allows local jurisdictions tocreate a program for type 2 & 3 systems. Ifthis program exists, then maintenance isrequired – if not, it gives the health dept theability to pursue civil action if it does notoccur. This program assures that systemsmust be in compliance – less painful – moredoors open. VOWRA’s Conference willoccur in March in conjunction with CaananValley Institute and includes 2 field tripsplanned in the Blue Ridge mountains on atrip system w/secondary treatment as wellas conducting the “Onsite A to Z” course asa prelude to the inspectors course. Mikealso reference the article in the installersmagazine about a truck safety certificationprogram for pumpers and is interested inlearning about other NOWRA member’sopinion about this program.

The Maryland (MOWPA) association,officially charted September 2004, hascompleted its second education session andis planning a third in June. The interim offi-cers also completed its initial strategicaction plan and is working with a Marylandstate senator to on a bill requiring educationand training and certification for practition-ers and point of sale inspections.Maryland’s membership is now up to 142.

Arizona (AOWA) is also another state, tak-ing steps to re-organize their Associationand build a membership base. Under theleadership of Paul Miller, Jack Bale andJoelle Wirth, a core group has been meetingmonthly to identify the membership strate-gies to move forward, the education pro-grams to pursue and future industry needs.This group is planning a strategic planningsession in the near future.

STATE LEADERS

Membership really does have it’s benefits...

Join the 2005 Business Benefit Program and promote your products, services and organizations to the onsite industry.

Go to www.nowra.org to download your application


Hosted at the

Renaissance HotelCleveland, Ohio

Go to www.nowra.org for more detals

ONSITE IS HERE TO STAY…

...AND NOWRA

WILL ROCK WITH THE

MESSAGE IN CLEVELAND

LOCATION OF THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME!

Mark your calendar for October 10-13, 2005and join us Cleveland, Ohio


Reach over 1500 Onsite Industry ProfessionalsShowcase your products and services at the 2005 Technical Education Conference and Expositionand network with 1500 leaders in the industry.

This year we have increased exhibit space, show hours and introduced more opportunities for youto increase your company’s visibility...

• Triple and double booth spaces in the combined ballroom exhibit hall,• Tabletop displays on the balcony,• Equipment space in the exhibit hall,• Entertainment and sponsor support, • Sponsor banners to be hung in the meeting rooms and exhibit hall,• Promotional space on the cyber café, • Name/product recognition on the conference handouts.

Go to www.nowra.org to download the Exposition Prospectus or call 1-800-966-2942.

NOWRA - EPA Joins With Other IndustryOrganizations to Reduce Water Pollution

On January 12, 2005, NOWRAPresident, Raymond Peat, joined

Assistant Administrator for WaterBen Grumbles, and officers fromorganizations involved in decentral-ized industry issues, to formalize anagreement that will ultimate work toimprove capacity issues for more than25 million homes nation-wide.Through this memorandum of under-standing, the following organizationsare committed to working together ininformation exchange and technicalassistance. The National OnsiteWastewater Recycling Association(NOWRA), National EnvironmentalHealth Association (NEHA),National Environmental ServicesCenter, National Association ofWastewater Transporters, NationalRural Community AssistancePartnership and the NationalAssociation of Towns and Townships.

“This agreement will help solidify ournational partnership to protect drinkingwater supplies and local water qualitythrough promoting change in the way

these waste water systems are man-aged,” said Grumbles. “I am pleased toformally recognize the contributionsthese partners make to achieve resultsin protecting public health and improv-ing water quality.”

In comments representing the voice ofthe onsite industry, NOWRA PresidentRaymond Peat acknowledged that thisinitiative was a welcome opportunity toensuring that the economic needs of thepublic are adequately addressed. Heemphasized how NOWRA’s effort indeveloping the Model PerformanceCode will be instrumental in leadingthe much-needed regulatory reform.

The memorandum of understanding is afirst step that EPA is taking in coopera-tion with other with national organiza-tions to advance a program affectingonsite system practitioners and the pub-lic. Onsite systems today provide treat-ment capability to more than 25 percentof homes across the country. They areused in over one-third of all new hous-ing and commercial development.When properly sited, designed andmaintained, these systems are capable

of producing higher quality wastewaterthan municipal systems. At the sametime, it is estimated that nation-wide,10 to 20 percent of older septic tanksinstalled in the 1940’s and 50’s are notadequately treating wastewater due toinadequate site location, design andmaintenance, and often cause ground-water pollution.

The program strategy that accompaniesthe MOU identifies EPA’s vision, mis-sion and actions to improve the per-formance of decentralized wastewatertreatment systems. The MOU andstrategy are intended to advance themanagement of these systems withinthe states and facilitate collaborationbetween EPA headquarters, EPAregions, state and local governmentsand national organizations representingpractitioners and assistance providers.Through the use of performance-basedcodes, decisions made by policy offi-cials about the location and type ofdecentralized systems will provide bet-ter protection of public health andwater resources.

Cleveland, OhioOctober 10-13


NOWRA Focuses on Essential Industry Issue.

Effects of Water Conditioning Wastewater on Performance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment

NATIONAL SYMPOSIUM PLANNED – OCTOBER 13, 2005

Sponsored byNational Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association

October 13, 2005

Post-Conference Session of theNational Onsite Wastewater Annual Technical

Education Conference and ExpositionOctober 10-13, 2005 - Cleveland Ohio

CALL FOR SYMPOSIUM PAPERS CALL FOR PAPERS ABSTRACTS

DUE MAY 31, 2005

There are two trains of thoughts in the onsite wastewater treat-ment and the water conditioning industries. The general belief

held by the water conditioning industry is that the wastewater gen-erated by the water conditioning unit does not have an effect on theperformance of the onsite wastewater treatment system receivingthis wastewater. A position advanced by some members in theonsite industry feel that there is an impact to the system; andencourage the property owner not to discharge the water condition-er wastewater into the domestic wastewater stream leaving thehouse or business. At the same time, there are also different typesof wastewaters generated by the water conditioning device whichdepends on the level of treatment and the type of elements beingremoved. The U.S. EPA 2000 manual presented information onthis issue but did not provide any recommendations.

Topics to be discussed/presentedat the symposium include:

1) Water conditioning discussion for

non-water conditioning profession-

als engaged in the onsite industry;

2) Onsite discussion for non-onsite

professionals engaged in water

conditioning industry;

3) Research papers related to

influence of water chemistry adjust-

ments on onsite system processes;

and,

4) Development of current research

needs related to the influence of

water chemistry adjustments on

onsite system processes.

Individuals interested in participating in this forum with a presentationshould provide the following information.

1. Name of Presenter

2. Affiliation of Presenter

3. Address of Presenter

4. Phone number and e-mail address of Presenter

5. Abstract/Presentation Title

a. Title

b. 200-300 words description of the proposed paper

and presentation. (Do not send Power Point or the full

text of the paper)

6. Short biography that includes education degrees and description

of experience as it related to the water conditioning and/or onsite

industry

Send all abstracts to James C. Converse via Debby Sumwalt(dsumwalt@ wisc.edu)

E-mail attachment preferred or by fax to 608-262-112.

Deadline. May 31, 2005.


Onsite Management a Priority atTable Rock Lake

-by David L. Casaletto

If we are to be successful in protecting our waters by replacing failing septic sys-

tems with advanced onsite and decentralized wastewater treatment systems, we

MUST find the best ways to insure the systems are properly managed and maintained.

Table Rock Lake, a large reservoir insouthwest Missouri’s beautiful OzarkCountry, is on EPA’s 303(d) list ofimpaired waters due to elevated levelsof phosphorus. Water quality in thereservoir (as measured by water clarityand nutrient concentrations) has slowlydeclined since the dam was built in theearly 1950’s. The geology of the water-shed consists of thin, poor soils overlimestone bedrock. The regional topog-raphy is karst, which is characterizedby numerous sink holes, springs, cavesand other interconnected subterraneanregions. Unfortunately, the thin soilsprovide little treatment for septic tankeffluent, so wastewater from poorlyfunctioning septic systems can easilyenter the lake with very little treatment.This article describes measures the res-idents of southwest Missouri are takingto eliminate this problem and promotethe long-term viability of their lake.

People Pressure

The Table Rock Lake area is a boomingtourist destination. The lake provides amultitude of recreational activities forthe region, such as boating, swimming,and world-class fishing. A recent esti-mate by the Missouri Department ofNatural Resources puts the tourismimpact at between 30 million and 40million visitor-hours per year. The esti-mated annual revenue from tourism inthe counties surrounding the lakeexceeds $900 million. However, muchof this revenue depends on maintaining

excellent water quality in the reservoir.Further complicating matters is thehuge growth in the region’s population.Within the lake’s watershed are some ofthe fastest growing counties inMissouri. The growth has benefited thelocal economy, but most houses arebeing built around the lake using onsitesystems as the main choice of treat-ment. Thus, tourism and populationgrowth presents the greatest challengesto the improvement of water quality inTable Rock Lake.

The Missouri Department of NaturalResources (MDNR) regulates dis-charges in the state from wastewatertreatment plants with capacities inexcess of 3,000 gpd, MDNR has insti-tuted a limit of 0.5 ppm phosphorous insurface discharged wastewater effluentin the nine counties of southwestMissouri. Large wastewater treatmentplants have already implemented phos-

phorus reduction steps. Phosphorouslevels in the lake are already respond-ing to this reduction. However, resultsfrom a study in 2001 demonstrated thatseptic effluent is one of the causes inthe deterioration of the lake’s waterquality.

