MISSOURI
Managing risk in fatal mishap
The Missouri Smallflows newsletter reprinted an article from Alteris Public Risk Solutions outlining a situation in which a landlord requested a lender-required inspection of an older onsite system at a rental property. The inspector noticed the outer diameter of the concrete lid on the concrete riser was chipped and spalled. Because the customer was not present and had pre-paid for the inspection, the inspector's office left a voicemail message about the hazard. The inspector never received a return phone call.
Six months later, a child fell into the septic tank and died after the lid collapsed. The parents sued the landlord and the inspector. Alteris concluded the inspector could have managed the risk by sending someone out to replace the lid and bill the customer, or by sending the customer a certified-mail, return-receipt-requested letter explaining the hazard and offering to replace the lid. The second option is far less expensive and transfers the risk directly to the property owner.
OREGON
O & M position filled
The Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association appointed Dustin Kendon of Oregon Wastewater Services in Oregon City to the operations and maintenance position on the board of directors. His company installs and repairs systems, pumps septic tanks, and provides operation and maintenance. Kendon is a NAWT-certified inspector.
WASHINGTON
State association replaces failing system
The Washington On-Site Sewage Association donated labor and materials to replace a failing onsite system for a low-income family in Whatcom County. Dave Mitchell of Mitchell Septic in Mount Vernon designed the system. The Samish Tribe donated $2,500 to the association's Education Scholarship Fund in gratitude.
The association partnered with local health jurisdictions to offer joint education days every six months in northern Puget Sound and in Island and Skagit counties. WOSSA also worked with the Snohomish County Health Department Septic Issues Committee to establish an operation and maintenance licensing program.
The WOSSA Scholarship Program awarded $2,000 to Haley Bronson and $1,000 to Naomi Morgan. Six other recipients each received $500. Bronson, a freshman at Brigham Young University in Utah, is studying anatomy and physiology for a career in radiologic technology.
TRAINING & EDUCATION
Video covers septic tank inventory project
Wilkin County was one of the first counties in Minnesota to complete a full inventory of its onsite systems and repair those in failure. The county produced a video to highlight how it accomplished the 10-year project. It includes a resident who upgraded a system and how four small unsewered communities addressed their wastewater issues. Watch it at www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZYi7bzZfE&feature=youtu.be.
Alabama
Licensing classes are the joint effort of the Alabama Onsite Wastewater Association and University of West Alabama. Courses are at UWA Living-ston campus:
• Nov. 14-16 – Advanced Installer II Class
• Dec. 6-7 – Continuing Education Class
The first day of Continuing Education classes is for installers and the second day for pumpers and portable restroom operators. Call the training center at 205/652-3803 or visit http://aowatc.uwa.edu.
Georgia
The University of Georgia's Center for Urban Agriculture is offering Onsite Wastewater Management classes on:
• Nov. 2 – Fulton
• Nov. 16 – Brunswick
Contact the Continuing Education Center at 770/229-3477, conteduc@uga.edu or www.ugaurbanag.com.
Iowa
The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association is offering the Basic and Advanced Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems Installation Overview and Test on Nov. 16-17 in Newton. Contact Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051, execdir@iowwa.com or visit www.iowwa.com.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Water Resources Center has these classes:
• Nov. 28-29 – Installer Continuing Education, Brainerd
• Nov. 29 – Pipelayer Certification, Brainerd
• Dec. 5-6 – General Continuing Education, St. Cloud
• Dec. 12-13 – General Continuing Education, Mankato
Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit http://septic.umn.edu.
Missouri
The Smallflows Organization has these CEU courses:
• Nov. 13 – Troubleshooting, Liberty
• Nov. 14 – Hydraulics, Liberty
• Nov. 27 – Drainfields/Water Management, Springfield
• Nov. 28 – Pumps, Panels, and Electrical, Springfield
• Dec. 11 – Drainfields and Water Management, Camdenton
• Dec. 12 – Troubleshooting, Camdenton
Call Tammy Trantham at 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 courses:
• Nov. 1 – Rhode Island Designer Examination Prep
• Nov. 8 – AutoCALCS - Automated Bottomless Sand Filter Sizing, Pump Calculations, and Support Material
• Nov. 15 – Identifying and Managing High-Strength Wastewater
• Nov. 29 – Regulatory Setbacks and Buffers
• Dec. 6 – Nitrogen in the Environment and Onsite Systems
• Dec. 13 – Designing Nitrogen Removal Technologies
Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq. For soil courses, call Mark Stolt at 401/874-2915 or email mstolt@uri.edu.
North Carolina
The North Carolina Pumper Group and Portable Toilet Group has a septage management training and land application seminar on Dec. 8 in Raleigh. Call Joe McClees at 252/249-1097 or visit www.ncpumpergroup.org or www.ncportabletoiletgroup.org.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Oct. 7-9
Virginia Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Trade Show, Williamsburg Hotel and Conference Center, Williamsburg. 540/465-9623; www.vowra.org
Oct. 15-16
Delaware Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Exhibition, Dover Downs Casino and Conference Center, Dover. Call Niki Glanden at 302/359-2210, Hollis Warren at 302/284-9070 or visit www.dowra.org
Oregon
The Chemeketa Community College in Salem has a Maintenance Oper-ator CEU class on Nov. 7-8. Call 503/399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu.
Washington
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:
• Nov. 7 – Troubleshooting Onsite Systems
• Nov. 15 – Advanced Soils
• Nov. 28 – Design/Install Subsurface Drip
• Dec. 5 – CAD Design for Onsite Systems, Centralia
• Dec. 12 – Monitoring and Maintenance
• Dec. 27 – First Aid/CPR
Call WOSSA at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.