Colorado: Model Regulations Coming
Colorado Professionals in Onsite Wastewater created model regulatory documents using the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Model Code and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Voluntary Guidelines. Participating in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment revision of state onsite regulations, CPOW wants to incorporate as much of the model documents as possible into the draft regulation. CPOW president Brian Scheffe stated that using the NOWRA Model Code gave the documents credibility by representing many best practice concepts.
INDIANA: Tire Chip System Update
In 2008, the Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association replaced an onsite system using tire chips in the drainfield and perimeter drain. Installer Dick Blazer reports in the organization’s 2009 fall newsletter that during the wet spring, the monitoring wells had no standing water and the system looked great.
“One concern was the spongy feeling of walking over the tire chips,” says Blazer. “Now that the site is backfilled and seeded, I can’t tell any difference between walking on a stone or chip drainfield.”
NORTH CAROLINA: Looking Ahead
“Twenty Years of Professional Excellence … Into the Next Generation” is the theme of the North Carolina Septic Tank Association 20th Annual Convention and Expo at the Metro Convention Center in Hickory on Jan. 28-30. Continuing education credits will be available for installers, inspectors, and pumpers involved in septage management and land application. Call 336/416-3564 or visit www.ncsta.net.
OREGON: Watch Out for Pygmy Goats
An article in the Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association summer newsletter alerts onsite professionals to be wary of pygmy goats. Author Kim Aldrich, Yamhill County regulator, reports being charged by cattle, spit at by llamas, and her hair nibbled on by horses while doing soil evaluations, but her most interesting experience was with Spike, the pygmy goat.
Throughout the site evaluation, the animal butted the back of her legs. When finished, Aldrich opened her truck door, then turned to talk to the homeowner. Spike jumped into the truck and, within two minutes, ate Aldrich’s paperwork and took a bite out of the passenger seat. Linn County regulator Brittany Steele reports being terrorized by the miniature goats.
CALIFORNIA: Venus Waters Lawn
BioKube, a Danish company, is bringing the BioKube Venus to California. The biological treatment system passes residential wastewater through several bioblocks housing bacteria. The purified effluent is then suitable for irrigation.
The average home uses 400 gallons of water per day, but sprinkles 15,000 gallons of water per year on the lawn, says a BioKube representative. The 6-foot-tall, 4-foot-diameter Venus handles two gallons every 15 minutes to exceed those irrigation demands. BioKube chose California because the state faces severe water shortages and will require the replacement or renovation of 1.2 million onsite systems to comply with new regulations.
Training & Education
National Association of Wastewater Transporters
NAWT has these sessions:
• Feb. 13-14 – Onsite Inspector Training, Georgetown, Del.
• Feb. 13-14 – Operation and Maintenance Training, Georgetown, Del.
• Feb. 22-23 – Onsite Inspector Training, Louisville, Ky.
• Feb. 22-23 – Onsite Operation and Maintenance, Louisville, Ky.
• Feb. 23 – Vacuum Truck Technician Training, Louisville, Ky.
Call NAWT at 800/236-6298 or visit www.nawt.org. For Delaware courses, call Jerry Williams at 302/855-5904.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Extension has these classes:
• Feb. 9-11 – Maintaining Onsite Systems, Hinckley
• Feb. 16-17 – General Continuing Education, Hinckley
• March 8-10 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, St. Cloud
• March 11-12 – Installing Onsite Systems, St. Cloud
• March 18-19 – Installer Continuing Education, Sauk Centre
• March 19 – Pipelayer Certification, Sauk Centre
• March 30-April 1 – Advanced Design and Inspection of Onsite Systems, Part 1, Mankato
Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 or visit http://septic.umn.edu.
New York
The New York Onsite Wastewater Treatment Training Network Inc. is offering certified courses at the Columbia County Health Department in Hudson.
• Feb. 24 – Fundamentals and Soil Analysis for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
• Feb. 25 – Soil Analysis
Call SUNY Delhi at 800/963-3544 or visit www.delhi.edu/bcs/ otn_wastewater.
Washington State
The Washington Onsite 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 unless stated otherwise:
• Feb. 11 – Pump Review for Designers
• Feb. 16-17 – Wiring Electrical Panels
• Feb. 24 – Soils, Moses Lake
• March 11 – Design Siting
• March 17 – Subsurface Drip Design, Moses Lake
• March 24-25 – Exam Review
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
Jan. 11-12
Wisconsin Precast Concrete Association Winter Convention, Holiday Inn and Suites, Madison. Call 608/256-7701.
Jan. 12-14
Michigan Onsite Wastewater Conference, Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, East Lansing. Call Chanin Frank at 989/773-6985 ext. 258 or visit www.mowra.org.
Jan. 13-14
Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association Conference, Polk County Convention Complex, Des Moines. Call Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051 or visit www.iowwa.com.
Jan. 19-20
Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Trade Show, Ramada Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, Columbus. Call 866/843-4429 or visit www.ohioonsite.org.
Jan. 19-20
Missouri Smallflows Organization Conference and Exhibition, Holiday Inn Select, Columbia. Call 417/739-4100 or visit www.mosmallflows.org.
Jan. 24-26
Pennsylvania Decentralized Wastewater Conference and Trade Show, Lancaster County Convention Center, Lancaster. Call the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association at 717/763-7762 or visit www.psma.net.
Jan. 25-26
Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professional Association Annual Convention, Indianapolis. Call 317/889-2382 or visit www.iowpa.org.
Jan. 27-28
Arizona County Directors of Environmental Health Services Association Inc. Southwest Onsite Wastewater Conference, Riverside Hotel and Casino, Laughlin, Nev. Visit www.wastewater2010.wordpress.com.
Jan. 27-29
Kansas Small Flows Association Conference and Trade Show, Prairie Band Casino and Resort, Topeka. Call Dale Hayse at 620/548-2369 or visit www.ksfa.org.
Jan. 28-29
Colorado Professionals in Onsite Wastewater Conference and Roe-d-Hoe, PPA Event Center, Denver. Call Becky Roland at 303/551-3266 or visit www.cpow.net.
Jan. 28-30
Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers Association/Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association Joint Convention, Holiday Inn Hotel and Conference Center, Stevens Point. Call 608/255-2770 or 608/256-7757 or visit www.wowra.com.
Jan. 29-30
Washington Onsite Sewage Association Conference, Redlion Convention Center, Yakima. Call 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.
Feb. 4-5
Ohio Water Quality and Waste Management Conference, University Plaza Hotel, Columbus. Call Karen Mancl at 614/292-4505 or visit http://setll.osu.edu.
Feb. 4-6
Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association Convention and Trade Show, River Cree Casino, Edmonton. Call 780/489-7471 or visit www.aowma.com.
Feb. 17-18
Nebraska On-Site Waste Water Association Conference, Embassy Suites Hotel, Lincoln. Call 402/476-0162 or visit www.nowwa.org.
Feb. 24-27
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Ky. Call 800/257-7222 or visit www.pumpershow.com.
