NEWS BRIEF
August 2017
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S ASSOCIATION OF SEPTIC SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS
Register for Our August 29 GSDI Membership Dinner Meeting & Program and Earn 3 CE Contact Hours! Considerations for Commercial and High-Strength Wastewater & the New NH Well Water Board Rules – What Septic Professionals Need to Know On Tuesday, August 29, 2017, join the GSDI board of directors, other GSDI members and colleagues for a quick GSDI board meeting followed by one of two educational programs, dinner and dessert and a second education program. The dinner and programs will be held at the Derryfield Restaurant located at 625 Mammoth Road in Manchester. The restaurant is part of the Derryfield Country Club complex, located just a short distance from the Bridge Street exit of I-93 on the east side of Manchester. A brief GSDI board meeting will take place from 4:305:00 p.m. followed by program #1 (Considerations for Commercial and High-Strength Wastewater) from 5:006:30 p.m., which will be conducted by Gary Spaulding of Advance Onsite Solutions in Canterbury. If you follow the NHDES rules (“The Cook Book”) and common practices, are you designing and installing a leach field that will last or fail? During his program Gary will cover road-tested considerations when designing for commercial and high-strength wastewater. Among the items he will address are: Does the state’s Perc Rate sizing chart address commercial systems? Do the current rules for sizing grease traps and septic tanks meet the needs of your clients? Should the grease interceptor baffle always extend to within 6” to 12” off the bottom for all uses? Is the 25% rule for pumping interceptors in tune with today’s uses? Are you taking into account all of the water actually going into the EDA? Do residential homes have high-strength wastewater and what are some of the factors you need to know to make that determination? Matters of installing commercial and high-strength wastewater systems will be included. Participants will enjoy dinner from 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. then
get set for program #2 (The New NH Well Water Board Rules – What Septic Professionals Need to Know). Rick Schofield, PG, Water Well Program Manager, NHDES and Roger Skillings, Skillings & Sons in Amherst will step to the podium for a discussion of the new NH Water Well Board rules that went into effect back in March. They will focus on areas of concern to septic professionals, particularly when it comes to siting systems and compliance with well radii requirements. Attendance at the August 29 dinner program has been approved for 3 continuing education contact hours for state-permitted designers and installers. Program sign in will be required with a certificate of attendance handed out at the end of the evening. The cost is $50 person for GSDI members, employees and guests; $75 for all others. Online registration is preferred for this event which can be taken care of by visiting the GSDI Calendar of Events page on gsdia.org and clicking on the date, August 29, 2017. Payment may be made either via credit card through the secure PayPal link or you can check the box that says you will send us a check. The last date on which you may register is Wednesday, August 23 as we must confirm out counts by the end of that day.
GSDI Scholarships Awarded Two New Hampshire students, one a recent high school graduate and the other a continuing college student, each were awarded scholarships by the association. Gretchen Helmers of Hill, NH, who graduated this past June from Newfound Regional High School, was the recipient of the Robert Woodman Scholarship which is awarded to high-school students planning to major in civil engineering or environmental sciences. Gretchen will begin her studies shortly in environmental science at Allegheny College. This summer she has been busy working as the nature director at a YMCA summer camp here in NH. The recipient of the Philip Beland College Scholarship, which is awarded to a returning/continuing college Continued on page 2
www.gsdia.org
student, was John Wichert of Manchester, NH who is continuing his studies in civil engineering at the University of New Hampshire. He has spent his summer working on a surveying field crew and part time working with a PE. We wish them both well as they embark on a new academic year.