National CommunityWastewater DecentralizedDemonstration Project(NCWDDP)

Based in part on the 2001 study thatidentified poorly treated septic tankeffluent as a cause of water qualitydegradation, Table Rock Lake WaterQuality, Inc., a not-for-profit corpora-tion, was awarded a grant of $2 millionby the Environmental ProtectionAgency (EPA) for a NCWDDP. Whilethe project tasks include the installation

A home in the trees onTable Rock Lake with a conventional septic system, Untreated sep-tic effluent hits shelfrock and enters the lakewithout any indicationof failure to the home-owner. The normal lakelevel would usuallycover this discharge.

continued to page 10

INDUSTRY reports

1 0 • ONSITE journal | Winter 2005

and monitoring of advanced wastewater systems (see the project workplan online at:http://www.trlwq.org/demo.htm), one of the most important tasks is todemonstrate and compare ownership,management and maintenance of onsitesystems. The EPA publicationVoluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite andClustered (Decentralized) WastewaterTreatment System (online athttp://www.epa.gov/owm/septic/pubs/septic_guidelines.pdf) details 5 levels ofmanagement of onsite systems. Thedemonstration project is evaluatingLevel 3, the operating permit modeland Level 5, the ResponsibleManagement Entity (RME) OwnershipModel. In Level 3, limited-term systemoperating permits are issued to theproperty owner and are renewable foranother term IF the owner of the waste-water system demonstrates that the sys-tem is in compliance with the terms andconditions of the permit. In the case ofthe project, the condition is that the sys-tem owner has contracted with a main-tenance company to provide routinemaintenance and inspection of the sys-tem, or the property owner has demon-strated the ability to properly maintaintheir system. (The region includes a

number of resorts and resort owner are,by necessity, very handy and capable ofmaintaining their own on-site systems).At the end of the demonstration project,a report outlining the project’s conclu-sions and suggestions will be given tothe local regulatory authorities for theirconsideration. Under Level 5, thewastewater system is no longer ownedby the property owner. A RME owns,operates and maintains the wastewatersystem. The property owner grants autility easement to the RME to entertheir property to service the equipment.The property owner’s only responsibil-ity is to pay the monthly fee to theRME. This fee includes routine mainte-nance, reserve for repair and overhead.

Ozarks Clean WaterCompany (OCWC)

The demonstration project team foundit impossible to test EPA’s Level 5 with-out actually having a RME own, oper-ate and maintain systems. With the helpof the local electric cooperative, WhiteRiver Valley Electric Cooperative, anew not-for-profit sewer company,OCWC, was formed in March 2004.Missouri state statues allows for not-for-profit sewer companies to beformed and operated in a similar fash-ion to rural electric cooperatives.OCWC is governed by a Board ofDirectors, each serving a two-yearterm. The directors will be elected bythe members of OCWC. OCWC willaccept ownership of new and existingsystems, both individual onsite andclustered. The initial monthly rate is$28.53 per connection with some cov-erage exclusions for individual onsitesystems (due to travel time). The ratefor a simple onsite system, such as aconventional septic system, is $18.53per month. OCWC has also been givenpreliminary approval by MDNR toaccess Missouri’s State RevolvingFund (SRF) to provide low-interestmoney for onsite and decentralized sys-tem repair and construction.

The OCWC Board of Directors havebeen aggressive in setting a path tomeet the region’s on-site wastewatertreatment needs. Thus, OCWC will notonly serve as the RME for the Level 5wastewater systems installed as part ofthe demonstration project, but is alsoowning, operating and maintaining sys-tems outside the project. OCWC hasreceived the greatest outside interestfrom housing developers. Like manyother parts of the country, developers inthe area are required to build waste-water treatment systems to serve theirhousing development but have nodesire to be in the wastewater treatmentbusiness. Under a typical arrangement,the developer will donate the waste-water treatment system to OCWC and

Road constructionreveals how littlesoil there is aroundTable Rock Lake.

A study in 2001

demonstrated that

septic effluent is one

of the causes in the

deterioration of the

lake’s water quality.

continued from page 9

www.nowra.org Winter 2005 | ONSITE journal • 1 1

INDUSTRY reports

the final results will not be know for afew years, but it is easy to see that theway southwest Missouri and the TableRock Lake area deals with onsite anddecentralized wastewater treatment ischanging. It is a change that is comingto all areas of the nation. In southwestMissouri, local people are dealing witha local problem to protect the environ-ment while still promoting economicand population growth in a true win-win solution.

David L.Casaletto is theE x e c u t i v eDirector ofTable Rock LakeWater Quality,Inc. and

Program Coordinator for the NationalCommunity Wastewater DecentralizedDemonstration Project. He isSecretary/Treasurer of Ozarks CleanWater Company and Treasurer ofMissouri Smallflows Organization, thelocal Missouri chapter of NOWRA.David resides on the shores of TableRock Lake. Contact him at [email protected] or 417-739-4100.

require each new home buyer be anOCWC member. An 80-home develop-ment has already signed with OCWCand others are in the works. Existinghome owner associations that now ownwastewater treatment systems have alsoexpressed interest in joining OCWC.

Upper White River BasinWatershed ImprovementDistrict (UWBWID)

This year the Missouri legislaturepassed House Bill 1433 that formed apolitical subdivision in the nine coun-ties included in the Upper White RiverBasin Watershed, which drains intoTable Rock, Taneycomo and BullShoals Lakes in southwest Missouri.The primary purpose of this district isto provide for the installation and main-tanence of decentralized onsite waste-water treatment systems in those areasof the watershed not served by sewerdistricts or municipal wastewater treat-ment systems. This district will alsoprovide access to the low-interest SRFloan funds to individuals and compa-nies for purchase of the onsite systems.The district is overseen by a board thatconsists of residents from each of thenine counties, members of which willbe selected by their respective countycommissioners. Inclusion in the districtis completely voluntary. The bill also

allows for the district to impose a prop-erty tax subject to a vote of districtmembers.

Other provisions in the law require allonsite installers to be registered withthe Missouri state health department,allow counties to require maintenanceor pumping of all septic tanks withintheir jurisdiction, require laboratoriesperforming wastewater analysis to beregistered by the state health depart-ment, and relax the rules that governinvestigation of complaints of sewageleaking from onsite systems therebymaking it easier to resolve those com-plaints.

A Time of Change

Because many of these efforts are new,

A new 1500 gallon 2 compartment concretetank with advanced treatement replaces theold metal tank (above right).

Advanced treatment and rip irrigationfor a 4 home cluster is one solution toproblem soils

A demonstration sitereveals how little is leftof an old metal septictank. all the water wasleaving through holesin the bottom of thetank. The homewonershas agreed to deedtheir new treatmentsystem to and joinOzarks Clean WaterCompany.


INDUSTRY reports

PRETREATMENT OF SEPTAGEAND GREASE TRAP WASTES Addressing the needs of the septic tank pumperby A. Thomas Ferrero, Jr.

Historically the pumpers them-selves have been responsible for

those wastes they put into their tanktrucks. For years a high percentage ofthese wastes have been depositedupon the land. Not always for its ben-eficial reuse – usually just for dispos-al, and sometimes under some permit-ting scenario but often under no regu-latory oversight at all. With the prom-ulgation of the Federal 40 CFR Part503 regulations in 1993 a movementbegan towards legitimate beneficialreuse of septage, but progress hasbeen slow. Today ‘illegal’ (at leastnot permitted) land application ofseptage and grease trap wastesaccounts for more gallons disposedthan many want to admit.

In areas where neighbors forced apumper out of the land applicationbusiness, wastewater treatment facili-ties started taking their waste streams,usually not of their own (wastewatertreatment facility’s) desires but usuallybecause of intervention by a localpolitician. The charge to the haulerswas typically based on what wasacceptable to the haulers rather thanany rational relationship to the costsassociated with the treatment of thesewastes. The idea was to encourage useof the wastewater treatment facility anddiscourage illegal dumping on the landor into a remote manhole somewhere inthe collection system. Wastewatertreatment facilities got in the habit ofaccepting these wastes and acknowl-edged that all they accepted was septictank waste (septage) since grease trapand car wash wastes cause them opera-

tional and compliance problems. Thehaulers, being a creative bunch, havegotten very good at camouflaging

almost anything to the point they canrationalize calling it ‘septage’.

Now, regulated management programsfor household septic systems and foodservice facility grease traps are on therise. With these programs comes anincrease in volume of these wastesneeding to be properly treated and dis-persed into the environment. TheUnited States Environmental ProtectionAgency has stated that they believethere is only 50% of the treatmentcapacity available in this country for allthe wastes that will be generated whenregulated management programs takeeffect. Clearly there is a need for dedi-

cated facilities able to accept thosewastes that the septic tank pumpers liketo put into their trucks.

For dedicated facilities, either publiclyor privately owned, to be sited there area few parameters that must be evaluat-ed.

First, from a cost standpoint these facil-ities are greatly effected by the volumeof waste they handle. While the incre-mental cost of treating one gallon ofwaste may be similar, the high capitalintensity of these facilities makes themnot affordable in areas where low vol-umes are produced. Extremely ruralareas may have to accept the fact thatthese wastes must be trucked a consid-erable distance to the nearest facility.Conversely, high volumes help reducethe cost per gallon charged to thehaulers.

