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Onsite
Wastewater Education Program
and
Training Facility
ANNOUNCEMENTS
- January 30-31, 2008: 6th Biennial Southwest On-Site Wastewater Conference 2008
- River Palms Resort & Casino, 2700 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029-7770
- June 5-8, 2008: AzOWRA 2008 Educational Conference & Exhibition
- Radisson 1175 West Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; 928-773-8888 Map & Directions
SITUATION
About 25 percent of the United States population lives
in areas that use onsite wastewater treatment systems. Surface water
and
groundwater contamination associated with septic systems often stems
from failures due to age or improper maintenance; however, even properly
functioning
systems can cause environmental degradation and pose public health risks.
Depending upon soil type, water saturation, and other factors, nutrients
and microbial pollutants can migrate long distances down-gradient from
properly functioning (but poorly designed) systems and ultimately reach
surface water and groundwater. The Arizona Department of Environmental
Quality has identified onsite/septic wastewater treatment facilities
as
the overwhelming activity/facility contributing to water quality impairment
in Arizona -- over 90% of the identified activities! There is a need
to
educate septic system owners and pumpers who maintain the systems, as
well as designers, installers, contractors, regulators, and health officials
on the proper siting, design, installation, operation, and maintenance
of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
In 1998, the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
developed the Onsite Wastewater Education (OWE) Program. The OWE Program
reaches owners of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal systems, county
and state regulators, and the onsite wastewater industry in Arizona. The
program has two objectives: 1) To raise septic system owners' awareness
of onsite operation and maintenance and 2) To train the Arizona onsite
wastewater treatment community.In 2002, the Onsite Wastewater Training
Facility was established at the Maricopa Agricultural Center.
Several educational resources have been developed to better
educate owners of onsite wastewater systems, as well as the general public:
There are many more educational and training materials available
in the Educational Resources section.
TRAINING FACILITY
The OWE Program provides classroom and hands-on in-field training, technology
transfer, and demonstrations at the Onsite Wastewater Training Facility
located at the Maricopa Agricultural Center. This facility will have
several above-ground conventional and alternative onsite systems that
will operate
with clean water to facilitate hands-on training. Currently, there is
a complete conventional septic system with a gravity trench and chamber
trench installed to grade used for inspection training. Location of Training
Site Maricopa Agricultural Center 37860 W. Smith-Enke Road,
Maricopa,
Arizona.
Workshop
Schedule: 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002
2008
2008 University of Arizona Onsite Wastewater Training Schedule [PDF]
Please note the registration information is linked to a PDF file. For best
viewing, you may need to update
your Adobe Acrobat program to version 8.
Date |
Title |
Location |
Registration Information |
| January 28-29 |
NAWT Inspection Training & Certification; certification
information |
River Palms Resort & Casino, 2700 S. Casino Dr., Laughlin, NV 89029-7770;
702-298-2242; Directions: with fast connection, with slow connection |
|
| April 7-8 |
AZ Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems; certification information |
Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
85711-4198; 520-881-4200; Directions; There is a small block of rooms available at the Doubletree Hotel under the block name of “NAWT.” Call to make your reservations at 520-881-4200; 800-222-8733. Otherwise, click here for a list of nearby hotels. |
|
| April 9-10 |
Design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems |
Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, Tucson, AZ
85711-4198; 520-881-4200; Directions; There is a small block of rooms available at the Doubletree Hotel under the block name of “NAWT.” Call to make your reservations at 520-881-4200; 800-222-8733. Otherwise, click here for a list of nearby hotels. |
|
| June 5 |
NAWT Inspection Training & Recertification
(pre-conference workshop to AzOWRA 2008 Educational Conference & Exhibition) |
limited number of rooms held under block name “AzOWRA” until May 15, 2008. Room rates are $119 + tax. Please call 928-773-8888 to make reservations. Map & Directions. There are also a few rooms held (until May 4) under “AzOWRA” at the Inn Suits, 1008 E Route 66, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, 928-774-7356. Room rates start at $68.10/night + tax |
|
| August 26-27 |
NAWT Inspection Training & Certification; certification information |
