WORLD: Global Standardization of Toilets
During the November 2008 World Toilet Summit, the World Toilet Organization and International Code Council signed a memorandum of understanding to introduce initiatives that promote global codes for the design and construction of toilets.
WTO, a network of 151 member organizations from 53 countries, is supporting leading health officials who advocate replacing flush toilets with dry toilets that separate urine from feces without using water. Speaking at the summit, WTO founder Jack Sims said that the concept of the flushing toilet is unsustainable, and that the thousands of gallons of drinking water they waste each year was one of sanitation’s greatest challenges.
The proposed waterless systems store and process urine and feces on site, then a further off-site process sterilizes the biosolids, making them safe for recycling as fertilizer. Other solutions include solar-powered commodes that run without water, and bathroom systems that convert waste into biogas, a burnable fuel to heat water for bathing and washing.
WISCONSIN: Low-flow Toilet Rebate
The November newsletter of the Wisconsin Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association reports that the Waukesha Water Utility has introduced a $25 rebate to homeowners who replace 3.5-gallon-per-flush toilets with high-efficiency toilets, or HET models, that use only 1.28 gpf or less. HETs can save a family of four more than 20,000 gallons of water annually, representing a $2,000 savings over the lifetime of the toilet. HET models retail for $250 to $1,000.
Waste Management Lab Proposed
The first combined wastewater center/classroom facility of its kind built at a Wisconsin technical college or university is being planned by the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. The 10,000-square-foot laboratory and resource recovery center will have a pilot wastewater treatment plant, composting and microbiology labs and an adjoining materials recycling center.
Components of the wastewater treatment plant will include an activated sludge plant, air supply system, controlled input feed system, solids settling tanks, feed and storage tanks, dewatering system, aerobic and anaerobic solids stabilization units and an air emission control system. The Wisconsin Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association is encouraging the center to be a resource for the onsite industry as well.
Construction of the center is contingent on funding from the state.
MICHIGAN: NAWT Training Opportunities Coming
After an inquiry from Mark Scott of the Michigan Septic Tank Association, the National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc. began obtaining approval for its courses from the state Department of Environmental Quality. Once approved, the courses qualify for license-required continuing education units. The courses under consideration are vacuum truck technician, introduction to and inspection of onsite systems, operation and maintenance of onsite systems and waste treatment.
NAWT is working with Onsite Wastewater of Northwest Michigan to submit grants that will bring the courses to locations around the state. NAWT also is working to make training materials Michigan-specific.
MARYLAND: Free Septic System Upgrades
In an effort to remove nitrogen from effluent, the state Department of the Environment is offering onsite owners free upgrades that include new equipment, installation and five years of maintenance. Expenses are paid through the Bay Restoration Fund that onsite owners finance via a $30 per year user tax. The state has approximately 420,000 onsite systems or about 20 percent of residences and a few businesses. More than 150 Maryland property owners have participated. For more information, call MDE at 410/537-4195.
Training & Education
National Environmental Health Association
The National Environmental Health Association is offering the exam for Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems national credential at the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo, Feb. 25-28, in Louisville, Ky. Contact Carol Newlin at 303/756-9090, ext. 337 or at cnewlin@neha.org.
National Association of Wastewater Transporters
NAWT has scheduled sessions in the following locations:
• March 5-6 – Onsite Inspector Training and Certification, location to be determined
• June 16 – Inspector Recertification Training, Flagstaff, Ariz.
Call NAWT at 800/236-6298 or visit www.nawt.org. For Arizona classes, contact Kitt Farrell-Poe at 928/782-3836 or e-mail kittfp@ag.arizona.edu.
California
The training schedule for the California Onsite Wastewater Association is as follows:
• March 4 – Pumper Training, Sacramento
• March 5-6 – NAWT Onsite Inspector Training and Certification; TBD.
• May 8 – Science of Soils and Onsite Wastewater Disposal; TBD.
Call MaryAnne Bobrow at 916/722-8168 or e-mail maryanne@bobrowassociates.com.