Second, there needs to be a reasonablecompetitive marketplace. If the localwastewater treatment facility is charg-ing the haulers less than actual treat-ment costs to accept their septage thearea is not conducive to siting a facilitythat will accept septage and other wastestreams. Since the volumes of septagewill be the foundation of revenue forthese facilities (septage volumes usual-ly are three or four times the grease trapwaste volumes in an area) a facility willnot be affordable to users if they cannotattract a large percentage of the wastevolumes generated in the area.

And last, there must be the support ofthe regulatory agencies that will permitand regulate the facility and a politicalmindset that appreciates the need for

The EPA believes

there is currently only

50% of the treatment

capacity needed

once the regulated

management

program takes effect

...clearly there is a

need for dedicated

facilities.


INDUSTRY reports

such a facility. It is always easier forthe politicians to say ‘Not in my back-yard’, but many take their responsibili-ties seriously and can become strongproponents for the project.

CASE HISTORY:

HOW A SITUATION DICTATEDNEEDED CAPACITY FOR SEPTAGEAND GREASE TRAP WASTES INNORTHERN CENTRAL INDIANA

St. Joseph and Elkhart counties are thestate’s highest septic system populatedcounties. As of the 1990 Census, St.Joseph County has in excess of 28,000septic systems, with Elkhart taking sec-ond place with more than 27,000 septicsystems. No one knows the exact num-ber but growth over the last decadewould indicate that these numbers areconsiderably higher today. As a result,treatment capacity for septage was lim-ited and often many miles from wherethe wastes were generated. In addition,there was no consistent legal treatmentfor grease trap wastes in the area.

A facility needed to be permitted bothby the Indiana Department ofEnvironmental Management(IDEM)(Permit to Construct) and theCity of Elkhart (Industrial UserDischarge Permit). IDEM shared thevision of such a facility and had a per-mitting scenario that was not cumber-

some. The IDEM permit was issued inless than two months after submission.Partnering with the City of ElkhartBoard of Public Works, UnitedWastewater Management (United) res-urrected a mothballed pretreatmentfacility owned by the City and turned itinto a merchant facility that acceptsseptage and grease trap wastes. Inaddition to leasing the facility toUnited, the City invested in capitalimprovements to the project in the formof a five-year note with United.

About twenty years ago in thePhiladelphia suburbs I raised the ques-tion, “How do you get septage into awastewater treatment facility that doesnot accept septage?” Through aresearch of regulations, a documentcalled a sewer use ordinance was locat-ed that clarified what could and whatcould not be discharged into the munic-ipal collection system. Direct dis-charge of septage into the municipalcollection system would surely notmeet the criteria of any sewer use ordi-nance in the country. But by pretreat-ing the septage to the point where aneffluent is created that does meet thesewer ordinance it is possible to get anindustrial user discharge permit thatwill allow for discharge of all but asmall percentage of the total volume.[use as a side bar]

The United facility in Elkhart, Indiana

is a permitted industrial user of the Cityof Elkhart municipal collection system.The process at the facility is to managethe input from the local septic haulersby a sampling protocol, manifest sys-tem, recordkeeping, screening and gritremoval, flow equalization, chemicalconditioning and dewatering. The fil-trate from the belt filter presses is fur-ther clarified and discharged to themunicipal sewer collection systemunder an Industrial User DischargePermit. Currently the sludge cake isbeing landfilled. Figure 1 gives anoverview of the process flow.

The flow equalization tanks and beltfilter presses were in place. Upgradesto the facility were mostly for thereceiving station which includes a con-tainment area, automatic screening, andgrit removal. A containment area isnecessary in the area where the trucksare off loaded. Every time the haulersremove the cap from their dischargevalve they lose some material onto theground. Sometimes it is a few drops,other times it could be a few gallons.Everything that falls onto the ground isrinsed down and ends up in the treat-ment process. Spill containment wasone of IDEM’s firmest requirements.

Sampling protocol consists of monitor-ing every load discharging into thefacility. The discharge flows throughan open channel where the facilityoperator can see and smell what isbeing discharged. The policy is that ifthe waste is reported to be septage andit looks like septage and smells likeseptage it probably is septage.Similarly, if the waste is reported to beseptage but it looks and smells likegrease trap wastes then a sample istaken and the discharger may be sur-charged for the analytical charges andadditional treatment fees that apply togrease trap wastes. Loads will berejected if the material does not lookand smell like septage or grease trap

FIGURE 1 - Process Flow



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waste. Since the haulers understand theclose scrutiny of every load there hasbeen no reason, to date, to surcharge orreject any loads.

While not required by any regulation,the facility has implemented a manifestsystem. Haulers document each load asto the source, type, and volume of thedischarged material. Mixed loads, thatis loads with both septage and greasetrap waste, are accepted and document-ed accordingly on the manifest. Theinput volume is recorded by use of aninline flow meter. The haulers areinvoiced on a gallonage basis everyweek.

The first unit process is screening of thematerial; with automatic screeningaccomplished by a Lakeside FineScreen. There are many products onthe market today for screening septage,but most become blinded with thegrease that accumulates in septic tanks(much less what accumulates in restau-rant grease traps!). The Lakeside FineScreen is an excellent unit for thisapplication. While the unit may allowmore small particles to pass through thescreen it does an excellent job atremoving the larger debris that takes upspace in tanks and clogs pumps. A lessexpensive manual bar screen couldhave been used instead of the automat-ic fine screen but the concern foremployees health and well-being pre-cluded such an option.

The next unit process is grit removal,accomplished through the use of a gritclassifier. Be assured that these wastesare loaded with grit. If you do notaddress it up front, you will surelyaddress it when pipes and pumps clogwith grit and tank space is over-whelmed with grit. Removing it fromthese spots is not fun job!

Onsite were two 70,000 gallon sludgeholding tanks with 20 hp mixers. Afterflowing through the screening and grit

removal equipment the waste is accu-mulated in these tanks. This is neces-sary for two reasons. One, it attenuatesthe flow from the tank trucks whichdischarge at a rate between 200 and 300gallons per minute (we press at about100 gallons per minute). Two, the com-ponents of each truck load vary but theblended average is very consistent.This is important for conditioning anddewatering the material.

The blended waste stream is then con-ditioned with polymer and dewateredusing the two 2 meter Von Roll beltpresses that existed in the facility.Although years ago we said septageand grease trap waste could not bedewatered, the technology of today hasadvanced the state of polymers anddewatering equipment to make itdoable. Blends with up to 30% greasetrap waste by volume are easily dewa-tered. The sludge cake produced isabout 25% solids on a dry weight basis.Currently the sludge is landfilled sincethe facility has no means of furthertreating the sludge to produce a benefi-cially reused biosolid. Unfortunatelylandfill tip fees are relatively inexpen-sive in northern Indiana so the capitalinvestment necessary to produce aClass A or B biosolid cannot be justi-fied.

Capture on the belt presses is not asgood as one would like to see.Therefore, we send the filtrate throughseveral clarifiers prior to its dischargeinto the municipal collection system.

On a schedule settled solids arepumped back from the clarifiers intothe equalization tanks. The facilityIndustrial User Discharge Permitrequires self monitoring and reportingof the effluent quality. Some parame-ters are measured monthly, others quar-terly, some semi-annually, and a few onan annual basis. The original monitor-ing requirements were more extensivebut a good compliance history allowedthe City to reduce some of theserequirements. There had been concernsthat our discharge would not meet theFOG requirement of less than 100 mg/l,but in fact our discharge has neverexceeded 20 mg/l! Of the parametersfor which we are surcharged, BODaverages about 500 mg/l, TSS is alwaysless than 50 mg/l, ammonia-nitrogenless than 50 mg/l, and phosphorous lessthan 25 mg/l.

The facility had previously been usedto pretreat high strength pharmaceuticalwastes and had a poor track record forodor problems. Septage and grease trapwaste pretreatment is also an odor gen-erating operation and neighbors voicedtheir concern. United had known fromthe start that odor management was aprerequisite to opening the facility. Allunit processes are located in a building.Trucks unload through a 4” dischargehose connection that terminates insidethe receiving building. The only pieceof equipment outside is the sludgerolloff.

Odor is managed by the use of an exist-

Table 1 Septage characteristics Parameter* Range Average Suggested

design valueBOD5 440-78,600 6,500 7,000TSS 310-93,400 12,900 15,000Ammonia-N 3-116 97 150Total PO4 20-760 210 250Oil & Grease 210-23,400 5,600 8,000PH 1.5-12.6 6.0Copper 0.3-34 8.27 8.0Lead 2-8.4 5.2 10Zinc 2.9-153 27.4 40

*Reported in mg/l except ph which is in standard units



INDUSTRY reports

ing blower that evacuates air from thepress room, receiving area, and ventson the equalization tanks and clarifiers.The existing wet stack scrubbing sys-tem was ‘scrubbed’ in lieu of installinga 2500 square foot biofilter. Previousexperience with biofilters with theirassociated low costs of constructionand operation led to this odor manage-ment process. Also, the thoughts ofbringing ‘unnatural’ chemicals on sitedid not appeal. The few odor com-plains that the facility has had were allprior to the finished construction of thebiofilter. Most of the complaints werecaused by careless operator manage-ment. One example is the practice ofcleaning the clarifiers with a vacuumtruck while neighbors were workingoutside about 50 yards downwind!Pumps have been installed to move thesettled solids back to the equalizationtanks without the venting of fowl air.Once the neighbor called with an odorcomplaint when no abnormal opera-tions were taking place. The operatorswere surprised to find one of thehaulers had stopped to wash his truckwith smelly facility effluent water!These and other examples are proofthat best management practices arevital to odor management.

