Published March 2008
Association News, Events Calendar, and Training & Education
By Scottie Dayton (page 95)
Everything you need to know about industry news and events can be found here.
Association News
ONTARIO: Provincial Regulations are a Hot Topic
After attending the National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc.-sponsored Septage/Grease Trap Waste Treatment Symposium in Harrisburg, Pa., last September, Bob Pepi Murrell spearheaded the first Rural Waste Water Treatment Expo during the 2008 Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services conference. More than 85 members attended.
David Bell of Saxe Law Office in Toronto spoke of the liability issues members could face. According to Bell, the government, by taking away disposal options and offering nothing in their place, has increased the challenges of doing business. Those in the septage industry are faced with a myriad of liability possibilities: personal injury, failure to comply, and the potential of accidentally causing environmental harm, he says.
Bell encouraged members to perform a business risk assessment and look at their hiring practices. How you hire, with a contract or with a written or verbal agreement, will have a direct bearing on your liability, he says. Bell also suggested scrutinizing contracts with municipalities. He pointed out the importance of understanding exactly what the agreement says about sampling responsibilities, proving what is in a load, and similar issues. Call Bell at 416/962-5882 or e-mail admin@envirolaw.com.
MISSOURI: Funding Assistance for Onsite Systems
Onsite or decentralized systems serve more than 25 percent of Missouri households, but funding assistance to individuals or small communities is limited. To help focus State Revolving Funds and other funding efforts for the greatest good, the Department of Health and Senior Services is asking pumpers to identify, quantify, and prioritize the needs in their areas.
The agency is seeking information about the cost of repairing or replacing different types of onsite systems. This will allow the state to include onsite/decentralized needs in the Clean Watershed Needs Survey. Doing so may lead to increased funding assistance for individuals and small communities. To participate, contact the Onsite Sewage Program at 573/751-6095.
Events Calendar
March 2-5
Ontario Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Deerhurst Conference Centre, Huntsville. Call 905/372-2722 or visit www.oowa.org.
March 3-5
Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association Convention, Craguns Resort, Brainerd. Call 888/810-4178 or visit www.mowa-mn.com.
March 11-13
Northeast Onsite Short Course, Marriott Hotel and Spa, Groton, Conn. Call 978/323-7929 or www.neiwpcc.org.
March 24
Granite State Designers and Installers Association Septic System Conference & Exhibition, Radisson Hotel, Manchester, N.H. Call 603/228-1231 or visit www.gsdia.org.
March 26-29
Portable Sanitation Association International Nuts & Bolts Meeting, Embassy Suites Hotel, Albuquerque, N.M. Call 800/822-3020 or visit www.psai.org.
March 30-April 2
Residuals and Biosolids Conference and Exhibition sponsored by the Water Environment Federation, Marriott Philadelphia Downtown, Pa. Call 703/684-2441 or visit www.wef.org.
April 7-10
National Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Cook Convention Center, Memphis, Tenn. Call 800/966-2942 or visit www.nowra.org.
April 15-17
North Carolina On-Site Wastewater Treatment Conference, North Carolina State University, Raleigh. Call Joni Tanner at 919/515-1678 or visit www.soil.ncsu.edu, then Training, Short Courses and Workshops.
April 27-May 2
North American Society for Trenchless Technology No-Dig Show, Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center. Grapevine, Texas. Visit www.nodigshow.com.
May 12-15
California Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Exposition, DoubleTree Hotel, Sacramento, Calif. Call or visit 707/579-4882 or visit www.cowa.org.
Oct. 14-15
Delaware Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association Conference and Exhibition, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, Dover. Call 302/739-9331 or visit www.dowra.org.
Oct. 23-26
Ontario Association of Sewage Industry Services (OASIS) Conference and Expo, Orillia, Ontario, Best Western Conference Centre. Call 877/2020082 or visit www.oasisontario.on.ca.
Nov. 5-9
Portable Sanitation Association International Convention & Trade Show, Hilton Hotel Ocean Beach and Ocean Center Exhibit Hall, Daytona Beach, Fla. Call 800/822-3020 or visit www.psai.org.
Training & Education
Ontario Onsite System Brochure
The Ministry of the Environment and the Ontario Rural Wastewater Centre developed a brochure with information about protecting the environment through the responsible operation and maintenance of onsite systems. Call 416/325-4000.
Effluent Pumps for Onsite Systems
The Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association is presenting Effluent Pumps for Onsite Wastewater Treatment: Selecting the Right Pump for the Job, a non-credit training program, on March 14 as part of the Illinois Plumbing Heating Cooling Expo at the Drury Lane Conference Center, Oakbrook Terrace. The program is in its certification stage and will become eligible for CEUs. Call Bev Potts at 800/795-7422 or visit www.ilphcc.com.
Florida
Courses are at the Florida Onsite Wastewater Associations Training Center in Polk City unless stated otherwise.
March 6 Master Contractor Maintenance
March 11 Onsite Systems: How Are They Approved?, northeast Florida (TBD)
March 12 Onsite Systems: How Are They Approved?, northwest Florida (TBD)
March 25 Work Smart, Not Hard, southeast Florida (TBD)
March 26 Work Smart, Not Hard, southwest Florida (TBD)
April 7-8 Master III-Basic Florida Soils
April 9-10 Master I-System Design and Function
April 10-11 Master II-System Materials and Regulation Requirement
April 22 Smart Business Practices: Portable Restroom Rental Industry
April 23 Septage and Grease in Florida
May 6 Smart Business Practices: Portable Restroom Rental Industry
May 20-21 O&M Service Provider Program I, II, III, Miami
Contact FOWA at 407/830-4381 or www.fowaonsite.com.
