newsletter volume 1 issue 1 spring 2011 - mowpa · harford county thursday, march 10; 11:00am...

MOWPA Contact us at 443.570.2029 or [email protected]

In This IssueAs of Jan 2011, the Bay Restoration Fund has been used to upgrade 2,568 properties from conventional septic systems to Best Available Technology (BAT) nitrogen removing systems. Almost 55% (1,387) of these upgrades were inside of the Chesapeake Bay Critical Area (1000’ from tidal water). On December 15, 2010, the Board of Public Works approved $4,174,000 to be used for septic system upgrades between Jan 1, 2011 and June 30, 2011 by the following applicants:

BRF Septic System Program Updateby Kevin Koepenick

Please refer to your local county administrator of the Bay Restoration Fund for county specific grant application criteria. Local contact info and general information about the program can be found at the following website: http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Water/BayRestoration-Fund/OnsiteDisposalSystems/Pages/water/cbwrf/osds/default.aspx.

1 Program administered by Canaan Valley Institute2 Program administered by Calvert County3 Program administered by Worcester County

County Grant AwardAnne Arundel Co. $ 871 KBaltimore Co. $123 KCalvert Co. $300 KCaroline Co. $150 KCarroll Co. $68 KCecil Co. $220 KCharles Co. $100 KDorchester Co. $300 KFrederick Co.1 $86 KGarrett Co. $50 K

County Grant AwardKent Co. $200 KMontgomery Co.1 $79 KPrince Georges Co.2 $45 KQueen Anne’s Co. $400 KSomerset Co.3 $134 KSt. Mary’s Co. $416 KTalbot Co. $253 KWashington Co.1 $66 KWicomico Co. $163 KWorcester Co. $150 K

Upcoming Events

NewsletterVolume 1 Issue 1

Spring 2011

Septic Inspection CourseAnne Arundel County, MayStay tuned via www.MOWPA.org for location, date and time.

Septic Hauler DiscussionSmall Group MeetingHarford CountyThursday, March 10; 11:00am Speaker Ed Williams220 S. Main St. Bel AirMD Planning & Zoning Room

Septic Hauler DiscussionSmall Group MeetingBaltimore County Thursday, March 17; 9:00am Speaker Dan Vianca4419 Bucks School House Rd. Baltimore, MD Lunch Room

Small group meetings focusing on communication between county regulators and septic haulers, including discussions of policies at your wastewater treatment facilities. Volunteers are needed to help schedule and conduct meetings in all counties. To register and for additional information please contact Dwayne Jones at 410.836.9206.

Septic Hauler Discussion Groups Announced g

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BRF Septic System Program Update

Septic Hauler Discussion Groups

President’s Report

Education & Training Opportunities

Home, Health & Environment

Legislative Update

MOWPA Board

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President’s Report

Continued organizational restructuring began in fall of ’09:• Expanded educational offerings• Grew our membership• Updated bylaws• Submitted corporate filing (Corrected non-profit status with IRS)• Stabilized our finances• Updated relationship with NOWRA• Conference attendance grew despite economy

MOWPA has been very busy this past year and a great deal has been accomplished. As we begin 2011 it’s a good time to look back and see how far we’ve come. More changes being discussed:• Monthly general MOWPA meetings followed by Board business meeting• Improving outreach to members statewide by improving our website and publishing regular newsletters• New issue/networking discussion options such as restaurant dinner meetings around the state

(perhaps with a guest speaker)

MOWPA Organizational Initiatives

MDE BAT Certification InitiativeMOWPA is closely following proposed BAT regulations expected to move forward immediately following the 2011 legislative session. Included are:• Approving Authorities & Local Jurisdictions may require BAT operating permits • MDE & manufacturer certification requirement for BAT service providers (includes homeowners trained to

service their own systems)• 3 year terms for certified mound installers

Based on the growing trend to higher technology, MOWPA has launched a proposal to require certification of onsite designers, installers, inspectors and service providers as a means of raising professional standards. This would be accomplished through well developed education courses and tests. Professionals would maintain their certification with Continuing Education Units (CEU’s). Draft options for such a program were presented at our November conference and were recently presented at the last MD Environmental Health Directors meeting.

MOWPA Certification Initiative

Let’s take a look at what lies ahead. Below is an overview of what is in store for 2011.