For recordkeeping and invoicingUnited uses an internet based databaseto compile all input and output data.Information is kept regarding thesources of every gallon that enters thefacility and the final deposition of thesludge cake produced. The software isevolving. The goal is to allow access tothis data by regulators, customers, andwaste generators over the internet.

COST OF TREATMENT

Septage has highly variable characteris-tics. Data generated by the US EPAduring the development of the 40 CFRPart 503 regulations regarding landapplication of septage is shown inTable 1.

Merchant facilities can calculate thecost of treatment by dividing their total

costs by the amount of gallonsprocessed. Adjustments can, andshould, be made for variable wastestreams, i.e. grease trap wastes havetwo or three times the percentage ofsolids and organic strength as does sep-tage. Assumptions must be made, andthe results are never perfect, but at leasta good attempt can be made at develop-ing an equitable pricing structure. Atthe United facility pricing is five centsper gallons for septage and twelve centsper gallon for grease trap waste.Remember this is a privately ownedmerchant facility and a profit margin isincorporated into these charges.

A municipal wastewater treatmentfacility may have a greater task atdeveloping a pricing structure. Sincetreating septage and grease trap wasteis not all they do, there are an infiniteamount of variables to consider.

One reasonable mechanism for calcu-lating cost to treat septage is to use theexisting sewer ordinance’s surchargingrates. Most municipalities alreadyexpend the effort to calculate theserates. And, this seems fair since that iswhat a municipality would charge anindustrial user if that was the quality ofthe waste being discharged to the col-lection system.

Table 2 shows the rates the Unitedfacility pays the City of Elkhart forexceedences over a base level.

Using the USEPA suggested design val-uesi and the above surcharges, the cost

to treat 1,000 gallons of septage is cal-culated in Table 3.

That is in excess of $52 per thousandgallons of septage or about 5.2 centsper gallon. Most times when you dothis type of analysis of costs at a waste-water treatment facility that acceptsseptage you will find the cost in therange of 5 to 7 cents per gallon. Butseldom is that what the facility is charg-ing the haulers! I cannot image the ratepayers being happy with their subsidiz-ing septage treatment.

When the haulers stop being subsidizedand start to realize and accept the factthat it costs to treat these wastes prop-erly, then we will see private industry‘step up to the plate’ and work to solvethese environmental problems.

Merchant facilities provide benefits forall. Pretreating these wastes prior tointroduction into the municipal waste-water treatment facility 1) simplifiesoperations at these facilities, 2) mini-mizes their environmental and regula-tory concerns that a ‘hot’ load willupset their system, 3) probably givesthem financial rewards by not subsidiz-ing trucked in loads, and 4) minimizestheir issues with truck traffic and odors.And, maybe best of all, management nolonger has to deal with invoicing, col-lecting from, and generally dealingwith hauler issues. Haulers benefit byhaving a facility that accepts a widerrange of wastes than do most municipal

Table 2: City of Elkhart Sewer Use Surcharge Rates

Parameter Surcharge Rate In Excess of Base Level (mg/l)

BOD5 $0.1820 per pound 250

TSS $0.3199 per pound 250

NH3-N $0.2380 per pound 25



INDUSTRY reports

wastewater treatment facilities.Merchant facilities are service basedoperations that must satisfy their cus-tomers needs with regard to longeracceptance hours, shorter turnaroundtimes, guaranteed capacity (don’t tellthem it is raining today and they cannotdump!). And for the driver’s conven-ience most facilities have restrooms,soda and snack machines, and a dri-ver’s lounge. And, maybe best of allfrom the hauler’s viewpoint, a mer-chant facility is a place where thehaulers are welcomed.

NORTH AMERICAN ‘S FIRST 100% PERFORMANCE-BASEDONSITE WASTEWATER REGULATION ENACTED(2)

by Frank Hay

The first Onsite WastewaterRegulation in North America to

change from a prescriptive code to aperformance-based code was enactedby the Government of British Columbiain Canada in July 2004.

The new Sewerage System Regulationin British Columbia (BC) was enactedin July 2004 with an enforcement dateof May 31, 2005. The 9 month enforce-ment delay was required to allow all ofthe industry members to get their for-mal education and training from theWestcoast Onsite Wastewater TrainingCentre (WOWTC) as administered bythe B C OnSite Sewage Association(BCOSSA), and to complete the regis-tration process as set down in the regu-lation.

Professional reliance concepts are usedin the new regulation by placing specif-ic duties, responsibilities and accounta-bility on those who provide the goodsand services to the public. In addition,for the first time, there are regulatory

provisions that require the system’sowner or user to be held accountablefor the system’s operation and mainte-nance. Operation and maintenanceapplies to all types of systems – septictanks, secondary treatment units andtertiary or advanced treatment units.

In exchange for these new duties to theindustry and the system’s user, the per-mit process is replaced with a processthat requires that the system’s planner /designer is to file with the authoritiesdocuments of (a) what is being plannedor designed, (b) the operation andmaintenance requirements by theowner and (c) certification that the sys-tem is installed in accordance with thefiling document.

The regulation further provides thatONLY authorized persons are to plan,design, install and maintain onsite sys-tems. An authorized person is either aRegistered Practitioner or aProfessional.

How Did this RegulatoryReform Occur ?

Basically, 2 things working separatelysimply came together. One of the thingswas that the new government of theday, elected in 2001, had fiscal respon-sibility and de-regulation as prioritiesof its administration.

De-regulation took the form of a newMinistry created to oversee de-regula-tion in all of the government’s min-istries. The onsite sewage wastewaterindustry was regulated through theMinistry of Health’s prescriptive-basedSewage Disposal Regulation and per-mit issuance process.

Fiscal responsibility took the form ofin-depth review of costs in relation toachieved health outcomes. The fiscalreview of the prescriptive SewageDisposal Regulation revealed that atleast 20% of financial and humanresources was spent by the local health

continued frompage 15

Table 3 Cost to treat 1,000 gallons of septageppm Mga #/gal $/# $

BOD5 7,000 0.001 8.34 0.1820 10.63

TSS 15,000 0.001 8.34 0.3199 40.02

NH3-N 150 0.001 8.34 0.2380 00.30

PO4 250 0.001 8.34 0.5950 01.24

Total 52.19

x x x =


References

† Water Environment Federation (1997) Septage Handling, Manual of Practice No. 24; Alexandria, Virginia.

Tom Ferrero is a consultant with Ferrero & Associates, LLC and Chief Operating Officer of United Wastewater Management, Inc. United is com-mitted to developing, constructing, owning, and operating septage, grease trap, and grit trap treatment facilities for the industry. The facilitydescribed in this paper is the United Wastewater Recovery Center of Elkhart located at 1143 Oak Street in Elkhart, Indiana. He is an active NOWRAmember, former member of the Board of Directors and Secretary-Treasurer.


INDUSTRY reports

authorities, whereas the health outcomewas barely measurable at 1%. Peoplewere more at a direct risk for diseasefrom food and drinking water than fromsewage.

The second thing that was going on wasthat BCOSSA was operating, since2000, the Westcoast Onsite WastewaterTraining Centre in partnership with theRoyal Roads University in Victoria, BCand BCOSSA was operating a volun-tary certification program based onexperience, education and references.

Mr. John Rowse, B.A.A., C.P.H.I.C.,M.A., Project Manager, Land Use forthe Ministry of Health Services wasdirected to create the regulatoryreforms needed under the government’spriorities. Mr. Rowse had been engagedin the regulatory reform issues underthe previous government administra-tion using the prescriptive code model.When the new administration was

elected the priorities changed and Mr.Rowse was challenged by the govern-ment to think “outside the box” onthese issues.

After 2 _ years, Mr. Rowse created thenew Sewerage System Regulationusing the performance-based codeapproach. In BC, this innovativeapproach is the first of its kind withinany Ministry of the Government and isthe first of its kind in the onsite waste-water industry in North America to ourknowledge.

Mr. Rowse satisfied the governmentpriorities by considering the BCOSSAeducation and certification programand developing the Regulation that nowis enacted.

How Does the RegulationWork ?

There are 3 types of TreatmentMethods are set down in the

Regulation:Type 1 is a septic tank

Type 2 is a secondary treatment unit

Type 3 is treatment unit that meetsBOD/TSS of 10 mg/l each and fecalColiform of 400 CFU/100ml

The regulation requires that onlyauthorized persons perform any func-tion in the onsite system. AnAuthorized Person is either aRegistered Practitioner or aProfessional.

A Registered Practitioner is registeredwith the registration agency and mustmeet 3 basic criteria that are:1. Educational & Training as required by

BCOSSA at WOWTC.

2. Verification of experience and refer-ences

3. Meeting the requirements of the Codeof Ethics and professional development.

A Registered Practitioner may plan forcontinued to page 18


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sites with a domestic residential sewageflow of up to 2,400 us gals per day thatrequire a Type 1 or Type 2 Treatmentmethod. A Registered Practitioner mayinstall and maintain Type 1, 2 or 3. Thefollowing are the categories of aRegistered Practitioner:

PlannerInstallerMaintenance Provider

A Professional may design for sites thatrequire a Type 3 Treatment Method andare for non-residential wastewaterflows.

The Planner or Designer will file withthe authorities the plan / design com-plete with the required operation andmaintenance plan for the system’sowner / user to follow.

The Ministry of Health Services is to

publish the Sewerage Systems StandardPractice Manual for the RegisteredPractitioner and Professional to use as aguideline. This Manual is amendablefrom time to time as determined by acommittee established by the Ministryof Health Services that is to includerepresentatives from industry.