NEWS BRIEF A monthly publication of the
GRANITE STATE DESIGNERS AND INSTALLERS ASSOCIATION 53 Regional Drive, Suite 1, Concord, NH 03301-8500 Tel: (603) 228-1231 Fax: (603) 228-2118 E-Mail: info@gsdia.org Executive Director and Editor: Walter Perry
OFFICERS
Chair: Aaron Wechsler, Aspen Environmental Consultants, LLC Immed. Past Chair: Deborah Parker, Hinds Septic Design Service Vice Chair-Designers: Carl Hagstrom, Monadnock Septic Design, LLC Vice Chair-Evaluators: Peter Russell, Russell Inspection Services Vice Chair-Installers: Jim Hanna, J.D. Hanna Excavating, LLC Vice Chair-Pumpers: Lawrence Maznek, Maznek Septic Service, LLC Secretary: Nathan Fogg, Fogg Environmental Design, LLC Treasurer: Scott Hagstrom, Monadnock Septic Design, LLC
Board of Septic System Evaluators The Board of Septic System Evaluators is established to set minimum standards and guidelines to ensure that licensed Septic System Evaluators have a level of knowledge and experience to produce consistent and objective septic system evaluations in New Hampshire. The Board of Septic System Evaluators consists of 5 persons appointed by Governor Sununu and the Executive Council. The members of the board are as follows with their term of office and their elected position. Christopher Albert, Chair Septic Designer Term: April 5, 2022 Christopher Kent, Vice-Chairperson Septage Hauler Term: March 22, 2022
DIRECTORS
Mark McConkey, Secretary Septic Installer Term: March 22, 2022
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
Peter Rowell Public Member Term: April 5, 2022
Chris Kent, Kent Clean Septic Service, LLC Gary Spaulding, Advanced Onsite Solutions
Affiliate Liaison: Jerry Mailloux, Shea Concrete Finance: Scott Hagstrom, Monadnock Septic Design, LLC N.H. Water Council Rep: Deborah Parker, Hinds Septic Design Service Legislative & Rules: Gary Spaulding, Advanced Onsite Solutions Membership: Jim Hanna, J.D. Hanna Excavating Prof. Development: Thomas Canfield, Thomas Canfield Earth Construction Septic Inspection: Thomas Canfield, Thomas Canfield Earth Construction Scholarship: Deborah Parker, Hinds Septic Design Service Technical: Chris Albert, Jones & Beach Engineers, Inc.
EX-OFFICIO BOARD MEMBERS Kenneth Bradley, Jr., Bradley Associates Gerald H. Miller
Dawn Buker NHDES appointed Term: per Statute The Board conducts meetings that may include public and non-public sessions. These meetings are held at the Office of Professional Licensure and Certification, 121 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH 03301. Currently meetings are being held monthly to establish a set of proposed regulations. Once fully developed, these proposed regulations will be submitted to the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules which will conduct a Public hearing. The goal is to have a set of regulations in place by January 1, 2018. The next meeting of the Board of Septic System Evaluators will be August 16, 2017 at 9:30 am. Complete information including minutes to their prior meetings can be found at https://www.oplc.nh.gov/septic-evaluators/index.htm
Opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and may not necessarily be those of the Association. This publication is printed with the understanding that it is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or professional service or advice.
www.gsdia.org 2 GSDI News Brief | August 2017
Robert Scott returns to 29 Hazen Drive as commissioner after five years at PUC A familiar face has taken the helm as commissioner of the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services: former Air Resources Division director Robert Scott was confirmed to the
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post by the Executive Council on June 21.
engineering from Lehigh University.
Gov. Chris Sununu nominated the outgoing Public Utilities Commissioner on June 7, citing his wide-ranging experience as something that will serve him well in this new position. At his media availability session following the nomination, the governor called Scott “one of the foremost authorities in terms of a variety of different issues that affect the Public Utilities Commission.”
While at the PUC, he served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) and was a member of the Committee on Critical Infrastructure as well as the Committee on Energy Resources and the Environment. He co-chaired the New England Conference of Public Utilities Commissioners’ (NECPUC) subcommittee on cyber security. He also represented New Hampshire on regional electricity matters as New England States Committee on Electricity (NESCOE) manager. He also formerly served as co-chairman of the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP) Evaluation, Measurement and Verification Forum Steering Committee. Commissioner Scott will continue to serve on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative Inc. (RGGI) Board of Directors.
“He understands a lot of the technical details of what we do, not just in terms of energy at the PUC but with the environmental background as well,” Sununu said. “He knows the department, he knows a lot of the players, and I think he’s going to do a great job as the environmental services commissioner.” Scott worked for NHDES for a total of 17 years in the Air Resources Division (ARD); the first eight, from 1995 to 2003, as a Mobile Source Program manager, compliance bureau administrator and deputy director, and then as the director of ARD from 2003 to 2012. During his time as director of the ARD, Scott served from 2005 to 2010 on a Governmental Advisory Committee Commissioner Scott, cont. page 3 to advise the Administrator of the US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) on specific federal policy issues related to the implementation of the North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation with Mexico and Canada.