Sheraton Hotels & Resort, 5151 E. Grant Rd., Tucson, AZ 85712; 520-3223-6262; A block of rooms is reserved under “NAWT Inspection & Certification” with a release date of July 25th, 2008, at the Sheraton Hotels & Resort; 1-800-325-3535
($79.00/single, $89.00/double; plus tax and service charge) |
|
| September 23-24 |
AZ Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems; certification information |
Los Viajeros Inn, 1000 N Tegner St.,
Wickenburg, AZ 85390; There is a small block of rooms available at the Inn under the block name of “Soil & Site .” Call to make
your reservations at 928-684-7099; Otherwise, click here for a list of nearby hotels. |
registration information & form |
| October 14 |
NAWT Inspection Training & Recertification |
Holiday Inn Casa Grande; 777 N. Pinal Avenue West, Casa Grande, AZ 85222; 520-426-3500; There is a block of rooms being held at the Holiday Inn Casa Grande under “University of Arizona” for $60.00 plus tax and service charges. Please call 520-426-3500 for reservation arrangements by October 16, 2008. |
|
| October 15-16 |
Design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems |
Holiday Inn Casa Grande; 777 N. Pinal Avenue West, Casa Grande, AZ 85222; 520-426-3500; There is a block of rooms being held at the Holiday Inn Casa Grande under “University of Arizona” for $60.00 plus tax and service charges. Please call 520-426-3500 for reservation arrangements by October 16, 2008. |
|
* For
best viewing, you may need to update
your Adobe Acrobat program to version 8.
2007
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: January 18-19, Casa Grande, AZ
- Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: May10-11, Payson, AZ
- Onsite Installer Certified Professional: June 1, Payson, AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: August 28-29, Phoenix, AZ
- Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: October 1-2, Florence, AZ
- Design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: October 3-4, Payson, AZ
- NAWT Inspection & Recertification: November 14, Maricopa, AZ
- Onsite Installer Certified Professional: November 15, Maricopa, AZ -- CANCELLED
2006
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification (pre-conference training
to 2006 Southwest Onsite Wastewater Management Conference): January 30-31, Laughlin, NV
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: May 15-16, Apache
Junction, AZ
- Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
August 22-23, Prescott, AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: August 24-25,
Prescott, AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: September 26-27,
Tucson, AZ
- Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
September 28-29, Williams, AZ
- Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
November 14-15, Sierra Vista,
AZ
2005
- Soil and Site Evaluation for the Design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: January 21-22, Parker,
AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: April 11-12, Tucson, AZ
- Introduction to Design of Onsite Wastewater Systems: CANCELLED
(August 25-26, 2005 - Casa Grande, AZ)
- Soil and Site Evaluation for the Design of Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Systems: November 16-17, Rio Rico, AZ
2004
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: January 30-31, Laughlin,
NV
- Basics of Soils for Design of Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment
and Dispersal Systems: June 3-4, Cottonwood, AZ
- Operation and Maintenance of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
August 24-25, Tucson, AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: October 25-26,
Maricopa, AZ
2003
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: May 28-29, Prescott,
AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: May 30-31, Maricopa,
AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: Nov 13-14 Sierra
Vista, AZ
2002
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: March 4-5, Laughlin,
NV
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: June 28-29, Flagstaff,
AZ
- Installing Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: November
13-14, Maricopa, AZ
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification: November 15, Maricopa, AZ
Other
US Training Centers
- Alabama
- Arizona
- California
- Florida
- Kentucky
- New York
- North Carolina
- Minnesota (Waseca)
- Missouri
- Rhode Island
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Washington
EDUCATIONAL
RESOURCES
Fact Sheets & Publications
- Antibacterial Products in Septic Systems (2001) (2
pp.) (PDF) 55 kb
- Arizona WET - Water Education for Teachers (1995) (320 pp.)$25.00
(More Information)
Available for sale online
- Farm*A*Syst: Farm/Ranch Self-Assessment System for
Arizona (1997) (110 pp.) $5.00 Available for sale online
- How Chemicals Move Through Soil (with affiliated guide) (1998) (VHS 27 minutes) $25.00
Available for sale online
- How Water Moves Through Soil (with affiliated guide)
(1994) (VHS 30 minutes), $25.00 Available for sale online
- Inspecting Your Household Septic System (2000) (3
pp.) (PDF) 24 kb
- Maintaining Your Septic Tank (2000) (2 pp.) (PDF)
76 kb
- Managing Your Household Septic System (2000) (3 pp.)
