FLORIDA
Florida Association Weighs in on Septic Inspection Law
Bob Himschoot, owner of Crews Environmental and a Florida Onsite Wastewater Association board member, says the organization supports any move that clarifies the state law requiring homeowners to have their septic systems inspected once every five years. “While we support the pump-out and a non-intrusive drainfield inspection, we have problems with the way the state Department of Health was interpreting the legislation and rule making,” he says.
FOWA is proposing legislation that would give the inspection reports to local health departments for recordkeeping instead of the state agency. Homeowners also would receive a copy of the report and, if repairs were required, have the opportunity to seek other contractors. “The proposed legislation is a repeal of the strictest form of the bill,” Himschoot says. “FOWA is going to offer language.’’
IOWA
Scholarships Set Record
The Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association awarded a record seven scholarships for a total of 19 since the program began in 2005. Recipients were Melissa Arkfeld, a freshman at AIB College of Business in Des Moines; Jenna Bird, a sophomore at Iowa State University; Maria Deike, a junior at Upper Iowa University; Nick Hennessy, a freshman at Iowa State University; Nathan Harthoorn, a freshman at Iowa State University; Jeffery Schmidt, a junior at Loras College in Dubuque, and Zachary Toben, a freshman at the University of Northern Iowa.
PENNSYLVANIA
Third Party Offers Credits
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection authorized the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association to take over its classroom-based Sewage Enforcement Officer training program. While the department will still oversee the program, it now offers only Web-based courses for continuing education credits.
MINNESOTA
Septage Storage Hot Topic
The Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association sponsored forums to find out the need for and quantity of septage storage. The Septage Storage Committee then took the information gathered to Minnesota Pollution Control Agency regulators to draft a plan to give haulers options for temporary storage. The goal is to present a general permit draft to members at the annual conference in February.
The association awarded Tony Ruppert Scholarships to Ashley Akerson, Rebecca Bilbro, Jevne Billiet, Taylor Grant and Zachary Schmiess for their essays on environmental or water-quality issues. The winning compositions are published in the association newsletter.
Training 7 Education
Revised Manual Available
The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program updated its Manual for Septic System Professionals in Minnesota to coincide with recent rule revisions. Manuals are free online at http://septic.umn.edu/sstsmanual. Print copies are $40 from http://shop.extension.umn.edu or by calling 800/876-8636.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association is holding its Installer School on Jan, 12, 19, 26, Feb. 2, 9 and 16 with a snow date of Feb. 23. The COWRA Pumper/Cleaner School is Feb. 16 with a snow date of Feb. 23. Classes are at Wesleyan University, Middletown. Call 860/267-1057 or visit www.cowra-online.org.
Georgia
The University of Georgia’s College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences is offering a Contractors and Pumpers course on:
• Jan. 10 – Contractors and Pumpers, Hazlehurst
• Jan. 17 – Contractors and Pumpers, Griffin
• Feb. 1 – Contractors and Pumpers, Hazlehurst
• Feb. 7 – Contractors and Pumpers, Griffin
• Feb. 14 – Contractors and Pumpers, Griffin
Contact the Continuing Education Center at 770/229-3477 or conteduc@uga.edu.
Oregon
The Chemeketa Community College in Salem has these CEU classes:
• Feb. 15 – Installer
• Feb. 22-23 – Maintenance Operator
• May 23-24 – Maintenance Operator
Call 503/399-5181 or visit www.chemeketa.edu/busprofession/ccbi/customizedtraining/deq/classes.html.
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:
• Jan. 4 – Proprietary Systems
• Jan. 12 – Maintenance Basics
• Feb. 8 – Electrical Control Panels, Spokane
• Feb. 15 – Safety Management for Small Business Owners
• Feb. 22 – Design: Matching System to Site Conditions, Mt. Vernon
• Feb. 29 – Maintenance Basics, Port Angeles
Call WOSSA at 253/770-6594 or visit www.wossa.org.
Calendar
Jan. 11-12
Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association Conference, Polk County Convention Complex, Des Moines. Call Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051 or visit www.iowwa.com.
Jan. 16-18
Missouri Smallflows Conference, University Plaza Hotel and Convention Center, Springfield. Call Tammy Trantham at 417/739-4100 or visit www.mosmallflows.org.
Jan. 17-18
Ohio Onsite Wastewater Association Conference and Trade Show, Hyatt Regency, Columbus. 866/843-4429; www.ohioonsite.org.
Jan. 19-20
Colorado Professionals for Onsite Wastewater Educational Conference, PPA Event Center, Denver. Visit www.cpow.net.
Jan. 23-24
Pennsylvania Decentralized Wastewater Conference and Trade Show, Lancaster Marriott and Conference Center, Lancaster. Call Stacy Henninger at 717/763-7762 or visit www.psma.net.
Jan. 26-28
Alberta Onsite Wastewater Management Association Convention and Trade Show, Mayfield Inn and Convention Centre, Edmonton. 877/489-7471; www.aowma.com.
Jan. 27-28
Wisconsin Onsite Water Recycling Association and Wisconsin Liquid Waste Carriers Association Joint Convention, Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites, Stevens Point. 800/377-6672; www.wowra.com.
Jan. 30-31
Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professional Association Annual Conference, Camp Camby, Indianapolis. 317/889-2382; www.iowpa.org.
Jan. 30-Feb. 1
Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association Convention and Exhibitor Showcase, Sheraton South, Bloomington. 952/345-1145; mowacarla@aol.com.
Feb. 6-9
Onsite Wastewater Professionals of Illinois Annual Conference and Trade Show, Gateway Conference Center, Collinsville. Contact Steve Johnson at jswastewatersystems@mchsi.com.
Feb. 8-9
Utah Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, location to be announced. 435/797-3155; http://uwrl.usu.edu/partnerships/training/uowa.html.
Feb. 10
Saskatchewan Onsite Wastewater Management Association Conference, Radisson Hotel and Conference Centre, Saskatoon. 877/489-7471; www.sowma.ca.
Feb. 10-11
Oregon Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Seaside Civic and Convention Center, Seaside. 541/389-6692; www.o2wa.org.
Feb. 21-22
Texas Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Waco Convention Center, Waco. Call Tim Taylor at 888/398-7188 or visit www.txowa.org.
Feb. 22-24
Kentucky Onsite Wastewater Association Conference, Hyatt Regency, Louisville. 270/314-7110; www.kentuckyonsite.org.
Feb. 27-March 1
Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International, Indianapolis. Call 866/933-2653 or visit www.pumpershow.com.
March 2-3
Onsite Wastewater Management Association of British Columbia, Coast Capri Convention Centre, Kelowna. Call Lesley Desjardins at 877/489-7471 or email lesleyd@shaw.ca.