NHDES’ commissioner position has been open since Tom Burack stepped down in January 2017, after serving for 10 years.
Septic System Evaluator Program Granite State Designers and Installers Association held its annual Septic System Evaluator program on May 16 and 20, 2017. This two-day program was comprised of a day in the classroom utilizing the program manual and a field day inspecting an active system.
“With this experience, I feel I have a strong grasp of the workings of the department and of the issues associated with ensuring the mission of protecting the environment and public health while balancing the needs of a strong economy,” Scott wrote to Gov. Chris Sununu on May 31. “In my tenure as Air Resources Division director I was able to successfully work with both environmental organizations andthe business community. In fact, I think that the work we were able to accomplish demonstrated that environmental protection and economic vitality are mutually supportive.”
This program was led by Tom Canfield of Thomas Canfield Earth Construction with assistance from Scott Hagstrom of Monadnock Septic Design, Peter Russell of Russell Inspection Services, and Micah Denner of Septic Designs of NH. Congratulations to the following individuals who attended this program and have passed the exam: •
Damon Beaudreau, Norway Hill Home Inspections, Hancock, NH
•
Jon Buschbaum, Evans Land Consultants, Nelson
He returns to NHDES after a five-year stint as a commissioner of the Public Utilities Commission, a term that was set to end July 1. He received the 2016 New Hampshire Business and Industry Association (BIA) “Above and Beyond” award in recognition of service and leadership in advancing BIA’s mission.
•
Joshua Cass, Norway Hill Home Inspections, Hancock
•
Thomas Daigle, Salem
•
Brandon Demers, GDCSI, Hooksett
•
Justin Densmore, Stearns Septic Service, Grantham
Scott started his career as an engineer in the private industry, a position he held from 1990 to 1995, and as a munitions and aircraft maintenance officer in the US Air Force from 1986 to 1990. He recently retired as a cyberspace operations officer with the Air National Guard after 30 years of military service, having commanded three Air Force squadrons in his career. Scott has a Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical
•
Adam Dionne, PJD Septic Services, Stoddard
•
Doug Murphy, Moultonborough
•
Jared Piotrowski, Green House Home Inspection, Manchester
•
Nicholas Pratt, Wendell Rexford and Sons, Groveton
•
Jeffrey Spring, Shovelworks, Weare
4 GSDI News Brief | August 2017
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•
Heather Stearns, Stearns Septic Service, Grantham
•
Kevin Sweeney, Advanced Onsite Solutions, Canterbury
“What’s Flushable?”, The EPA Septic Smart Program “What’s Flushable?”, The EPA Septic Smart Program, Grease Traps and Grease Interceptors program is being put on by the NHDES Wastewater Engineering Bureau. The program will be presented by Ray Gordon, NHDES Septage Coordinator. This is a 3 hour program with the first hour and a half on Gravity Grease Interceptors in NH. This will be followed by an hour on What’s Flushable. The final half hour will be on The EPA Septic Smart Program. The program will be held on September 12, 2017; 9:00 am - noon at the Jaffrey Fire Department in Jaffrey. Participants at this program will receive 3 CEUs for their NH Subsurface Designer/Installer permit. The cost to attend this program is $35. Further information and the registration form can be viewed at http://www2.des.state.nh.us/Seminars/ Subsurface.aspx Contact Ray Gordon at ray.gordon@des.nh.gov or (603) 271-3571 with any questions regarding this course.