(PDF) 28 kb
- Mound Systems: Alternative On-site Wastewater Treatment
(1998) (2 pp.) (PDF) 52 kb
- Onsite Wastewater Treatment Education Resources for
Educating Clientele (2005) (8 pp.) (PDF)
- Operation and Maintenance Tips for Your Septic System
(2000) (2 pp.) (PDF)
23 kb
- RV Holding-tank Treatments & Deodorizers in Septic
Systems (2001) (2 pp.) (PDF) 29 kb
- Septic System Owner's Guide (2001) (44 pp.) $8.50
Available for sale online
- Treatment of Household Wastewater, AZ Farm*A*Syst
series (1998) (2 pp.) (PDF) 31 kb
- Understanding Your Household Septic System (2000)
(2 pp.) (PDF) 295 kb
(HTML)
Conference & Research Papers
- Performance-Based Regulation for Onsite/Decentralized
Wastewater Facilities: General Concepts and the State of Arizona
Framework, Edwin Swanson, ADEQ, Presented at the NOWRA 10th Annual
Conference and Exhibit, October 2001, Virginia Beach, VA. [PDF]
PowerPoint
Presentations
- Septic System Operation & Maintenance for Manufactured Home and Recreational
Vehicle Park Facilities [PDF]
Videos & DVDs
- Alternative Septic Systems
- Video and fact sheets highlighting three Twin Cities metro area installations
using re-circulating sand filters and drip irrigation on difficult
sites including shallow bedrock, high groundwater, and a steep slope.
EP-07572-GO; $14.00.
- University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center, 612-624-4900,
1-800-876-8636, or http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/dc/
- The Care and Feeding of Your Septic Tank
- Department of Environmental Resources, 16 minutes, 1995, V9112.
- To borrow a video, call the WREN Resource Center at 1-800-692-7281,
or e-mail at lwvpa@epix.net.
- Choosing an Alternative Septic System
- Video highlighting three Twin Cities metro area installations using
re-circulating sand filters and drip irrigation on difficult sites
including shallow bedrock, high groundwater, and a steep slope. VH-07024;
$13.00.
- University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center, 612-624-4900,
1-800-876-8636, or http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/dc/
- Inspecting Existing Septic Systems During Home Sales
- Demonstrates the equipment, procedures and knowledge necessary to
conduct proper inspection of septic systems.
- Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, 39 minutes, 1991, V9410.
To borrow a video, call the WREN Resource Center at 1-800-692-7281,
or at e-mail lwvpa@epix.net.
- Landscaping Your Drainfield
- This modest 16-minute video talks about why a homeowner with a septic
system needs to be careful about landscaping over the drainfield...and
exactly what kind of plants are recommended for this use. The plants
shown are best suited to the Puget Sound lowland area.
- Washington State University Cooperative Extension, Clallam County,
WA, 360-417-2414
- On-Site Wastewater Treatment Systems: Constructed Wetlands
- This video covers the use of constructed wetland technology for home wastewater treatment systems. SP-70; $15.00.
- Texas Cooperative Extension, (888) 900-2577, or http://tcebookstore.org/index.cfm >> Home >> Waste
- Overview of Septic Systems
- This 28-minute video available in both VHS and DVD format describes the technologies available for managing residential wastewater. It can help homeowners choose the type of system they need. SP-132; $15.00.
- Texas Cooperative Extension, (888) 900-2577, or http://tcebookstore.org/index.cfm >> Home>>Waste
- Professional On-site Sewage System Maintenance
- Septic Evaluation
- Septic System Maintenance
- Septic Systems Revealed: Guide to Operation, Care, and Maintenance
- A 23-minute video showing how an actual septic system works and demonstrates proper pumping methods. Includes tips on household water conservation and product use. VH-06768-GO; $15.00 (or as EP-06769-GO in combination with the Owner's Guide $ 18.00); Revised 1999.
- University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center, 612-624-4900, 1-800-876-8636, or
http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/dc/
- Understanding and Maintaining Alternative On-Site Sewage Disposal Systems
- A video for Pressure Distribution, Sand Filter and Mound systems.