Reviewing Last Year

MOWPA is providing the forum for public and private sector onsite practitioners to advance the level of professionalism in our field. It is our goal to stimulate the effective collaboration between designers, installers, inspectors, service providers and pumpers. Please take any opportunity to contact us with your opinion or suggestions as we continue to make progress and changes.

MOWPA now has three successful Inspection Courses under its belt. The instructors, Nancy Mayer and Dwayne Jones, will guide you through the process of a proper septic inspection. This course is recognized by MDE and will satisfy the requirements to do septic inspections for real estate transactions in Maryland. Discussion will include recommended tools, reporting suggestions, nitrate reducing septic tanks as well as alternative septic systems. There is a test at the end of the class. MDE recommends this course be taken every three years. There is a link on their website to find those who have taken this new, MOWPA course. http://www.mde.state.md.us/Pages/Home.aspx

by Dave Duree

Dear Fellow MOWPA Members:

With capable leadership and all of the Board members pitching in we can report that MOWA is stronger and more robust than ever.

Sincerely,

David Duree, MOWPA Board President

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Education & Training Opportunities

MOWPA now has three successful Inspection Courses under its belt. The instructors, Nancy Mayer and Dwayne Jones, will guide you through the process of a proper septic inspection. This course is recognized by MDE and will satisfy the requirements to do septic inspections for real estate transactions in Maryland. Discussion will include recommended tools, reporting suggestions, nitrate reducing septic tanks as well as alternative septic systems. There is a test at the end of the class. MDE recommends this course be taken every three years. There is a link on their website to find those who have taken this new, MOWPA course. http://www.mde.state.md.us/Pages/Home.aspx

Septic Inspections Course

Instructed by Dave Duree, this class is designed to provide knowledge on the proper operations and maintenance for pre-treatment and alternative septic systems. Stay tuned for the next scheduled class.

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Course

This class is in the beginning stages of development. It is designed to be able to teach septic pumpers the steps to properly clean nitrate reducing septic tanks. We plan to bring in multiple manufacturers of pre-treatment units and have these experts instruct directly to the class how to best clean their respective septic tanks. There plans to be a 2 hour pretreatment general knowledge overview, followed by 3 hours of cleaning procedures after lunch.

Septic Cleaning for Advanced Systems

Training the TrainersMOWPA is working hard to provide ample opportunities for knowledge to the industry. In doing so, we will need help with additional instructors. To protect the quality of both our classes and instructors, each instructor will be required to complete this class.

Inspectors Training Class ‘B’The class is only in the discussion stage. MOWPA feels our members may benefit from an advanced septic inspections course. This course would focus on the higher technology systems. Please stay tuned…

Soils ClassSteve Krieg and Dave Duree are heading the discussion of a soils class. This class would likely be held outdoors so the class can have hands on knowledge of the differences in soils, and how they pertain to designing the system.

Other prospective classes currently in the investigation process:

MOWPA is a voice of the industry. So please, if you have any suggestions for future classes, contact us. We need to hear from you. 443.570.2029 or [email protected]

by Tim Shotzbrger

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This article was originally published in the January-February 2011 issue of Precast Inc. magazine. Go to http://www.precast.org/precast-magazines/precastinc/2011_jan_feb/index.html to view the full magazine online.

ASTM C1227 – Home, Health and Environment: Why Septic Tanks Matter by Michael Hines, M.S., P.E.

contributed by Nancy Mayer

Great news: You’re buying a new house! You’ve dreamed of a beautiful family home surrounded by open space, fresh air and a healthy environment with children running barefoot on the grass in the sun. And now your dream has come true. Today, for 40% of us who invest most of our lifetime earnings in this dream, our new home will come equipped with a septic tank system to process human waste.

Please don’t be put off by the term “human waste.” As a homeowner or local regulator, you need to know about human waste and how to properly treat it for one very important reason: Improperly treated

human feces are the prime breeding ground of po-tentially deadly diseases (see the online-only sidebar “Where Cholera, Typhoid, Polio & Hepatitis Breed” on NPCA’s website at www.precast.org/ASTM-C1227). This means that septic tanks are critical issues – they can be

buried but should never be forgotten.

