FLORIDA: Practices and Perceptions Survey
The Florida State University Survey Research Laboratory is conducting a survey on advanced onsite systems. Its goals are to standardize monitoring protocol, quantify pollution reduction, gain insight from service providers about management experiences, and define best management practices.
The survey targets homeowners, installers, maintenance entities, engineers, manufacturers, and county health departments. Visit www.fsu.edu or call Eberhard Roeder or Elke Ursin at 850/245-4070.
NORTH CAROLINA: Decal Contest
The North Carolina Pumper Group and the North Carolina Portable Toilet Group announced a contest to design a decal for portable restrooms and vacuum trucks warning people that they will be prosecuted if they damage, deface or destroy the equipment. The contest winner will receive $100. Visit www.ncportabletoiletgroup.org and click Upcoming Events.
MICHIGAN: Communication Rules
The winter newsletter of the Michigan Septic Tank Association has an article on the importance of establishing and maintaining relationships with elected officials. The article suggests calling legislators’ offices and making appointments to get acquainted and share concerns. State lawmakers often hold district meetings on Mondays or Fridays for constituent convenience.
Constituents should arrive prepared to explain why they support or oppose a bill, using examples from personal experience. They should be punctual, patient and brief — meetings usually last 15 to 20 minutes. The article emphasizes the importance of listening to legislators’ views and understanding their position.
Constituents should leave a business card and summary of their points so legislators can refer back to them. The article recommends sending thank-you notes to the legislators, thanking staffers who assisted.
Training & Education
Maine
The Joint Environment Training Coordinating Committee has these courses:
• April 8 – Advanced Wastewater Topics, Skowhegan
• April 16 – Ethical and Technical Issues for the Site Evaluator, Belfast
• April 27 – Advanced Wastewater Topics, Littleton
Call 207/253-8020 or visit www.jetcc.org.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Extension has these classes:
• April 6-8 – Basic Design of Onsite Systems, White Bear Lake
• April 13 – Design Continuing Education, St. Cloud
• April 14 – Inspector Continuing Education, St. Cloud
• April 15 – Troubleshooting, Owatonna
• April 20 – OSHA Competent Person/Pipelayer Certification, St. Cloud
• April 26-28 – Introduction to Onsite Systems, Mankato
• April 29-30 – Installing Onsite Systems, Mankato
• May 3-4 – Maintaining Onsite Systems, Mankato
• May 4-7 – Service Provider, Mankato
• May 18-21 – Advanced Design and Inspection of Onsite Systems, Part 2, Mankato
• May 24-26 – Basic Design of Onsite Systems, White Bear Lake
• May 27-28 – Soils, Austin
Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit http://septic.umn.edu.
Missouri
The Missouri Smallflows Organization is offering these CEU courses:
• April 13-14 – Troubleshooting and Hydraulics, Hillsboro
• April 27-28 – Troubleshooting and Hydraulics, Moberly
• May 11-12 – Drip Irrigation, Pumps, Panels, and Electrical, Chillicothe
• May 25-26 – High-Strength Waste and Aerated Treatment Units, Liberty
• June 15-16 – Operation and Maintenance, Jefferson City
Call 417/739-4100 or visit www.mosmallflows.org.
New England
The New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston has these workshops:
• April 13 – Design of Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
• April 20 – All About Series: Septic Tanks
• April 23 – Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation
• April 28-29 – Conventional Onsite Wastewater System Inspection Overview
• May 5 – Functional Inspections
• May 11 – Innovative & Alternative Technology Overview
• May 20 – All About Series: Sand Media
• May 27 – Innovative & Alternative Technology Field Overview, URI Peckham Farm
Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq. For soil courses, call Mark Stolt at 401/874-2915 or e-mail mstolt@uri.edu.
New Hampshire
The Granite State Designers and Installers Association is offering its Septic Evaluators Certification training on April 20 in Bow and
May 1 in Rochester. Call 603/228-1231 or visit www.gsdia.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 unless stated otherwise:
• April 7 – Maintaining Onsite Systems
• April 15 – Pumper
• April 21-22 – Wiring Control Panels
• May 5 – Electrical Control Panels
• May 6 – Installing Mounds and Sand Filters
• May 13 – Design Siting, Centralia
• May 19 – Evaluating and Repairing Onsite Systems, Bremerton
Call WOSSA at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association is holding a Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment System Evaluator Course May 3-4 in Waukesha. Call 608/256-7757 or visit www.wowra.com.
Pumper invites your state association to post notices and news items in this column. Send contributions to editor@pumper.com.
Calendar
March 9-10
Texas Onsite Wastewater Treatment Research Council Conference and
Trade Show, Mesquite Convention Center, Mesquite. Call 512/239-1452 or visit www.towtrc.state.tx.us.
March 22-23
Tennessee Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Continuing Education Workshop, Embassy Suites and Conference Center, Murfreesboro.
Visit www.tnonsite.org.
March 29-30
Granite State Designers and Installers Association Spring Septic System Conference and Expo, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, N.H. Call Matt Gatzke at 603/228-1231 or visit www.gsdia.org.
April 9-10
Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Equipment Rodeo, Red Lion Hotel Jantzen Beach, Portland. Call 541/389-6692 or visit www.o2wa.org.
April 11-14
Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Exhibition, London Convention Centre/Hilton Hotel, London. Call Denis Orendt at 905/372-2722 or visit www.oowa.org.
April 12-15
BioCycle West Coast Conference, Town and Country Resort, San Diego, Calif.
Call 610/967-4135 or visit www.biocycle.net.