- Eastgate Public Health Center, WA, http://www.metrokc.gov/health/wastewater/operating.htm
- Water Conservation B Managing Our Precious Liquid Asset
- A 21-minute video offering many ways to reduce water use to the benefit of the septic system without impacting family comfort and quality of life. VH-06948-GO; $15.00.
- University of Minnesota Extension Service Distribution Center, 612-624-4900,
1-800-876-8636, or http://www.extension.umn.edu/units/dc/
- What to Expect from Your Home Inspection
- The Why, When, & How of Septic System Care and Maintenance
- Your Septic System: A Guide for Homeowners
- Uses husband-wife story as method of explaining how to operate and maintain a septic system; good do's and don't section. 11 minutes.
- National Small Flows Clearinghouse, West Virginia University, P.O. Box 6064, Morgantown, WV 26506-6064, 800-624-8301, http://www.nesc.wvu.edu/nsfc/nsfc_index.htm
Physical Models
| Conventional System: Septic
Tank with Soil Absorption Field |
 |
- Plexiglas working model with two trenches that can demonstrate
the infiltration and percolation abilities of two different soil
types.
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Contact Kitt Farrell-Poe, kittfp@ag.arizona.edu,
928-782-3836.
|
Curriculum
- Practioners Training Curriculum Development Project - The
Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater
Treatment
- This
project will develop a consistent
technical educational base to launch nationwide
training efforts. The materials produced are easily modifiable
electronically to address specific local rule
requirements and are
presented as a
series of short courses
- Each module contains:
- educational
objectives (needs-to-know)
- resource
needs, and
- detailed agendas.
- Currently, there
are five modules:
- Model National Curriculum Development
- Septic Tanks
- Soil and Site
Evaluation
- Technology Overview
- Water Movement
and Treatment in Soils
- http://www.onsiteconsortium.org/training/activities.cfm
- Academic
Curriculum Development Project - The Consortium
of Institutes for Decentralized
Wastewater
Treatment.
- This project
is developing
course curriculum
with appropriate
modules for teaching a one-semester laboratory and field course in
on-site and decentralized
water
and wastewater treatment
and
natural systems
for water reclamation.
- The modules include:
- Fundamental Concepts
for Environmental Processes
- Site
Evaluation
- Wastewater
Characteristics
- Onsite
Nitrogen Removal
- Septic
Tanks
- Media Filters
- Constructed
Wetlands, Constructed
Wetlands:
Alternative
Design Approaches
- Aerobic Treatment
Units
- Soil Treatment Systems
- Disinfection
- Distribution and Dispersal
Systems
(Effluent Conveyance,
Drip Distribution, Spray Distribution,
Water Reuse
Systems)
- Hydraulics and
Controls
(Hydraulics, Instrumentation and Controls),
and
- Biosolids
- http://www.onsiteconsortium.org/curriculum/activities.cfm
- septic tank review:
- Septic
Education Kit - Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve
- This
kit serves as a toolbox
that contains everything an educator
needs to set
up and publicize a septic
education program.
Cost $99.
- Included:
- series of customizable fact sheets
- a slide
presentation
- comprehensive
workshop outlines
- publicity photos
- marketing
ideas
- tips
on how to partner with
other
agencies
- article templates for quick
submission to local
newspapers, a
poster, radio announcement
scripts, and sample newspaper ads
and flyer.
- Contact National Small Flows Clearinghouse, 800-553-6847, or through email at
orders@ntis.fedworld.gov
Miscellaneous Education/Training Aids
- Magnets
- Refrigerator
magnets in both English and Spanish indicating what materials
when flushed down the toilet are
either
cloggers or killers of septic tanks. $1.00
(SP-133).
- Available through Texas
Cooperative
Extension, Extension Distribution and Supply,
979-845-6573.
