Name and title or job description: Dwayne Jones, president
Business name and location: Jones Pump Service, Jarrettsville, Maryland
Services we offer: Design and installation of onsite septic systems, operations and maintenance, pumping
Age: 64
Years in the industry: 43
Association involvement: Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association since 2009; National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association since 2009; current NOWRA vice president
Benefits of belonging to the association: Education, professionalism and helping to grow our industry locally and nationally. Simply getting to know people in the industry and building relationships with people across the nation.
Biggest issue facing your association right now: Getting people in our industry to join a professional organization and get involved.
Our crew includes: Jones Septic is a family-owned and -operated small business. I feel blessed to work with my family every day. My wife, Lisa Jones, and our daughter Megan Bliss help out in the office. My son, Don Jones, is the field supervisor. My cousin Kyle McCurry is the septic pump driver. We also have a couple employees who aren’t related, but they seem like family. Anthony Silvestri and Jamie Meyers are operations maintenance technicians.
Typical day on the job: On a typical day, I meet the guys at the shop and we delegate the scheduled work for the day. Then I go to the office to do pricing, answer questions, take calls, schedule work and do other administrative tasks. If something comes up in the field, I’ll go and help out.
The job I’ll never forget: I’ll never forget my decision to go into business. It’s been an adventure for 43 years.
My favorite piece of equipment: My favorite pieces of equipment are the PERC-RITE Drip Dispersal Systems (American Manufacturing Company) and FujiClean USA septic treatment unit. We do a lot of consulting that incorporates these systems.
Most challenging site I’ve worked on: I don’t have a specific job. We’re overcoming challenges on a daily basis because that’s our niche. We overcome challenges and guide other operators who are dealing with challenges.
Oops, this didn’t work out as planned: We’re always up for a tough job, and I don’t think anything has been too challenging for us to take on. It makes us who we are. We take on challenges and come up with solutions.
If I could change one industry regulation, it would be: All septic tanks should have a secondary child safety fall device. Too many children have fallen into septic tanks. This child safety concern should be addressed at the national level.
Best piece of small-business advice I’ve heard or came up with: If you want to be in business for the long-term, don’t underprice your services. Set a fair, competitive price and stick with it. It’s easy to give up in the beginning, especially if money is tight. A business needs to focus on longevity to succeed, not just the short run.
If I wasn’t working in the wastewater industry, I would like to: I would be estimating for an excavating company. I think I would like that type of work and could do it well.
Crystal ball time – This is my outlook for the wastewater industry: The only way to advance in the septic industry in the Chesapeake Bay area is to embrace technology and keep up with changing state regulations. Instead of simply installing septic systems, septic businesses need to become designers and installers.
Maryland adopted state regulations aimed to clean up the environment and remove nitrogen from the waterways. Installers who aren’t keeping up with the latest equipment and technology to meet today’s regulations will fall behind.
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