Well-built and well-maintained septic tanks systems are remarkable engineering designs. In fact, efficient, properly managed on-site wastewater treatment systems that include a septic tank system built to industry standards are a healthy, natural and environmentally responsible way for a homeowner to process

wastewater from toilets, showers, washing machines and sinks.

Let’s look at this picture: A beautiful new home is the holiday scene for a growing young family. All the relatives and friends are over, but there’s been a most embarrassing, inconvenient and smelly surprise: The septic system has failed. How could this have possibly happened? This is just inside your home – more bad news awaits outside. Perhaps unnoticeable at first, soggy, unsanitary soil above the system’s failed drain field may be lying in wait for unsuspecting children or the family pet. No matter where the failure occurs, you are facing not just potential health risks, you are looking at a major repair expense (see the online-only sidebar “Septic Tanks: What They Are and How They Work” on NPCA’s website at www.precast.org/ASTM-C1227).

What happens when septic systems fail? It isn’t pretty

Seven typical causes of septic system failure:1. The septic tank is not designed or constructed ac-

cording to standard to be watertight and structurally sound.

2. The septic tank is too small for the number of people and the wastewater flow served by the tank.

3. The septic tank is not properly maintained; tank solids have built up and discharged to the drain field causing clogging failure of the field.

4. Excess flows are discharged into the tank, often from nondomestic sources.

5. Toxic chemicals, large volume of solids, or other ma-terials besides sewage are discharged into the septic tank.

6. The drain field is too small for the intended use, or drain field soils are inadequate to treat and move flows away from the site.

7. The drain field is poorly designed or installed and does not allow equal distribution of the applied flow across the field.

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9 Steps to Properly Maintain Your Septic System

1. Make sure the sizing of the septic tank and the septic system match the features of your home. If the permit calls for a three-bedroom system, don’t remodel and make an office or den into another bedroom. Septic tanks are sized to allow collection of all the wastewater and allow settling of the solids. Exceeding the designed limits reduces the ability of the septic tank and drain field to function.

2. Make sure that the amount of wastewater entering the system does not exceed the permit design for the operation of the dispersal field. In North Carolina, for example, a three-bedroom design means the dispersal field is sized for 360 gal./day (1,360 L/day). This is 120 gal. (454 L) per bedroom assuming two people per bedroom (60 gal. or 227 L/person/day). Unfortunately, every locality uses different design rates. Some design rates provide very large safety factors; others are designed based on “personal preference” and may have little basis in science or engineering. Regardless of the validity of locally established design rates, they must be followed.

3. First rule of septic tanks: Nothing goes into the septic system that has not first gone through your digestive system (or was intended to). Do not discharge paint, motor oil, cigarette butts, chewing gum, rug cleaners, bleach, drain cleaners, large volumes of cooking oils or grease, or anything else toxic to your septic system’s working bacteria. Cleaning and laundry using normal amounts of disinfectant, detergent, softener and bleach should not pose a problem, but any of these products used in excess can effectively “kill” your septic tank’s biology. A septic system relies on viable bacteria to breakdown human waste. Killing the bacteria means removing the ability of your septic system to function – never a pretty sight.

4. Do NOT use commercial additives in your septic tank. TV and radio airwaves are full of ads for miracle additives, enzymes and special bacteria to add to your septic tank to make it work better, smell like flowers and look good. These products are, at best, a waste of money and can be harmful to the biological processes in the tank or drain field. Historically, EPA and other professional organizations have determined that such additives have not been shown to serve any useful purpose. Business development seminars held for the septic tank installers and pumpers encourage the sale of such additives to homeowners as a high-profit revenue source for the industry. Ignore such sales pitches.

5. Routinely inspect your toilets and make sure they are not leaking. Leaking toilets are the No. 1 cause of hydraulic failure of septic tank systems. A single toilet leaking just ¼ gal. (1 L) per minute adds 360 gal. (1,360 L) in 24 hours, the full design flow for a three-bedroom home.

6. Have your septic tank routinely pumped. The usually recommended clean-out schedule is every three to five years (or longer if you have a bigger tank). Have the clean-out done by a professional septage firm, making sure it services and reinstalls the effluent filter (if installed) and make sure all access devices are secured back into place.