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Installers Corner
What to Plant (or Not) on a Leach Field By James Hanna Customers ask; “Can I put a vegetable garden on top of my leach field?”. The short answer is “No”. When a septic system is new the risk of vegetables picking up heavy metals and bacteria from the waste stream is low. But systems don’t stay new very long and its pretty much impossible or impractible to monitor or control what all the people inside the home are adding to the waste stream, prescription drugs, cleaners, etc. So, it’s not worth the potential health risk of ingestion of any waste product. Your leach field was sized for a certain number of gallons per day. People water their gardens a lot. Adding more water to your leach field will shorten its life. Do not irrigate your leach field. Although most leach fields these days use “candy cane” vent pipes to introduce more oxygen, building “raised beds” over the leach field limit’s the osmosis abilities of the bed. To further help this topsoil on a leach bed should usually be in a four to six-inch thickness. Excessive topsoil will tend to suffocate the bed. If you were a root would you rather muscle your way through tight packed soil often with low moisture content, or feel like you died and went to heaven being in an open pipe with constant liquid diet? If you have
ever experienced a root in pipe problem you know the exponential growth rate that can be generated. So what plants can you safely grow over your septic system? The standard advice is that you shouldn’t grow anything but grass over your leach field. Grass is always the best organic to cover your leach field due to the nutrient rich liquid coming from your pipes and grass is a heavy consumer of nitrogen which could otherwise get into the ground water where eventually it can damage the ecology of lakes and streams. Use plants with shallow roots. Plants with deep or aggressive roots could clog or break the pipes underground causing extensive repairs. If you want to switch from grass to a flower garden or “meadow” look, avoid using a tractor with roto tiller. Here is a small list of light rooted plants for an option. Central NH is between the 4b-5b zone for USDA planting zones. Something you want to consider before choosing your wild flowers. Native NH wildflowers with light root system: • Heath Aster: produces white flowers • Blue Star: produces blue flowers with a yellow center • Coneflowers: fragrant with a “Daisy” like bloom in bright colors • Black Eyed Susan: yellow petals with dark center In summary, never plant edibles over your leach field, use only shallow rooted plants.
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August 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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DES Questions & Answers Amended vs. Revised Plans During the July 26, GSDI board of directors meeting, there was discussion concerning amended vs. revised plans and what should be happening when an installer is requesting a final inspection. Per Subsurface rule, amended plans must be available prior to or at the time of final inspection. It is assumed that when an inspection request is made, it should be considered the final inspection. All changes to plans must be consulted with the designer prior to installation. Changes other than those listed in Env-Wq 1004.08(b)(2) must be approved by the SSB review staff in Concord. Plans requiring review in Concord must be reviewed and approved prior to the system being installed to insure the installer is working from a State approved plan. No field waivers will be granted (Env-wq 1004.12). Can a Septic Tank Be Reused if Within Well Radius? Comments have been made by some in the field that Subsurface is somewhat inconsistent on whether a waiver can be granted for a 1,000-gallon septic tank’s reuse if it is located within a well radius. Septic professionals (permitted designer, permitted installer or licensed Septic System Evaluator) should not
be asking to reuse a tank located within the well radius, regardless of its volume, unless the designer/installer is able to verify that the septic tank is made of plastic or is coated with a sealant (Env-Wq 1008.04(c)(2). SSB will no longer approve the reuse of 1000 gallon septic tanks if the tank is located within the well radius or doesn’t meet setbacks to surface water or very poorly drained soils, unless a septic professional (permitted designer, permitted installer or licensed Septic System Evaluator) has confirmed that the tank is structurally sound and watertight and is noted on the plan.
NHDES Subsurface Bureau Redefines Regions for Inspection Requests and New Hires The Subsurface Systems Bureau has redefined the regions for inspection requests. The new regions are now; North (Rick Treiss), West (Jim Berg), Central (Ana Ford), Lakes (Brenda Hayward), Coastal (Jay Baas), South (Derek Clay) and Southwest (Scott Klose). The inspection map and contact information is being reconfigured and will be available on the bureau’s website shortly. The following personnel have been added to the bureau’s plan review staff: Alex Parker and Ben Giorgi. Two new staff have been added to the inspection team. They
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include Derek Clay (South) and Scott Klose (Southwest). Again, all staff contact emails and phone numbers will be made available at the time the bureau is able to release its new map.
Pumpers News By Donna White, NHASH Executive Director After a brief summer break, NHASH will host its next meeting on Wednesday, September 13th at 6:00 p.m. at the Red Blazer located on Manchester Street in Concord. All members and guests are welcome to attend, but please RSVP to Donna by September 10th at nhash@nhash.com with a head count for seating.