Is there Grandfathering ?

The short answer is no. Every existingsite assessor / planner, installer andmaintenance provider is to meet theeducational requirements of BCOSSAand go through the registration process.Those who have successfully complet-ed the WOWTC courses from 2000 tothe present will have those courses rec-ognized as meeting the educationalrequirements.

What is the Role of thePublic Health Inspector ?

The role of the pub-lic health inspectoris likely to be:1. To receive thefiling of the plan withthe operating and main-tenance plan and ensurethat the person filingthe document is anauthorized person.

2. To respond tohealth complaints orsystem malfunctions

3. To issue ordersfor the repair orreplacement of the sys-tem.

4. To issue finesunder the Offences Act.

What Does theFuture Hold?

Being a new pro-gram, it is expectedthat the next fewyears will consist ofwatching, monitor-ing and altering theprogram and processuntil the problemsare identified and

resolved.

From there it is intended that, with apool of qualified RegisteredPractitioners and Professionals to serv-ice the needs of the industry, local gov-ernments can begin to consider onsitewastewater systems as a viable and reli-able method of infrastructure for landuse planning and development.

Summary

The BCOSSA is excited about what thefuture can hold for the industry, generalpublic and governments as the perform-ance-based regulation unfolds andreveals the benefits to be gained by all.However, with this opportunity comesthe responsibility and management toensure a raising of the standard to thehighest possible level.

Protecting public health, the environ-ment and the drinking water resource isto be paramount in moving forwardwith a performance-based code usingprofessional reliance and governmentfiscal responsibility.

Website addresses to view the variousagencies and associations workingtogether to meet the goals of theSewerage System Regulation are:

www.bcossa.comwww.royalroads.ca/wowtcwww.owrp.asttbc.org

Frank Hay is President of BC OnSiteSewage Association; Vice-Chairman RoyalRoads University Advisory Board forOnsite Wastewater Management;Chairman of the BC Onsite WastewaterRegistration Board;

Member of the BC Sewerage SystemStandard Practice Manual StandingCommittee; and President of PinnacleEnvironmental Technologies Inc.



INDUSTRY reports

SOLVING A TECHNICAL CHALLENGE : READER ASKS THE INDUSTRY FOR ADVICE

How do you approach a problem of managing large volumes of food waste?What are the experiences that

onsite industry professionalshave with typical wastewater charac-teristics for a submarine/sandwichfood processing facility? The facilitywill be preparing cold sandwiches forthe retail market, that containsprocessed and non-processed meatsand vegetables, dressings, etc.

Preparations occur in a small kitchenwith some cooking on the premises ofpoultry and beef; but most of theprocessed cold cuts are pre-cooked; andthere are no deep frying operations.Workers will assemble and package thesubs and there will be some food

products (bits of meat, cheese, vegeta-bles, etc) which can be expected to fallon the floor over the course of a day.This work area will have a daily sanita-tion and wash down of the counter topsand floor into the floor drain system.

This is a new facility which will be con-necting to a small cluster sewage treat-ment system. The sewage system con-sists of a septic tank effluent gravitysewer and an OSI Advantex textile fil-ter treatment system (AX-20 modules).This facilities wastewater could gener-ate 25% of the total flow to the sewagesystem. All the other users are officecomplexes (ie. call centers, light manu-facturing).

The sewage system designer for thepark was told that it would be a drypark (ie. no food processing or heavyindustry). Sewer discharge limits(BOD, FOG, etc.) were established toprotect the park owners (the govern-ment) and the sewage system. There areconcerns that the facility may signifi-cantly exceeded its limits and cause

problems for the sewage treatment sys-tem.

As an example, the two pot sinks fromthe kitchen go to an outside greaseinterceptor tank with 5 days retention.The pot sinks from the kitchen go to anoutside grease interceptor tank sized for5 days retention. Nothing else goesinto the grease interceptor. The floordrains, toilets, hand basins all go direct-ly to the septic tank which is sized for 3days HRT based on expected peakflow.The consultant for the sandwichshop had no idea what the wastewatercharacteristics might be except to saythat "From a BOD standpoint this plantshould be relatively low levels as thevast majority of the water consumed is

during daily sanitation and wash downprocedures which will be heavily dilut-ed".

The other concern are the chemicalsbeing used during the daily washdown/sanitation procedures -- acidiccleaners/sanitizers (ie. phosphoric acid)and basic cleaners (ie.sodium hydrox-ide, sodium hypochlorite). The quanti-ties anticipated range from 0.25 to 2gallons per day each of 4 products.

The primary question is whether theseproducts will be sufficiently diluted sothat they don't have an adverse impacton the microbiology in the septic tankand on the ATU system. All normal



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sources on high strength wastewaterwere examined, but no informationcould be located for this specific typeof facility. What are the expectationsfor operations; if the chemicals causeproblems, how should this problem beaddressed without telling workers theycan't use them -- which won't be anoption due to Dept. Health require-ments. M What’s the best direction topursue?

Kelly

REPONSE FROMNOWRA MEMBERS

Response #1

On one project, I designed, installed,and am currently operating an 1800 gpd…… system serving a Subway restau-rant located in a small commercialbuilding. The Subway restaurant istypical in addition to having an icecream scooping operation. . Therestaurant is allotted 700 gpd and therest rooms in the other part of the build-ing are allotted 225 gpd. Chemicalcleaners with quaternary ammonia aretraditionally used.

Overall, the system has been in opera-tion for a year at design loading. Threequarterly effluent samples prior to driphave the following ranges: BOD 11 -18 mg/l, Ammonia N 11 - 15 mg/l,Nitrate N 6 - 7 mg/l.

MikeResponse #2

We have had experience with similarsites. Mike's summary is on target.

Fixed film reactors are also your bestbet in situations like this; however, ifnitrogen is an issue -- be prepared to besurprised. There are alternatives toquaternary ammonia based cleanersand national chains have options tochange their sanitary routines. If you

need a list please contact us off line. Wecan also provide you with a list of whatnot to use.

All small food operations such as theseexamples are different. They also fre-quently experience dramatically differ-ent seasonal flows. However, for thoselike Subway where little onsite process-ing and disposal occurs the carbona-ceous loading should be modest.

Two things we watch for are periodiccontract cleaning and excessive dispos-al of products like milk or salad dress-ings.

Our experience is that whenever possi-ble, do composite sampling. We actual-ly require a PE to sign a design sheet,and to consider daily and seasonal peakflows. Material Safety Data Sheets arerequired for all their cleaning and sani-tary routines. If unobtainable for a newsite, composite samples are requestedfrom a similar store in the chain. Inaddition, the nature of the foods and themarkets they serve alter the wastestreams dramatically. Here is a sensethat seasonal specialties such as Icecream can double the actual flow fromwinter to summer. It can also dramati-cally alter the BOD concentrations.

McDonalds will generally have a flowdouble that of a Wendy's because of thebreakfast business. Wendy's may sur-prise you with a higher BOD becausesalad dressings are frequently washedinto their systems. However, with goodhouse keeping we would expect 1000BOD on a McDonalds and between 600and 800 on BOD on a Wendy's or aHardee's. We expect spikes to 2500mg/l BOD from time to time.

Arby's like your sandwich shop hasresidential wastewater characteristics.However, wherever you have facilitiesattached to a gas and go you can expectthe nitrogen to be much higher becauseof the nature of the activity at the site.Arby's corporate cleaning regimen usesa 7% solution of QuarternaryAmmonia. Your client may be fighting

a mandate from his corporate office. Ithas to be fought.

FOG we expect to be between 50 and100 mg/l but on an Arby's we wouldexpect it to be much lower and on a McDonald's we expect it to be in the highend of the range.

We always sample for pH but we onlyexpect to see a problem in baking oper-ations like doughnut shops. Here weexpect to see a ph of 4 or less.

The more you work in this business themore conservative you become. Wehave seen 250 mg/l influent TKN on aHome Depot and 500 mg/l TKN on aRoadway trucking terminal. We havealso seen an influent pH of >9 mg/l ona US Postal distribution center. Moststate design criteria do not incorporatethis kind of information. I honestlydon't know if anyone has tried to pub-lish anything on it.

At one time the Health DepartmentDirector in Alabama, and I looked atthe code for a 90 seat McDonald's andthen sized the disposal field based onthe organic loading assuming a residen-tial septic system loading rate persquare foot as the base that we knowfunctions reasonably well.Design code required a 3500 square

foot field. The revised loading rate ingood soils required a 25000 squarefoot field and in poor soils it requiredan 82000 square foot field. That'sright; almost 2 acres. Secondary treat-ment required a 2500 square foot field.

Years ago a McDonald's engineer and Icalculated that for McDonald's second-ary treatment was about a 2 to 2.5 yearreturn on investment assuming the fieldwould fail in an average of 5 years.

You just have to do the work. Theclient may not like the answer inapproximating the range; however,when the system is overloaded theclient will be looking for you and themanufacturer to make it right at yourexpense.

– Craig



INDUSTRY reports

Humans generate waste. Wastegenerated by humans is toxic to

them and can cause stress upon thereceiving environment. Dealing withthis challenge is called sanitation.Many strategies have been developedto provide sanitation procedures fortreatment of waste such as sewer, septicand decentralized approaches. Eachsanitation approach has merit and wasdeveloped to fill specific niches. Inconsidering the application of thesestrategies, wastewater treatment posesminimal limitations to development ofproperty. It is evident that local policyofficials must now implement zoningrestrictions based on community stan-dards, and not their perceptions of whatcan or cannot be accomplished regard-ing the availability of wastewater treat-ment capacity.

