As fall approaches, the National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc. revs up its training schedule. East Coast associations often request our programs to comply with mandatory CEUs for license renewals. This year, we join the Delaware On-Site Wastewater Recycling Association conference and exhibition at the Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover to present our operation and maintenance course Oct. 19-20. Attendees will qualify for CEUs. Registration, however, is through the conference, so call Jim Williams at 302/492-3915 or visit www.dowra.org.
The O & M course is a good way for NAWT-certified inspectors to earn the required eight CEUs to renew their certificates. CEUs must be earned in the last 18 months before the certificate expires. This course has 12 CEUs and advances inspectors to the next level. By the way, NAWT criterion states that the inspector training course is a prerequisite for the O & M course.
The California Onsite Wastewater Association is offering the NAWT inspector certification course Oct. 14-15 in Monterey and the O & M course Nov. 11-12 in Mill Valley. The last class of the year is the NAWT version of the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment installer training course Dec. 2-3 in Sonora. To register, call Kit Rosefield at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.
NAWT AT LOUISVILLE
NAWT courses are coming to Louisville, Ky., Feb. 28-March 1, the Monday and Tuesday before the start of the 2011 Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International. We’re offering the vacuum truck technician course on Tuesday, March 1, and the two-day inspector training and O & M courses. To qualify for the O & M class, registrants must have passed the inspector training course. The cost of a course is $395 for NAWT members and $495 for nonmembers. NAWT’s membership fee is $150.
Once again, COLE Publishing has provided us with a six-hour track on Education Day, Wednesday, March 2. We’re splitting the time between troubleshooting O & M problems and waste treatment. The latter is a precursor to our annual fall Waste Treatment Symposium. The waste treatment segment combines materials for beginners through established facility operators. There is always something to be gained by attending the sessions, as evidenced by participants who tell me, “I should have known that before I built the place.”
WEB SITE
In June, we asked our inspectors to update their online information. When they did, they discovered that the phone number field accepted only nine digits instead of 10. There were other glitches, too, so we pulled the plug until we resolved the problems. The Members Section is active again, enabling inspectors and members to update their accounts, check on their credential status, and select the services they provide. Checking the service boxes enables us to list your company in the appropriate categories. This is important because homeowners search those databases looking for nearby service providers. NAWT members should note that they receive higher placement in the search results. Please take a few moments to visit www.nawt.org, manage your account, and reap its full benefits.
2011 SCHOLARSHIP
Don’t forget that the deadline for the 2011 William Hapchuk Memorial Scholarship is Jan. 1, 2011. For five years, NAWT has awarded an annual $1,000 scholarship to a college student or high school senior destined for college and participating in or planning to participate in environmental science, life science, or related curriculum. To qualify, applicants must write a 1,000-word essay on the following subject:
“Water has been labeled the new oil of the 21st century because of its limited quantities and scarcity in some places. The next century will challenge us to change the ways we use water. One area receiving a lot of attention is the reuse of wastewater for irrigation, toilet flushing, groundwater recharge, and other purposes. Given the importance of this issue, how can pumpers encourage and help promote water reuse as a part of their business?”
Download the application form at www.nawt.org.