Federal Legislative Efforts by the Septic Industry On May 2 & 3, 2017 members of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) from all over the country travelled to Washington DC for the association’s 4th Annual Legislative Fly-In. The purpose of the Fly-In is to meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill and at Federal Agencies to educate them on the benefits and advantages of onsite and decentralized wastewater treatment and to encourage them to enact laws and policies which will benefit the onsite wastewater industry. NOWRA representatives held roughly 50 meetings. Most of them were with members of the House and Senate, including many with members of the four committees which regulate and provide funding for water and wastewater: the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, and both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. Several Fly-in attendees also participated in meetings with EPA’s Office of Wastewater, USDA’s Rural Utilities Service(RUS), and the President’s Council on Environmental Quality (they coordinate Administration environmental policy across all federal agencies). NOWRA had several goals for its congressional visits: 1. Get Congress to preserve funding for Section 319 funding from EPA’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund and for USDA’s Rural Utilities Service water and sewer funding (both have been zeroed out in President Trump’s budget.) 2. Ask US House Members to join the Decentralized Wastewater Recycling Caucus
obstacles it faces funding decentralized wastewater treatment, and requires small communities to selfcertify that they have considered all wastewater treatment options before making a decision about treatment. Over the last 30 years Congress and the EPA have given states more than 100 billion dollars in grants and loans to address wastewater treatment issues, and that 99.7% of this money has been directed to centralized (big pipe) sewage collection and treatment systems? Although Onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment systems serve 85 million Americans—25% of the country and 30% of new construction—they are virtually ignored when it comes to helping to fix the infrastructure issues faced by our industry. NOWRA is focused on promoting the importance and viability of onsite and decentralized wastewater treatment systems, and the need for a more equitable share of federal funding.
Summer Erosion Control Field Days Training for professionals working in soils, erosion control and water quality will be held on August 22 and 23, 2017 in North Haverhill and Keene. They are being sponsored by local County Conservation Districts. Sediment is the world’s #1 pollutant. Soil moved by erosion can be harmful to our drinking water resources, our fish and wildlife, and can impact our quality of life. We all need to know our options for both controlling sediment and for designing and installing more effective long-term erosion control solutions. These field days are a unique combined effort between the private and public sectors to share information and promote a better understanding of the latest tools available to all who are entrusted with protecting our precious soil and water resources. The day will start with classroom sessions and then move outdoors to small group sessions in a hands-on demonstration setting. The goal is to provide information that is immediately useful to all who attend. The program in North Haverhill will be held at the Grafton County Complex at 3855 Dartmouth College Highway. For further information contact Grafton CCD at 353-4652 ext. 103 or pamela.gilbert@nh.nacdet.net. The Program in Keene will be held at Stonewall Farm at 342 Chesterfield Road. For further information contact Cheshire CCD at 756-2988 ext. 116 or amanda@ cheshireconservation.org
3. Support NOWRA’s proposed legislation—the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Act—which requires EPA to report to Congress on the successes and August 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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Inadequate Culverts Imperil Town Road Budgets And Wildlife By Chris Jensen, InDepthNH.org Amid concern that 100-year storms will be happening more often, a new report has worrisome news for towns and landowners in the Ammonoosuc River watershed: About half of 474 culverts investigated will fail in such downpours. By “failure” the researchers don’t mean the culvert will necessarily wash out. But so much water will back up that it will flow over the top of the culvert and across the top, such as a road or trail. “Even if we have a high water event and a culvert doesn’t wash out it can still be undermined and the integrity of that structure is reduced making it more and more vulnerable to subsequent events,” said Rachelle Lyons, a