7. Absolutely no down spouts, AC condenser drains or other clear water discharges are to be connected to your tank. Water softener regeneration backwash should be diverted around the tank to a separate seepage pit.

8. Limit garbage disposal use. Some regulatory jurisdictions try to prevent garbage disposal units in homes with septic tanks. Most homeowners will have a garbage disposal whether it comes with the house or is added later. The solution is to size the septic system to handle the extra solids produced by these devices. All residential septic tanks should be a minimum of 1,000-gal. (3,785-L) capacity; larger tanks are required if garbage disposal units are planned or as the number of occupants in the house exceeds eight.

9. Inspection checklist - Your annual inspection should check: • Depth of sludge and scum• Condition of scum layer• That the inlet tee is clear• Proper operation of any installed pump• Cleanliness of any effluent filter present

In addition, your drain field or drip area should be walked to check for any wet or soggy spots that would indicate pend-ing or actual system failure.

Quality precast concrete septic tanks, while structurally strong and watertight, must be maintained and serviced for long-term, trouble-free operation.

A continuation of Home, Health & Environment: Why Septic Tanks Matter

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1. The manufacturer of your tank

should be willing to show you

certification by a professional

engineer that the tank you are

purchasing was designed in accordance

with appropriate recognized

standards and engineering principals.

2. Your tank should be one piece or a monolithically poured body with a

separate lid that is permanently affixed to the body with a watertight seal.

3. The tank should be made of high-strength concrete (minimum of 5,000 psi

[35 MPa]) and contain sufficient steel reinforcement to ensure the structural

integrity of the tank at full design operating conditions.

4. To ensure watertightness, the inlets and outlets must be equipped with

rubber boots integrated into the tank wall (inlet and outlet pipes pass through

these boots and the boots sealed against the pipes with stainless steel clamps).

5. The inlet inspection plug in the tank lid should be sealed to the tank with

high-quality mastic or other sealant that will prevent water leaking into the tank.

6. The inlet inspection riser must be cast as part of the tank lid and a watertight

riser extended to the ground surface and be equipped with a watertight cap.

7. If the tank is not equipped with an effluent pump, an effluent filter should be

installed on the outlet.

8. A 24-in. (610-mm) diameter riser ring should be poured in the tank lid over

the tank outlet to allow access to the pump or filter. A watertight riser must be

permanently sealed to the riser ring, extended to grade and be equipped with a

locked or bolted watertight lid.

Your quality septic tank should

meet this 8-point checklist:

Checklist for Quality

A continuation of Home, Health & Environment: Why Septic Tanks Matter

Related links:

Many players are involved in providing you with a quality septic tank system:

• The engineer who designs the tank construction must be competent in concrete and structural design.

• The manufacturer must adhere to the engineered design, use quality materials and exercise quality control throughout the manufacturing process.

• The installer must be competent and install the tank in such a manner to ensure the integrity of the tank and watertightness of the connected system.

• The regulatory inspector must enforce diligently to ensure that all tanks within his or her jurisdiction are constructed, installed and maintained in accordance with competent regulatory requirements.

• The homeowner must provide attentive (not passive) care and maintenance of the septic tank system for as long as he or she uses the residence.

Providing a quality septic tank system involves choices and choosing quality septic tank components and materials from certified manufacturers, and it ensures the value of the owners’ investment in the home, the safety of his or her family and the protection of our environment.

Conclusion & Responsibilities

Michael Hines, M.S., P.E., has 44 years experience in the field of wastewater engineering as a statewide regulator, a Tennessee Valley Authority environmental manager and a consulting engineer. He is founding principal of Southeast Environmental Engineering LLC and president of Utility Capacity Corporation Inc., a construction company. Hines serves on the Board of Directors of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) and its National Model Performance Code Committee.

About the Author

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On February 10, 2011 representatives of MOWPA, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, the National Onsite Wastewater Recycle Association, and the Home Builders Association of Maryland met in Annapolis for an informal discussion to review both the recent statements made by the Governor in the State of the State and pending legislation. The meeting was organized by several MOWPA Board members because of the apparent political and legislative happenings relative to our industry.