Thus, wastewater treatment capacityand zoning regulations clearly have dif-ferent purposes, They have differentenabling statutes and processes Theuse of wastewater treatment regulationsto advance the zoning agenda of inter-ested parties, may result in harm to thepublic interest.

Wastewater treatment regulation isdesigned to protect public health andthe natural environment from theeffects of sewage. The objective ofwastewater regulations should be toallow treatment solutions to any struc-ture in any location provided the publichealth and environment are protected.Technologies and methods now exist tomeet this objective. These technolo-

An Editorial Opinion:

A Word on the Relationship of ZoningRegulations to Decisions aboutWastewater Treatment Capacity Options

gies and methods also require mainte-nance that should be part of regulations.If any applicable wastewater regula-tions do not allow the use of the fullrange of useful, proven technologiesand require periodic maintenance, thenthose regulations likely need to beupdated.

Land use regulation in the form of zon-ing is a political process. It is designedto transfer the power to determine landuse from the landowner to some otherentity to support the common good.Zoning laws are accompanied by manyprocedures and safeguards for bothlandowners and their neighbors. Theprocess is often highly political, con-tentious and may result in decisionsthat are divisive. Historically, planningand zoning boards have used the waste-water capacity issue as a crutch to pre-vent, limit or otherwise control devel-opment. Given the availability of cur-rent technology for onsite wastewatertreatment systems to provide thatcapacity in a more focused approach,that crutch is becomes diminished.

There exist many current examples.Decisions to develop land in one com-munity are often opposed by the gov-ernments of neighboring communities.The urban government officials maydesire to block rural development tomaximize their own developmentpotential, but lack the zoning power todo so. These officials may gain thatpower by blocking access to water andwastewater infrastructure capacity forsuburban or rural housing develop-

ments . They may also use their controlof water and wastewater authorities totrade access to services for annexationof neighboring areas. In this case,onsite treatment systems are unwel-come alternatives. However, the onsitesystem capacity approach offers a rea-sonable cost, technologically effectivesolution that is effectively integratedwith watershed management and sus-tainable development policies.

Within the scenario of onsite systems,there are two approaches to wastewaterservice: individual home units and clus-ter systems. Each is appropriate in dif-ferent situations. Cluster systems areparticularly useful in areas of highlyvariable soil conditions, where a largeportion of the area is not suitable forsoil dispersal of the wastewater. Thewastewater is transported through alocal collection system to a treatmentplant and dispersed in an area of suit-able soil. The developer and local plan-ning agencies then have the flexibilityto design a full range of subdivisions,from large estates to high-density hous-ing. These are the same options enjoyedby urban planners with municipalsewer and water services.

The technologies for onsite systems hasadvanced to a stage that it is at least assafe, both for the environment and pub-lic health, as municipal sewage collec-tion and treatment; and as such shouldbe treated as an equal choice in the con-sideration of providing wastewatercapacity within the various conditions.


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New direction, leadership, professionalism, outreach,information sharing, education and training…..

All of these expressions reflect thedesires of the first Board of

Directors of Colorado Professionalsin Onsite Wastewater (CPOW) for theonsite wastewater systems industry inColorado. CPOW, a professionalassociation of individuals from allsectors of the Colorado onsite waste-water industry, was incorporated inAugust of 2004. An affiliate of theNational Onsite WastewaterRecycling Association (NOWRA),CPOW was formed to address issuesthat beleaguer Colorado’s onsitewastewater industry.

Due to the locally-controlled nature ofonsite wastewater systems (OWS) reg-ulatory programs in Colorado, profes-sionals in the field have been chal-lenged for decades with issues sur-rounding the need for centralized lead-ership, outdated regulations, accept-ance of new technology, education ofOWS users, technical competence ofprofessionals and geographical consis-tency of regulations and standards, justto name a few. Since the mid-1990’s, acore group of professionals in the fieldhave attempted to rally the professionaround these issues. However, withoutcentral leadership to establish soliddirection and to rally support in influ-ential political circles, these effortshave met with limited success. In2001, Jane Norton, Executive Director

of the Colorado Department of PublicHealth and Environment (CDPHE)appointed the Individual SewageDisposal Systems (ISDS) SteeringCommittee, to address issues regardingpotential water quality impacts fromOWS and the adequacy of currentefforts to minimize such impacts.

The steering committee, whose mem-bers represented a wide range ofexpertise and interests related to onsitewastewater systems, created a report tothe Colorado State Board of Health andthe Colorado Water Quality ControlCommission, which includes a summa-ry characterization of onsite wastewatersystem impacts and a series of thirteenspecific recommendations to addressthe risk factors identified in the sum-mary characterization. The entire ISDSSteering Committee Report can bereviewed athttp://www.cdphe.state.co.us/op/wqcc/SpecialTopics/ISDS/ISDSRecommendations020214.pdf. During the earlyformative stages of CPOW, the Boardof Directors chose to utilize this docu-ment as the primary guidance for direc-tion of CPOW’s efforts over the nextseveral years.

Several months of thought, discussionand downright hard work on the part ofthe CPOW Board have culminated inthe completion of the first CPOWStrategic Plan. The Board of Directorshas defined the mission and core values

of the organization, identified strengthsand weaknesses of the current organi-zation as well as opportunities andchallenges for success and developed astrong strategy for achieving specificgoals over the next 1-3 years. Thestrategic plan will soon be available on-line at www.cpow.us . The CPOWBoard wishes to acknowledge the sup-port of NOWRA, especially ExecutiveDirector Linda Hanifin Bonner for herassistance in facilitating the develop-ment of this initial CPOW strategicplanning document.

In addition to development of thestrategic plan, CPOW Board membershave also developed a couple of newmarketing tools to promote CPOW toprospective members. Collaborativeefforts have also begun with NOWRAto help streamline some of the businessaspects of the organization includingmembership and website development.New partnerships are also beingexplored with the Colorado League ofWomen Voters, AWARE Colorado, andother programs involved with gatheringand disseminating information and edu-cation about onsite wastewater issues.The Board is also working towarddevelopment and adoption of a CPOWcode of ethics. Plans are also wellunderway for CPOW’s second annualspring educational meetings to be heldin Grand Junction March 4th and inGolden March 25.

Colorado

Have a Technical Challenge? Ask for advice from industry experts....

E-mail your technical challenge to [email protected]


STATE programs

GROUP MEETING – APRIL 4-5 – KANSAS CITYFOCUSES ON MANAGING TRAINING PROGRAMS, GRANT WRITING AND MEMBERSHIPRECRUITMENT

Following on the heels of successfrom the first meeting in August,

which was followed by the Novembersession in Albuquerque, leaders repre-senting 16 of NOWRA 32 state groupswill meet in Kansas City for additionalskills and support in association man-agement. A preliminary session beginsSunday afternoon with instructions onimplementing a Training ManagementSystem. The objective of this session isto provide the State Groups that areready to begin this process (Kansas,Missouri, Nebraska, Texas, Maryland,Virginia) with guidance and directionneeded to effective operate and managetraining programs. Topics to be cov-

ered include funding and staff resourcemechanisms, and how state groups getthese programs established.

On Monday, the Group addresses mem-ber status & trends, year-end report onstrategic process, budgeting and pro-grams. They will also discuss theOnsite Industry PractitionerCertification Program. Raymond Peat,NOWRA President will attend the pro-gram and report on NOWRA BoardStrategic Planning Session. This reportwill be followed by a presentation fromNOWRA’s Communications andMarketing Committee who are devel-oping the materials for NOWRA’s

membership and marketing program.

Also being addressed are Association/membership insurance needs – securi-ty issue; Directors & OfficersLiability, Content – Off-site file stor-age – emergency needs, protectingcritical documents and organizationprocedures; NOWRA FutureConference locations & timeframe.Attendees will spend time learninggrant writing and administration pro-cedures – where to find them how towrite them, how to get them and howto manage them – and the paperworkinvolved!


INDUSTRY reports

Iowa

IOWA HEARTLAND HABITAT FOR HUMANITIY

Habitat for Humanities has acquired avacant air base housing complex by

Waverly, Iowa which consists of 23vacant military homes. The homes are inneed of repair and new sewage treatmentsystems. The IOWWA Board decidedthat this would be a worthwhile projectfor IOWWA to undertake.

We are in the process of developing a planfor sewering these homes. Currently thethought is to cluster the homes by sharingseptic tanks and pre-treatment systemwhich will drain into a shared absorptionfield.

It is anticipated to have the first 3 – 4 homesoccupied by June of 2005.

IOWWA is in need of donations of materi-als such as pumps, pipe, septic tanks, pre-treatment systems, and secondary treatmentcomponents.

We will be using this site to provideinstallers training during the actual installa-tion of the systems and plan to continueusing it to provide maintenance training.Manufactures will be encouraged to use thissite to monitor the performance of thereproducts.