Research Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Plymouth State University. “Under a changing climate regime we can anticipate having more severe and more frequent flood events that do wash out culverts,” she said at a recent meeting of the Bethlehem Conservation Commission. A 100-year storm means there is a one percent chance of a storm of such severity happening in any given year, according to the United States Geological Survey. But the USGS says that does not always mean a 100-year flood. Variables range from how uniformly the rain falls to whether the ground is already so saturated that it can’t absorb the new rainfall. The project was carried out by Plymouth State University, New Hampshire Fish and Game, The Ammonoosuc Chapter of Trout Unlimited, the national Trout Unlimited organization and the North Country Council. The focus was the stream crossings, such as culverts and bridges, in the Ammonoosuc River’s watershed. The researchers found about 780 crossings as the river stretches about 60 miles from its source on Mount Washington to the Connecticut River at Woodsville. Its watershed includes the communities of Bath, Benton, Bethlehem, Bretton Woods, Carroll, Chandlers Purchase, Crawford’s Purchase , Easton, Franconia, Haverhill, Landaff, Lisbon, Littleton, Lyman, Sugar Hill, Sargent’s Purchase, Thompson-Meserves Purchase and Woodstock. “It was a huge project. We did cover a lot of ground and it was the first time this type of project has ever been done on such a large scale,” said Dianne Timmins, a biologist with New Hampshire Fish and Game, who worked on the project. One of the study’s conclusions is the need to alert
10 GSDI News Brief | August 2017
communities that they will be spending more money for road repairs. Another was to note a serious environmental problem: culverts preventing wildlife – including Brook Trout and amphibians – from moving among their natural habitats. Lyons said she also hopes the study will get towns to thinking about trying something new when replacing inadequate culverts. “Instead of replacing a culvert with a culvert, maybe this is a site that should be considered for a bridge,” she said. A properly sized bridge would allow a greater water flow and make it easier for animals to move up or down a waterway. Lyons said one thing she’s pondering is whether there is an inexpensive way to make timber bridges to replace metal culverts. That would help the timber industry, the environment and the road infrastructure, she said. While funding culvert repairs can be a challenge for towns and individuals, grants are sometimes available in categories ranging from community safety to helping fish and wildlife, said Michelle Moren-Grey, who provides such assistance at The North Country Council.
Continuing Education Seminar Water Industries, Inc. will be conducting a Continuing Education Seminar on Tuesday, September 26, 2017. It will take place from 8:30 am – 3:30 pm at the American Legion Post #72 which is located at 164 Wolfeboro Highway in Alton. The topics will include: •
Roth – Plastic Tank Installer Certification
•
Presby Environmental – Enviro Fin Installation
•
Orenco – Evolution of Packed Bed Filters
•
Water Industries – ProPak Pump System Installation
•
Orenco – AdvanTex Residential Design, AX-20 and RT
Participants in this seminar will receive 6 subsurface bureau credit hours. The registration fee is $40 and will include morning continental and lunch. The deadline to register is September 1, 2017. To register please call 603-875-7000 or email l.hill@waterindustriesinc.com
June 2016 | GSDI News Brief August 2017 | GSDI News Brief 11
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Industry Magazines of Interest to Installers If you're an installer, septic designer, pumper, evaluator or involved in the septic industry, there are several magazines currently available in print or online. Some of these are monthly, some eight to nine issues a year. Some subscriptions are free to those in the industry, some have a subscription cost. If you’re not sure if you would find it informative it's easy to go online and browse an issue to help make your choice. These Include: ONSITE INSTALLER
EQUIPMENT WORLD
"Promoting Waste Water Treatment Quality and Professional Excellence!"
Features contractors, industry news and new product.
www.onsiteinstaller.com Features smaller contractors/ designers and their jobs.
Monthly
www.equipmentworld.com
Monthly PUMPER "Dedicated to the Liquid Waste Industry" www.pumper.com Features contractors, pumpers and installers. Also, an excellent source to find specialty products from their advertisers. Monthly DIESEL PROGRESS "Products, technology, industry news" Not many septic articles, but if you own anything diesel powered, this is a fascinating publication of multitudes of applications, and where the industry is headed for new products and regulations.