Iowa
The Iowa Onsite Wastewater Training Center has the following courses:
March 17 Basic 101, Calmar
March 27 Media Filters, Indian Hills
May 14 Drip Irrigation Dispersal Systems, Ankeny
June 19 Basic Soils, TBD
Call Annette Adams at 800/362-2127, ext: 6464 or e-mail Dennis Hayworth at dahayworth@dmacc.edu.
Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Extension has these hands-on workshops:
March 11-12 General-Continuing Education, Willmar
March 14 Contractor Safety/Pipelayer Certification, Continuing Education, Mankato
March 25-26 Pumping/Maintaining-Continuing Education, Brainerd
March 31-April 1-2 Introduction To Onsite Systems, Bemidji
April 3-4 Installing Onsite Systems, Bemidji
April 11 Contractor Safety/Pipelayer Certification, Continuing Education, Little Falls
April 14-15 General-Continuing Education, White Bear Lake
April 16-18 Designing Onsite Systems, Detroit Lakes
April 22-23 Inspecting Onsite Systems, Waseca
April 28-30 Introduction to Onsite Systems, White Bear Lake
May 1-2 Installing, White Bear Lake
May 5-7 Pumping and Maintaining, Mankato
May 5-9 Pumper/Maintaining and Service Provider Combo, Mankato
May 6-9 Service Provider, Mankato
May 29-30 Soils, Brainerd
Call 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit www.extension.umn.edu.
Missouri
The Department of Health and Senior Services is offering the following training professional CEU courses:
March 4 Basics of Onsite Wastewater, El Dorado
March 5 Basic Drip Irrigation Design and Installation, El Dorado
March 13-14 Advanced Installer, Jefferson City
March 18-19 Operation and Maintenance, Sedalia
March 25-26 Advanced Installer, Springfield
March 25 Troubleshooting, Columbia
March 26 Hydraulics, Columbia
April 15 Troubleshooting, Springfield
April 15-16 Advanced Installer, Cape Girardeau
April 16 Hydraulics, Springfield
April 22 Basics on Onsite Wastewater, Chillicothe
April 23 Basic Drip Irrigation Design and Installation, Chillicothe
May 6 Troubleshooting, Grandview
May 7 Hydraulics, Grandview
May 20-21 Operation and Maintenance, Camdenton
May 27 Troubleshooting, Maryville
May 28 Hydraulics, Maryville
Call 573/526-6095 or visit www.dhss.mo.gov/Onsite.
New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services is offering the following courses at its Concord auditorium:
April 2 Installers, review class
April 8 Installers, exam
April 16 Onsite Designers, review class
April 22 Onsite Designers, exam
Call NHDES Public Information Center at 603/271-2975.
North Carolina
North Carolina Soils and On-Site Wastewater Training Academy is offering the following courses:
April 2 Sediment and Erosion Control Workshop, Raleigh
April 22-24 Land Application/Residual Operator, Raleigh
April 23-25 Subsurface Wastewater Operator, Raleigh
May 5-8 Spray Irrigation Systems Operator, Raleigh
May 13-14 Writing A Certified Nutrient Management Plan, Raleigh
May 20 Introduction to Decentralized Wastewater, Fletcher
May 21-22 Onsite Wastewater System Inspector, Fletcher
Call Joni Tanner at 919/515-1678 or visit www.soil.ncsu.edu/training.
Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association offers the following training on March 19-20 at Grantville:
Vac-Truck Training and Certification
Basic Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection
Advanced Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspection
Standards Refresher
New Jersey Septage Management Association members qualify for PSMA member tuition fees. Call Jackie at 610/350-0590 or visit http://psma.net.
Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Islands Onsite Wastewater Training Center offers these professional development workshops at its Kingston campus:
April 17 Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation
April 30-May 1 Conventional Onsite Wastewater System Inspection
May 8 Innovative and Alternative Technology Overview
May 14 Hands-On Component Installation
May 29 Innovative and Alternative Systems Field Tour
June 4-5 Innovative and Alternative Systems Operation and Maintenance
June 18 Soils Basics for the Onsite Wastewater Contractor (contact Mark Stolt)
June 25 Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation
Call Holly Meehan at 401/874-5950 or Mark Stolt, when directed, at 401/874-2915 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq.
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:
March 5 Markup and Profit
March 13 Control Panel Wiring
March 19-20 Exam Review
April 2 Maintenance Basics
April 16 Pumpers
April 23 Design/Install Subsurface Drip Systems
May 6-7 Combined Basics of Onsite Sewage
May 14-15 Installation Basics, Part 2
May 20 Mounds/Sand Filters
May 22 Maintenance Basics, Bremerton
Call John Thomas at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.
Wisconsin
Wieser Concrete has a 6-hour, general continuing education seminar that provides the necessary credits for installers, sanitarians, designers, and others working in the onsite wastewater treatment field,
March 6 Shell Lake
March 13 Fond du Lac
March 20 Wieser Concrete Maiden Rock Facility
March 27 Rhinelander
Call 800/325-8456 or visit www.wieserconcrete.com.