Persons who are interested in assisting with this project are encouraged to contactany IOWWA Board member or Doug Bird with the Bremer County HealthDepartment at 319-352-0332 or [email protected]

Ohio

Ohio Onsite Wastewater AssociationThe Ohio Onsite WastewaterAssociation (OOWA) held itssixth annual convention inJanuary 2005 including thethird year of focused contractortraining through the pilotOOWA Installer QualificationProgram. The conference wasa time for celebration of thepassage of onsite sewage legis-lation (HB 231) in Ohio.OOWA received a letter ofrecognition from the director ofthe Ohio Department of Health(ODH) for the association’spartnership efforts with ODH,local health departments, and multiple interested parties.Rick Novickis, as OOWAPresident in 2003 and 2004,worked closely with the bill’s sponsor, Representative Tom Niehaus (now SenatorTom Niehaus), in workingout language concerninginstaller responsibilities and competencies. As Rick has passed the OOWAgavel to President-Elect Jim Whitcraft in 2005, he now serves as the NOWRA ProgramCommittee Chair for theNOWRA Conference to beheld in Cleveland OH.OOWA is looking forwardto hosting NOWRA inOctober 2005!

incoming OOWA President Jim Whitcraft andPast-president Rick Novickis.


INDUSTRY reports

WHY VOWRA? WHY NOWRA?WHY NOW?by: Mike Lynn, VOWRA President

What a great time to be president ofthis organization! I’ve got a thir-

teen-year-old son and his two sweetyounger sisters and, of course don’t forgettheir beautiful mother who needs time,too. Business is booming and none of us inthe Onsite Industry can keep up. I’ve gotplenty of time.

Ha!

On top of that, VOWRA is trying toreview legislation and regulations,improve communication and keep us allout of court. (Yes, I’ve been there, I know.You don’t want to go).

All aside, what you as VOWRA members,do have is probably the most dedicatedBoard of Directors I’ve ever worked with.In early January, we locked ourselves in ahotel conference room in Charlottesvillefor two days to strategically look at ourstrengths, weaknesses, opportunities andobstacles. Under the direction ofNOWRA’s executive director, LindaHanifin-Bonner, we determined that you,the members of VOWRA are our numberone strength. The onsite industry inVirginia is strong and full of great soil sci-entists, AOSEs, designers, engineers, reg-ulators and manufacturers. Taking a lookat our weaknesses was a little tougher.Especially when we looked at our lack ofa strategic plan, lack of an annual budgetand most importantly the fact that we hadno defined short- or long-term goals.

There was no one to blame other than our-selves. We have not provided you with theleadership and opportunities you deserveand for that we sincerely apologize. ChuckJackson led us for the past two-years and

has brought us back from life support toa living, breathing and thinking organi-zation with structure and good commu-nication. Board meetings have beenmade easier through e-mail and confer-ence calls and in the past two years wehave had three successful conferencesand trained more than 100 people forthe NSF written and practical exams.Virginia has more NSF certified inspec-tors than any state in the U.S.

The first decision we had to make onyour behalf was whether we were sim-ply going to remain a conference organ-ization or whether we were going to

lead the Onsite Industry in Virginia.

We have decided to lead!

While the Virginia Department ofHealth plays a paramount role in regu-lating the Onsite Industry via the leg-islative authority granted them, thereare multitudes of ways that VOWRAcan provide support to every onsitestakeholder in Virginia including VDH.

Is it possible that VOWRA could be theprimary trainer for VDH staff and theprivate sector? Could VOWRA be the

Virginia



STATE programs

one to propose legislative changes andbuild consensus among the builders’association, realtors, counties, plannersand others who might oppose changesto the way the onsite functions justbecause they are not informed? CouldVOWRA start a voluntary registeredinstaller credential program that leadsto State Certification?

WHY VOWRA?

1. VOWRA is the only organizationin Virginia that equally representsthe interests of all stakeholders inthe Onsite Wastewater Industry,which includes regulators.

2. VOWRA’s Board of directors iscommitted to leading the OnsiteIndustry in Virginia. To accom-plish these goals, we need notonly your ideas, but donations ofyour time and talents and financialresources.

3. VOWRA’s Board has set three pri-orities for 2005.

a. To establish a plan and begin tocreate a VOWRA Onsite trainingprogram and training center inVirginia.

b. To establish a plan and begin train-

ing for a VOWRA RegisteredOnsite Wastewater SystemInstaller Credential, leading to astate requirement for installer cer-tification.

c. Create a short and long term com-munication plan to enhance com-munication between members andall onsite stakeholders maximizingthe benefits of e-mail, snail mail,meetings and the web.

WHY NOWRA?

1. NOWRA is a national organiza-tion developing materials to sup-port the Onsite Industry nation-wide. These materials include theNational Model PerformanceCode, Operations & MaintenanceProvider and Certified OnsiteInstallers.

2. NOWRA has a new board ofdirectors in place committed tomaking NOWRA and onsite,household terms across theNation, promoting decentralizedand individual onsite systems asthe preferred method of waste-water disposal.

3. NOWRA’s new board is also com-mitted to re-focusing on StateGroups by developing and assist-

2005 Virginia Sewage Summitt Success

In March 2005, the VirginiaDepartment of Health in cooperation

with the Virginia Onsite WastewaterRecycling Association sponsoredAdvanced Onsite Training inRichmond. Topics covered during theday sessions included – WastewaterMicrobiology and Nutrient Issues,Septic Tank Effluent for OnsiteSystems, Alternatives to Septic TankEffluent for Onsite Systems, Onsite

Dispersal of Secondary or BetterQuality Effluent, and Management andPublic Policy Issues. Topics coveredduring the evening sessions included –Site Evaluation, Management, andTechnology. About 400 people regis-tered for the event, about half fromVDH.

Canaan Valley Institute (CVI) organ-ized a successful event on March 2005(Tuesday March 29 afternoon,Wednesday March 30 all day, Thursday

ing with grass roots legislativeefforts and providing a large sup-port network for State Leaders.

Why Now?

1. Most simply put, VOWRANEEDS YOU and I personallypromise that VOWRA is worthyour time.

2. The truth in any business plan isenacting it and seeing it through.Without you, our greatest asset,VOWRA will not be able to meetthe priorities set for 2005.

3. We need your help on committees,planning conferences, gatheringvendors, reviewing regulations,the AOSE advisory committee andidentifying speakers and trainingneeds across the State.

There are so many opportunities to helpour industry grow and come together. Ihope that by offering just a little time,we can start build consensus among allof those with an interest in OnsiteWastewater Disposal and Recycling inVirginia.

I sincerely hope you will visit our web-site: http://nowra.vowra.org or call mepersonally on my cell (703) 856-8637.

Mike

March 31 till 3 PM). Topics coveredduring the event the program included– Opening Session on Challenges andSolutions, Case Study; AfternoonSession on Technologies, Management,Finances, and Community Process;Case Study; State RegulatoryInteractive Panel Discussion; andOverall Panel Discussion at the end.Focus of this event will be on How toboost confidence in ManagedDecentralized Systems (MDS). Field



STATE programs

VOWRA’sSpringWorkshopMay 14-19

VOWRA will be having a spring work-shop at the Holiday Inn Surfside,Virginia Beach on May 17-19. Courseofferings include Dr. Jim Converse's A-Z course, which is applicable to anyonewanting to sit for the NSF Water /Wastewater Inspection exam or for con-tractors wanting to become eligible forVOWRA's Volunteer Contractor'sCertification program.Tentativelyscheduled is a one-day soils empha-sized program that's co-sponsored bythe Virginia Association of ProfessionalSoil Scientists. Topics may includeonsite system inspections and sizingcriteria for mini-mound systems. Formore information, call Chuck Jacksonat 540 436-9130 or [email protected].

tour to Explore Park may be in theafternoon of the first day (TuesdayMarch 29th). VOWRA spring trainingfor 2005 will be part of this event.

VDH Advanced Onsite Training inMarch 2006 will be the logical exten-sion of the training programs inVirginia. Planning for this trainingbegan with a conference call onJanuary 27, 2005. The focus will be ontraining for neighborhood communitywastewater systems and will emphasizethe obstacles and opportunities fromcradle to grave. Topics will includeplanning, public policy, design, instal-lation, operation and maintenance.Preliminary conference dates have beenset for March 22, 23 & 24, 2006 withbackup dates of March 15, 16 & 17 inRichmond, contingent on hotel avail-ability. VDH has included VOWRA,CVI, DEQ and NVPDC on the commit-tee with representation from sanitationauthorities and other local utilities.Technical training will be gearedtowards AOSEs, EHSs and PEs.

Training on legislative needs, publicpolicies and wastewater planning willbe geared towards elected public offi-cials, utility managers and local plan-ners.

Look for announcements of otherVOWRA training sessions in May (VABeach area) and October(Charlottesville area) here and on ourweb site (http://vowra.nowra.org).Topics will include NSF wastewatersystem written tests and practicalexamination training, AOSE/PE train-ing on soils and advanced systemdesign and installer training in anticipa-tion of The VOWRA RegisteredInstaller Credential.

The next planning conference call forthe 2006 VDH conference is set up forMonday March 7, 2005. Those withtopics of interest for training or thosewho know of conflicts with the datesshould contact Mike Lynn beforeMarch 7 @ (703) 856-8637 [email protected].

News from the Northwest and The Washington Onsite Sewage AssociationWOSSA 9th Annual State Conference largest ever!

Washington

At the end of January, WOSSAhosted its 9th Annual State

Conference. With over 300 peopleattending, we enjoyed the largest con-ference participation ever. 40Exhibitors and Manufacturers werepresent, representing the best andnewest in the industry. We especiallythank them for their support and con-

tributions to our organization and thepromotion of the industry inWashington.

One of the significant things comingout of our conference this year allowedWOSSA to establish a ScholarshipFund………An idea conceived andtaken on by JR Inman, the currentPresident of WOSSA was successful

with the establishment of a scholarshipfund totaling over $38,000.