LANDANDWATER "The magazine of natural resource management and restoration". Lots of erosion control articles, restoration projects, product information, membranes, permeable pavement, plantings. Free online, or $20.00 per year print. www.landandwater.com 6 issues per year DIG DIFFERENT "Think Outside the Bucket" www.digdifferent.com Features contractors with emphasis on boring, tunneling, relining, pipe bursting, hydro/vac, etc.. Nine issues per year
www.dieselprogress.com Monthly (online or print) GRADING, EXCAVATION CONTRACTOR Wide variety of topics, road construction, underground locating, laser controls, equipment reviews, safety. To view issues: www.gradingandexcavation.com For free subscription: www.cdsreportnow.com/ renew?gxc Eight issues per year
12 GSDI News Brief | August 2017
MACHINERY TRADER (Eastern Edition) No septic articles but if you are looking to buy or sell used equipment or attachments, this is an excellent source for finding, selling or getting an idea of what your equipment is worth in the Eastern part of the US or go online for worldwide search. www.machinerytrader.c01n
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August 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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Updated Heat App Helps Workers Weather The Heat JJ Keller OSHA and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recently redesigned the Heat Safety Tool mobile app. The free app determines heat index values, a measure of how hot it feels to workers, based on temperature combined with humidity. The app is especially useful for outdoor workers who are exposed to hot and humid conditions, such as construction workers, landscapers, agricultural workers, and others. NIOSH encourages employers and workers to check the app before working outdoors in the summer heat. The app provides information on what precautions to take to stay safe at the worksite. According to OSHA, more than 65,000 people seek medical attention for extreme heat exposure every year. In 2014, 2,630 workers reported heat-related illnesses, and 18 workers died from heat stroke and related causes. The updated Heat Safety Tool app uses a mobile phone’s geolocation capabilities to pull temperature and humidity data from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration satellites. The app then determines the current risk level (minimal, low, moderate, high, or extreme) and forecasts the hourly heat index throughout the workday. Employers can use this information to adjust work schedules and workloads as needed to protect workers. The app also provides users with specific NIOSH and OSHA recommendations for protective actions based on the calculated risk level, including information on staying cool, proper hydration, and scheduling rest breaks.
2017 NH Legislative Session The GSDI Legislative Committee under the direction of its Chairman Gary Spaulding of Advanced Onsite Solutions was very active this session tracking and reporting on several bills as they made their way through the House and the Senate. There are two bills that were signed into law that may impact our members in some manner. HB238 is relative to the submission and approval of subsurface sewage disposal system plans, relative to septic requirements in conversions to accessory dwellings, and authorizing certain septage and sludge land applications. It will become effective on September 16, 2017. The final bill is as follows: 238:1 Registry of Deeds; Subsurface Sewage Disposal Systems. Amend RSA 485-A:29, II to read as follows: II. The department shall develop and approve an outline
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of brief instructions for the periodic maintenance, care and proper usage of waste disposal systems, including a warning of the potential public health hazard and pollution of public and private water supplies and surface water of the state from improperly maintained sewage and waste disposal systems. 238:2 New Paragraph; Approval; Failed Septic Systems. Amend RSA 485-A:32 by inserting after paragraph II the following new paragraph: II-a. Any person submitting an application and plans for construction approval to replace a subsurface sewage disposal system in failure as defined in RSA 485-A:2, IV shall be exempt from presenting a certification of compliance with local government requirements as required by paragraph II. 238:3 Sewage Disposal Systems; Off Lot Disposal Areas. Amend RSA 485-A:38, II-a(a)(1)(B) to read as follows: (B) The lot is 5 acres or more in size; or (C) The lot is served by an off lot effluent disposal area. 238:4 Accessory Dwelling Units; Sewage Disposal Systems. Amend RSA 674:72, V to read as follows: V. The applicant for a permit to construct an accessory dwelling unit shall make adequate provisions for water supply and sewage disposal for the accessory dwelling unit in accordance with RSA 485-A:38, but separate systems shall not be required for the principal and accessory dwelling units. In order to comply with this paragraph and prior to constructing an accessory dwelling unit, an application for approval for a sewage disposal system shall be submitted in accordance with RSA 485-A as applicable. The approved sewage disposal system shall be installed if the existing system has not received construction approval and approval to operate under current rules or predecessor rules, or the system fails or otherwise needs to be repaired or replaced. 238:5 Use Authorization; Septage and Sludge Land Application. Amend 1998, 56:6 as amended by 2003, 43:14, 2003, 302:3, 2005, 141:2, 2007, 287:1, and 2011, 32:5 to read as follows: 56:6 Use Authorization. The septage and sludge land application restrictions contained in RSA 483:9, VI(c), RSA 483:9-a, VII(b), RSA 483:9-aa, VII(b), and RSA 483:9-b, VII(b) shall not apply to any land upon which septage or sludge has been spread in accordance with all applicable rules adopted by the federal Environmental Protection Agency and the New Hampshire department of environmental services, during any portion of the 3-year period prior to January 1, 1998. In addition, there shall be no termination of this restriction exemption for qualifying land that is used for scientific research on septage or sludge. Any continued application of
