The National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc. is offering its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-endorsed Inspector Training and Certification Course on Feb. 25-26 during the Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky. Experienced industry professionals or those just starting out in the business will find valuable information on solving daily sewage flow, troubleshooting septic tanks and soil treatment units, evaluating the effects of high-strength waste, using effluent filters, and more. Attendees will also learn how to inspect tanks, pumps, other pretreatment devices and drainfields. Those who complete the program earn a two-year National Inspector Certification issued by NAWT, a listing on the association’s National Registry Web site and qualify to take the National Sanitation Foundation Certification Program test.
NAWT is presenting the National Onsite Education and Research Founda-tion’s Vacuum Truck Technician Training and Certification course on Feb. 26. The sessions are for anyone who owns or operates vacuum trucks to clean septic tanks, aerobic treatment units, holding tanks, or grease traps. Some topics include government regulations, the science of vacuum and pressure, truck equipment and components, drive and control mechanisms, and manifests and reports. Experienced and inexperienced drivers will find the course highly informative and beneficial. To register for either course, call NAWT at 800/236-6298 or download the application form from www.nawt.org.
NAWT also has a special track during Education Day at the Pumper & Cleaner Expo on Feb. 27. Subjects are:
• Responsible Management Entities, 8 a.m., by A.R. Rubin and William Hasselkuss.
• Review of ATU Operation & Maintenance, 9:30 a.m., by Bruce Lesikar, Ph.D.
• A Visionary Review of the Agricultural Utilization of Septage, 11 a.m., by Stephen Rohm.
• Why a Municipality Opens a Septage Treatment Facility, 1 p.m., by Chris Buday (Grand Traverse County Department of Public Works).
• When is Septage really Septage? 2:30 p.m., by Tom Frank.
• How to Survive an EPA Audit, 4 p.m., by John Coletti (EPA Region 5).
NAWT will announce the winner of the $1,000 William Hapchuk Memorial Scholarship Fund on Feb. 28. Applicants, only full-time college students by fall 2008, must write a 500-word essay responding to the question: “How can the pumping industry help communities (customers, politicians, and regulators) understand that use and management of onsite systems provide a long-term solution for their sewage disposal needs while helping to strengthen the community?” The deadline to submit essays is Feb. 10. Applications and rules are at www.nawt.org, click Scholarship.
NAWT understands that many regulatory accomplishments happen at the state level, and consequently believes firmly in the strength of statewide organizations. Eighteen states have a NAWT director, and all are taking turns staffing Expo booth 20003. Check the roster posted in the booth to talk to your state NAWT director. If you don’t have one, NAWT can help you get one.
New year’s resolutions
• Go to Louisville and learn a lot. Be the best that you can be with training and education.
• Develop service contracts. The Environmental Protection Agency, one of NAWT’s Memorandum of Understanding partners, has hired a marketing consultant to help pumpers spread the word to homeowners about maintaining their onsite systems. NAWT has a free download of a sample service contract on its Web site for anyone to use.
• Be more involved in your state organization. Participate in writing legislation to improve the septic code. Strong state organizations can put meat in regulations, and become influential enough that lawmakers won’t write septic legislation without consulting them. The goal is for legislators to know that your association exists and come to it for advice.
Check our Web site at www.nawt.org for the latest updates on NAWT training programs, and seminars.
Tom Ferrero is executive director of the National Association of Wastewater Transporters Inc.