$10,000 cash was donated toward thescholarship fund through efforts led byKen Moody of Environmental EarthSystems. Ken organized a number ofmember companies to donate time andmaterials to an installation that was


STATE programs

donated as seed money to the fund.

It is with our thanks and gratitude werecognize the following companies:

– Ken Moody – EnvironmentalEarth Systems and distributors

– Curtis Johnson – Bravo Enterprise

– Bob Cazabon – Rob-MarEnterprise

– Randy Jackson – R&J Trends

– Don Malkowski- AlternativeSeptic

– Dan Wallace – J&D Wallace

– Dean Bannister – Bannister Septic

– Ken Moody - UV The Disinfector

– Raymond Peat - Bio-Microbics

– Cuz Concrete – Tanks donated

– HB Jaeger Co – Herb Braicks: JimRose- Pipe and fittings

– Zoeller Pump Inc.- Jeff Woodard –Pumps & Fittings

Members in good standing of theAssociations’ immediate family are eli-gible to apply for $500.00 and $1,000grants to be awarded in 2005.Corporate/Group members of WOSSAallow for all of the group membersimmediate family to be eligible forapplication of these educational schol-arships. For more information please gothe home page of WOSSA at:wossa.org

News from Washington: State Legislative Action

WOSSA has recently beeninvolved in offering comment

and suggested changes to aWashington state legislative billbeing proposed by the “ Friends ofPuget Sound” regarding the low DOlevels experienced in the lower HoodCanal.

This critical and essential waterway isone of our state treasures and a hub ofactivity for tourism and economicactivities including agriculture,forestry, and shellfish, commercial andrecreational fishing and a variety ofother activities.

A recent report published to the PugetSound Action Team on the generalhealth of this state waterway indicatedgains in many areas as well as opportu-nities for improvement in others. LowDissolved Oxygen in relation toNitrogen contamination from variousactivities above, have led to a generaldegradation of the Lower Hood Canalto critical levels.

The proposed legislation in the StateHouse and the companion bill in theState Senate outline the focus of thelegislation and articulate potential non-source points of pollution and mitiga-tion options that focus on poorly func-tioning and failing onsite systems on ornear the water way. WOSSA opposedthe legislation as it was initially intro-

duced due to certain language andfocus of the proposed solutions. Onekey objection was that the proposedlegislation reiterated much of what wasin existing rule and further did little tomandate funding to support the legislat-ed changes and another being the nar-row focus of the bill of Onsite systemsbeing described as “significant” and“major” contributors to the issue withtoo little research to support the conclu-sions. Further, WOSSA felt this put anundue and unfunded burden onto thelocal regulatory agencies to resolve.

Working cooperatively various stateorganizations such as the BuildersAssociation, AGC, State Association ofCounties, the Washington StateRealtors Association, we were able torecommend significant languagechanges to the proposed legislationbefore it came out of committee to thefloor. WOSSA supports the basic con-cept in the proposed legislation of iden-tification; repair and continued moni-toring of the performance of these non-point sources and the ability of ourindustry knowledge and skills to sup-port the local regulatory issues andneed for timely correction of the prob-lems these systems contribute.

We continue to monitor the house billand its companion bill in the Senate asit now moves through to the appropria-tions committees and to the floor forvote and will continue to review pro-posed changes and modifications as itmoves through the legislative process.


Reach NOWRA Members

Advertise in the Onsite Journal

For more information, call1-800-966-2942


STATE programs

New legislation wouldtoughen rules on inspections, ease marine pollution

By ROBERT McCLURE

SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Spurred by scenes of dead fish float-ing in Hood Canal and reports of

Puget Sound shellfish beds closed bypollution, the Legislature is consideringcracking down on broken septic tanks

Legislation being rewritten this weekcalls for a system to ensure that septictanks are inspected, maintained andrepaired. It would apply near PugetSound-area marine waters closed toshellfishing because of pollution, orwhere water-quality violations are seri-ous enough to trigger a cleanup.

Donald McDonald of Seattle holds alight for Leon Borst, left, and ThadBamford of AAA Septic and Pumpingas they clean and inspect a decades-oldseptic system at his home on the HoodCanal near Tahuya.

Supporters say the action is long over-due and necessary to beef up rules pro-posed by the Washington HealthDepartment. The septic-tank industrysays the legislation (HB1458 andSB5431) is overkill.

"The intent of this bill is actually verygood. Our industry supports the intent,"said J.R. Inman, president of theWashington On-Site SewageAssociation. "Our struggle with it is ...if they would fund the existing laws,the existing statutes, and enforce themproperly, we wouldn't be here now cre-ating new legislation."

Bruce Wishart, lobbyist for the environ-mental group People for Puget Sound,said he remembers arguing about thesame topic in the late 1980s. Sincethen, the problem has gotten worse.

"We know this is a problem out thereacross the Sound. The problems aregrowing," Wishart said. "There is nosystematic way of evaluating septics,and we have not taken the next step inthat area."

At least some of the problem can beattributed to the conversion of homesbuilt as summer cabins in the 1950s,'60s and '70s into full-time residences,with use of the home and the septic tankmuch higher now than envisioned.

"We're finding there are significant fail-ure rates and in many cases systems are

just not being maintained properly,"Wishart said.

Details of the legislation remain to beworked out, but the state, shellfishgrowers, environmentalists, septic-tankinstallers and others are working on aplan that will instruct county healthdepartments to regulate the septictanks. Not every county will have tocrack down, only those with demon-strated problems from septic tanks, sup-porters say.

Officials don't even know where manyof the septic tanks are. Septics installedbefore 1975 generally were notrequired to be registered, officials said,

Dondald McDonald of Seattle holds a light for Leon borst, left, and Thad Bamford of AAA Septicand Plumbing as they clean and inspect a decades-old septic system at his home on the HoodCanal near Tahuya.

Lawmakers want to crack down onbroken septic tanks



STATE programs

Pentair AcquiresDeltaEnvironmentalProducts toComplementExisting Business GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn., Feb. 23/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pentair(NYSE: PNR) today announced that ithas acquired the assets of DeltaEnvironmental Products, Inc., a pri-vately held company, to complementexisting businesses in its Water Group.Delta will become part of Pentair'sleading water and wastewater business,which serves residential, commercial

and municipal markets. Pentair antici-pates the acquisition will be accretiveto earnings within the first 12 monthsof ownership.

Delta offers a full range of wastewatertreatment products for the residentialand commercial onsite treatment mar-kets. Pentair's existing pump businessesmanufacture products ranging fromlight-duty household utility pumps tomassive, high-flow turbine pumpsdesigned for municipal water applica-tions.

"Delta's product lines -- including itsaerobic treatment units ("ATU"), andrecently introduced fixed film technol-ogy -- present an attractive growthopportunity for the pump business as

onsite treatment becomes more com-mon," said Richard Cathcart, Pentairvice chairman and president of theWater Group. "The market for safe,effective onsite wastewater disposal isgrowing rapidly, as more than 25% ofnew housing starts use onsite treatmentmethods." The acquisition will leveragePentair's and Delta's existing distribu-tion networks to provide customerswith market-leading solutions.

Founded in 1985, Delta is a respectedleader in wastewater systems research,development and manufacturing. Thecompany is based in Denham Springs,Louisiana and employs approximately45 people. Delta recorded 2004 sales ofabout $12 million.

and are thought to account for a largeproportion of the pollution problem.They're old, underground and in manycases forgotten.

Gov. Christine Gregoire has signaledsupport for the legislation, backers say.Last year Gov. Gary Locke called beef-ing up the rules "critical."

Some 30,000 acres of shellfish beds areoff-limits to harvesting and the numberin danger of being closed doubled inthe past two years.

"What the environmental community istrying to do, and we support it, is raisethe bar for areas where we have sensi-tive shorelines," said Bill Dewey,spokesman for Taylor Shellfish Co. andchairman of the government relationscommittee of the Pacific CoastShellfish Growers Association.

The current legislation would applyonly to the Puget Sound region, includ-ing Hood Canal. Shellfish growerswould like it applied to areas of south-

west Washington. They also want amore concerted effort to track downunregistered septic tanks.

As land that can be developed hasgrown scarcer in many areas around theSound, some septic tanks have beeninstalled in areas where the soil ordrainage conditions are not ideal for aseptic tank. In that case, advanced sep-tic systems are often installed -- whichis a good thing and a bad thing.

"It's like anything, like with your cars -- when you have electric windows, youhave motors that can go out. The moreadvanced the (septic) systems, the moremoving parts you have that can gowrong," said Janice Adair, assistantsecretary for environmental health atthe Health Department. (Editor's Note:Ms. Adair's name was misspelled in theoriginal version of this story.)

Adair said she agrees with environmen-talists about the need for a programbecause "we see more and more devel-opment go into areas without idealsoils" for septics.

Rules already require that septic tanksbe inspected every three years, but allconcerned acknowledge that homeown-ers are often unaware of this require-ment.

Adair and others pointed out that evenproperly functioning septic systemsemit nutrients such as nitrogen, whichhelps fuel pollution problems.However, properly functioning septictanks may emit less, and are much moreeffective at controlling disease-causingorganisms responsible for shellfish bedclosures.

In many cases, all that's required tokeep a septic tank functioning properlyis regular pump-outs, Adair said.

Among those working on the legisla-tion are the Association of WashingtonBusiness and the Washington StateDairy Federation, whose members havefaced their own pollution crackdownsin recent years.

P-I reporter Robert McClure can bereached at 206-448-8092 or [email protected]



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