Ever wonder where onsite installer issues are discussed?  Go to http://www.onsiteinstaller.com/CrntInstaller.html and learn all kinds of things about day-to-day issues facing OWS installers.

The NOWRA Model Performance Code will contain provisions for the certification of installers and other provider and regulatory practitioners. The intent is to recognize national certification programs that are sufficiently rigorous to ensure that certified individuals can adequately perform their tasks. This paper discusses NOWRA's position on the issue of professional credentialling for various professions in the OWS field.  View the entire position paper at http://www.nowra.org/files/CertificationofOnsitePractitioners.pdf

 

The National Environmental Health Association is beginning development of a new onsite wastewater systems installer credential.  This credential is being developed though a cooperative agreement with the USEPA and will be completed by early 2006. Credentialing and licensing is one of the tenets of the USEPA Voluntary Management Guidelines and also recommended by the NOWRA Model Code. If you are interested in this credential or would like to participate in the development process, please contact Christl Pokorney at: 303-756-9090 x305 or cpokorney@neha.org.

Under the leadership of Michael Corry and Jean Caudill as co-chairs, a group of 20 NOWRA members meet and work on a regular basis on the tasks involved in developing a model performance code. Corry was selected as a result of his experience in Wisconsin in developing a similar product. Caudill's work as a health official in Ohio demonstrates her experience in guidance documents. While there are several other states currently involved in similar levels of activity - only NOWRA is approaching this work on a national basis.

A model code is a document intended to influence the adoption of codes by government agencies. The intent of a model code is to provide code provisions that are supported by data, science and expert opinion and make the product available to local and state governments as referent document for adoption as the local code. Many current codes contain restrictions that are only supported by tradition, not by data or science. The NOWRA proposal is simply a model; no governmental unit is required to adopt it. However, if the model performance code is well developed and supported by the industry, there will be a greater willingness to adopt and use it. There are numerous factors within the industry that make this work a highly important task. Model codes reduce code variation between neighboring political units and between states. Reduced variation increases market size for new products and fosters innovation, higher quality and lower costs.

A draft document will be produced by November 2004 and is planned to be available in November at the NOWRA annual Conference.  For more information on specifics of the Model Performance Code, go to http://www.nowra.org/?p=242 .

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment has adopted a revised policy regarding multiple OWS on a single property.  This policy addresses requirements where individual landowners may want to split flows from single residences or multiple buildings in an attempt to avoid site application reviews and discharge permits.  A copy of the policy can be obained at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/engineering/reg22/guide/22guide.pdf .

 

 

A white paper authored by the leadership of the Model Performance Code Committee of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA), presenting the concept of a national Model Performance Code was approved by the NOWRA Board, June 12, 2004 and formally adopted September 28, 2004. The paper presents the advantages of using performance over prescription codes in making decisions on the use and location of onsite or cluster wastewater treatment systems and addresses:

• Defining the differences between prescriptive and performance approaches to onsite and cluster system regulation.
• The need to reform the decision-making process for regulations affecting the use, application and sustained management of onsite/cluster wastewater treatment technology and systems.
• Presenting new approach to regulations, decision-making, and how the National Onsite Wastewater Association (NOWRA) will support the states and localities in this endeavor.
• NOWRA White Paper

Want to learn more about what's going on in the OWS service and maintenance, go to http://www.pumper.com

Much debate occurs as to what constitutes a watertight septic tank.  The NOWRA Model Code Committee has drafted guidance for watertight septic tank standards to apply to various tanks.  You can access the draft document at http://www.nowra.org/files/WebDoc-Tanks-GuidanceandPurpose.pdf

The Colorado School of Mines has a very active Small Flows Program that is generating some of the most current and exciting OWS research in the country.  The Small Flows program is represented by the Departments of Environmental Science and Engineering, Geology and Geological Sciences, Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Engineering, InternationGround Water Modeling Center and The Center for Experimental Study of Subsurface Environmental Processes.  To learn more about the research and facilities at the CSM Small Flows Program go to http://www.mines.edu/research/smallQ/ .