- Training Center Signs
- All signs are 24" X 24" and made of 1/8" aluminum. The signs have a
polished white background with screen printed graphics and text. Signs include:
- aerobic treatment
- chamber system
- constructed wetlands
- conventional land application
- conventional septic tank system
- evapotranspiration bed system
- gravelless pipe system
- low-pressure
dosing system
- mound system
- recirculating
media filter system
- single-pass sand filter system
- spray dispersal system
- STEP/STEG system
- subsurface drip dispersal system
- For more information about signs or to place an order please contact:
Bruce Lesikar
b-lesikar@tamu.edu
http://ossf.tamu.edu/training_center_signs.htm
- Comic Book
Glossary
of Terms
The Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment has assembled
an extensive glossary of terms. This draft glossary was developed in an attempt
to standardize the language of the onsite wastewater industry. It is located
on their website:
http://www.onsiteconsortium.org/files/glossary.htm
RULES,
FORMS, & OTHER
AIDS FOR PRACTITIONERS
- Current Arizona Administrative Code Aquifer Protection Permits: http://www.azsos.gov/public_services/Title_18/18-09.pdf
The following pages pertain to onsite wastewater treatment systems:
- 26-45
(R18-9-A308 through R18-9-A317),
- 66-90 (R18-9-E302 through R18-9-E323).
- State
Summary For Arizona Contractors about Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems
(15 pages) [PDF
file]
- Notice
of Intent to Discharge for a Conventional Septic Tank and Disposal
Works (3 pages) [PDF
file]
- List of Materials,
Components, & Equipment for a Conventional Septic System (2 pages)
[PDF
file]
INSPECTION
MATERIALS
- ADEQ Transfer of Property Inspection Information & Forms:
- List of Inspectors Eligible to conduct Transfer of Property Inspections
[PDF]
- Report
of Inspection Form:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/download/investigation.pdf
- Notice of Transfer Form:
http://www.azdeq.gov/environ/water/permits/download/presale.doc
- NAWT Inspection Training & Certification Workshop Participant List [PDF
file]. Please note that participants on this list may or may not also
be certified NAWT inspectors. The NAWT exam is optional. To determine if
the person in question is a NAWT certified inspector, go to the NAWT web
site: http://www.nawt.org/
- Sources of onsite wastewater treatment equipment and supplies to conduct
inspections and soil and site evaluations: [PDF
file]
- Arizona realtor association publication article about the Transfer
Inspection go to :
http://www.aaronline.com/News/ARDOnline/ARD_May2006.pdf
SOIL
AND SITE EVALUATION MATERIALS
- ADEQ
- Notice of Intent to Discharge for an Onsite System - Type 4.02 through
4.23 general permit [Word
file]
[PDF
file]
- Uniform State of Arizona Site Investigation Report
form [PDF
file]
- Courses approved by ADEQ to meet R18-9-A310(H)(4)
- UA Soil & Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems:
2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 (see also workshop
participant list)
- Dr. Jerry Tyler & Coconino County: summer 2005
- Arizona County Departments of Environmental Health Services Association
(ACDEHSA): February 2006
- Participant List for UA Soil & Site Evaluation for Onsite
Wastewater Treatment Workshops, 2004-2007 [PDF
file]
- Arizona Blue Stake http://www.azbsinc.com/
- USDA-NRCS Field Book for Describing and Sampling Soils, Version
2.0, September 2002 ($24) http://soils.usda.gov/technical/fieldbook/
- Arizona Soils, by David M. Hendricks. Tucson, Ariz.: College of
Agriculture, University of Arizona, 1985. This electronic copy was produced
in February
2002 in part with grant funds provided by the Library Services and Technology
Act. http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/azso/
- Determining Soil Texture using the Wire Method
[PDF file, RTF file]
- Fixture Count Calculation Chart [PDF file,
RTF file]
- Sources of onsite wastewater treatment equipment and supplies to conduct
inspections and soil and site evaluations (adapted from University of Minnesota):
[PDF file]
WEBSITES
Useful Websites for Arizona
- Arizona Cooperative Extension Onsite Wastewater Education Program Training Facility
- ADEQ Website
- Arizona Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (AzOWRA)
- Northern Arizona University Onsite Wastewater Demonstration Project
- Presale Inspection Program Information and Forms
- Rule Clarifications for Onsite Wastewater Treatment Facilities
- Compliance and Enforcement Handbook
- Delegation Agreements with Local Agencies
- NAWT Website (Certified Inspectors List)
Other Useful Onsite Wastewater Treatment Websites
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kitt Farrell-Poe, Ph.D.
University of Arizona
Yuma Agricultural Center
6425 W. 8th Street
Yuma, AZ 85364
(office) 928-782-3836
(fax) 928-782-1940
kittfp@ag.arizona.edu
Website is maintained
by: Dr. Kitt Farrell-Poe
Site last updated:
14-May-2008
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