Florida
Courses are at the Florida Onsite Wastewater Association’s Training Center in Polk City:
• March 16-17 – Master III, Basic Florida Soils
• March 18-19 – Master I, System Design and Function
• March 19-20 – Master II, System Materials and Regulations
• March 24-26 – Onsite Technologies from A to Z
Contact FOWA at 407/937-2228 or www.fowaonsite.com.
Georgia
The Georgia FOG Alliance “Fats, Oils and Grease” inspection training course is Feb. 25-27 at the Atlanta Marriott Hotel. Call Xavier Davis at 770/487-7993 or visit www.georgiafog.com.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Extension has these classes:
• March 10 – Design Continuing Education, Hinckley
• March 11 – Inspector Continuing Education, Hinckley
• March 12 – OSHA Competent Person/Pipelayer Certification, Owatonna
• March 24-25 – Continuing Education, Hinckley
• March 26-27 – Installer Continuing Education, Willmar
• March 27 – Pipelayer Certification, Willmar
• April 14-16 – Basic Design of Onsite Systems, White Bear
• April 17 – OSHA Competent Person/Pipelayer Certification, Sauk Centre
• April 27-29 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, Grand Rapids
• April 30-May 1 – Installing Onsite Systems, Grand Rapids
Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or e-mail haigx003@umn.edu.
New York
The New York Onsite Wastewater Treatment Training Network Inc. is offering Alternative Onsite Wastewater Treatment Technology courses on May 27-28 in Skaneateles. Call 800/963-3544 or visit www.delhi.edu/bcs/otn_wastewater.
Texas
The Texas Onsite Wastewater Association is offering a Basic Maintenance Provider course on March 1-2 in Waco. Call 888/398-7188 or visit www.txowa.org.
Virginia
The following courses by the Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association.
• April 15 – Proprietary System Training
• April 23 – A to Z of Onsite Wastewater, Fredericksburg
• May 13 – Proprietary System Training
Contact Jeff Barr at 703/771-5250 or visit www.vowra.org.
Washington State
The Washington On-Site Sewage Association and Washington State Department of Health, in cooperation with Washington State University, are offering these certification courses at the training center in Puyallup:
• March 12 – Troubleshooting
• March 25-26 – Competency Exam Review
• April 8 – Maintenance Basics
• April 15 – Pumper 101
• April 22 – Designers: Subsurface Drip Systems
Call WOSSA at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.
Pumper invites your state association to post notices and news items in this column. Send contributions to editor@pumper.com.
Calendar
Feb. 5-6
Ohio Water Quality and Waste Management Conference, Holiday Inn on Lane, Columbus. Call 614/292-8571 or visit http://setll.osu.edu.
Feb. 11-12
Nebraska Onsite Waste Water Association Conference. Call Lee Orton at 402/476-0162 or visit www.nowwa.org.
Feb. 14-15
Utah On-Site Wastewater Association Conference, Expo Center, West Valley City. Call Carmell Burns at 435/797-3174 or visit http://uwrl.usu.edu/partnerships/training/uowa.html.
Feb. 25-28
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Call 800/257-7222 or visit www.pumpershow.com.
March 1-4
Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Exhibition, Sheraton Conference Centre, Richmond Hill. Call Denis Orendt at 905/372-2722 or visit www.oowa.org.
March 3-4
Texas On-Site Wastewater Association Conference, Waco. Call 888/398-7188 or visit www.txowa.org.
March 8-10
Pennsylvania Association of Sewage Enforcement Officers Conference, Grantville, Pa. Call 717/761-8648 or visit www.pa-seo.org.
March 18-19
Tennessee Onsite Wastewater Association Continuing Education Workshop and Annual Meeting, UAW Union Hall, Spring Hill. E-mail Scott Fellwock at scott.fellwock@nashville.gov or visit http://onsite.tennessee.edu/TOWA.htm.
April 6-9
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Technical Exhibition and Conference, Midwest Airlines Convention Center, Milwaukee, Wis. Call 800/966-2942 or visit www.nowra.org.