If you weren’t already aware Governor Martin O’Malley said in his annual State of the State on February 3, 2011,

“We must realize that where we choose to sleep, eat, and live affects our environment and it affects our Bay. Together, we’ve made some great progress in recent years. And we shouldn’t take that lightly. It didn’t happen by chance, it happened by choice … reducing farm run-off, reducing pollution from aging sewage treatment plants; most recently, starting to reduce the damage and the pollution that’s caused by storm-water run-off. But among the big four causes of pollution in the Bay, there is one area of reducing pollution where so far we have totally failed, and in fact it’s actually gotten much worse,… and that is pollution from the proliferation of septic systems throughout our State – systems which by their very design are intended to leak sewage ultimately into our Bay and into our water tables.

Now look, you and I can turn around this damaging trend by banning the further installation of septic systems in major new Maryland housing developments. This is common sense, this is urgently needed, this is timely, and for the health of the Bay we need to do what several rural counties have already done and had the good sense to do.”

It’s important to know that we (MOWPA) and its membership are not alone. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation, NOWRA, and the Home Builders Association of Maryland have interest, and most importantly involvement with the legislature and have many common interests and support. It was very apparent in our meeting that all present agreed we must do everything possible to eliminate pollution to the Bay as a result of the non-nitrogen removing onsite wastewater system in the Critical Area. Much work can be done in this regard. Opinions varied on the best approach to complete our goal of Bay restoration. Again, get engaged, become involved, reach out, become a member of one of these important and involved organizations if you wish, but by all means don’t stay on the sidelines. You may regret your silence.

Legislative Update by Joshua Gliptis and Kevin Koepenick

For obvious reasons, there was much discussion around the Governor’s comments and the pending legislation that could have significant impact on our industry. Below you’ll find a list of pending bills that are currently on the House and Senate floor or are about to be:

SB539/HB 57 Bay Restoration Fund – Authorized Uses - This bill would allow for BRF money to be used to connect existing houses on septic systems to existing municipal wastewater facilities that are meeting ENR.

SB160/HB177 On–Site Sewage Disposal Systems – Nitrogen Removal - This bill would require nitrogen removal technology (BATs) on all new systems installed within the Chesapeake Bay watershed (i.e., the whole state with exception for Garrett County).

SB372/HB347 Nitrogen Removal Technology – Evaluation and Ranking - This bill would require MDE to evaluate and rank nutrient removal technologies (BATs) based on nitrogen reduction, cost including operation & maintenance, cost/lb of nitrogen, and any other information that MDE feels is necessary.

Sustainable Growth & Agricultural Preservation Act of 2011 - This bill would require that any new subdivision of 5 or more lots utilize a community wastewater treatment facility and obtain a ground water discharge permit.

NOW is the time to become engaged. Read the full Bills at the Maryland General Assembly website http://mlis.state.md.us/ and write to your local legislature to voice your opinion.

National Onsite Wastewater Recycle Association: www.nowra.orgChesapeake Bay Foundation: http://www.cbf.org/

Home Builder Association of Maryland: http://www.homebuilders.org/Related links:

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Newsletter Design by Kristen Conn, Graphic Designer 443.614.0463 or [email protected]

We’re Getting a New Look

Stay tuned for the new look of the MOWPA web site in the

upcoming weeks!

MOWPA BoardInstaller/Contractor:

Tim ShotzbergerHome Land Septic Consulting

443-995-5385 [email protected]

Installer/Contractor:Kurt CassellFogle’s Septic 410-795-5670 [email protected]

Regulator Amy Hart Howard County Bureau of Utilities410-313-2723 [email protected]

Secretary/Treasurer:Kevin KoepenickBaltimore County DEPRM410-887-2762 [email protected]

Vice President:Dwayne JonesJones Pump Service, Inc.410-836-9206 [email protected]

President:Dave DureeAdvance Systems443-398-6185 [email protected]

Engineer/Site Evaluator:Bob Sheesley

Eco Sense Environmental 410-750-9925

[email protected]

Supplier/Vendor:Nancy Mayer

Mayer Bros. 410-796-1434

[email protected]

Supplier/Vendor: Mark Wehland

Freemier & Associates443-250-0103

[email protected]

MOWPA Newsletter Editor in Chief Joshua Gliptis

Daft McCune Walker , [email protected]

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newsletter volume 1 issue 1 spring 2011 - mowpa · harford county thursday, march 10; 11:00am...

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