Passive Treatment and Dispersal Scalable for any Project
August 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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septage and sludge pursuant to this section shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and any best management practices published by the university of New Hampshire cooperative extension. 238:6 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage. SB 30 defines woodland buffers and relative to such woodland buffers for the purposes of the shoreland protection act. It will become effective on September 9, 2017. The final bill is as follows: 225:1 Natural Woodland; Definition. Amend RSA 483B:4, XI to read as follows: XI. "Natural woodland'' means a forested area consisting of various species of trees, saplings, shrubs, and ground covers in any combination and at any stage of growth. 225:2 New Paragraph; Woodland Buffer; Definition. Amend RSA 483-B:4 by inserting after paragraph XXVI the following new paragraph: XXVII. "Woodland buffer" means all protected shorelands within 150 feet of the reference line including those protected shorelands within 50 feet of the reference line more specifically designated as the waterfront buffer. 225:3 Exemptions from Required Permits. Amend RSA 483-B:5-b, III to read as follows: III. Applications for the construction of public roads, public utility lines and associated structures, [and] facilities, [and] public water access facilities, and projects solely funded by municipal, county, state, or federal entities shall be exempt from the permitting fees of paragraph I. 225:4 Exemptions from Required Permits. Amend RSA 483-B:5-b, V(a) and (b) to read as follows: (a) Within 30 days of receipt of an application for a permit or 30 days of receipt of an application for a permit that will require a waiver of the minimum standards of RSA 483-B:9, the department shall request any additional information reasonably required to complete its evaluation of the application, and provide the applicant with any written technical comments the department deems necessary. Any request for additional information shall specify that the applicant submit such information as soon as practicable and notify the applicant that if all of the requested information is not received within [120] 60 days of the request, the department shall deny the application. (b) When the department requests additional information pursuant to subparagraph (a), the department shall, within [20] 30 days of the department's receipt of the information: (1) Approve the application and issue a permit; or
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(2) Deny the application, and issue written findings in support of the denial; or (3) Extend the time for rendering a decision on the application for good cause and with the written agreement of the applicant. 225:5 Minimum Shoreland Protection Standards. Amend the introductory paragraph of RSA 483-B:9, V(a)(2)(D) to read as follows: (D) Starting from the northerly or easterly boundary of the property, and working along the shoreline, the waterfront buffer shall be divided into segments measuring 25 feet along the reference line and 50 feet inland. Owners of land within the waterfront buffer shall measure, calculate, and maintain the tree, sapling, shrub, and groundcover point score in each of these segments in accordance with the methods and standards described in subparagraphs (i) through (ix). 225:6 Minimum Shoreland Protection Standards. Amend RSA 483-B:9, V(a)(2)(D)(ii) to read as follows: (ii) For the purpose of replanting under RSA 483-B:9, V(g)(3), shrubs and groundcover plants shall be scored as follows: Four square feet of shrub area--1 point. Ground cover, not including mowed lawn--one point for every 50 square feet. Shrub and groundcover shall count for at least 5 points and not more than [25] 10 points in each full segment. 225:7 Minimum Shoreland Protection Standards. Amend RSA 483-B:9, V(a)(2)(D)(iv) to read as follows: (iv) If the total tree and sapling score in any 25 foot by 50 foot segment exceeds 25 points, then trees, saplings, and shrubs over 3 feet in height may be removed as long as the sum of the scores for the remaining trees and saplings in that segment does not total less than 25 points. If for any reason there is insufficient area for a full segment, or the segment contains areas naturally incapable of supporting trees and saplings, such as areas of rock, ledge, or beaches, the point score requirement for the remaining vegetation in that partial segment shall be reduced proportionally to that required of a full segment. Vegetation shall not be removed from any segment which fails to meet the minimum point score for that segment. Owners are encouraged to take efforts to plan the maintenance of their waterfront buffer areas including the planting of additional non-invasive vegetation to increase point scores within segments, thus providing sufficient points to allow the future removal of vegetation as may become necessary while still meeting the requirements of this paragraph. 225:8 Woodland Buffer. Amend the introductory
paragraph of RSA 483-B:9, V(b) and RSA 483-B:9, V(b)(1) to read as follows: (b) Maintenance of Vegetation within the Woodland Buffer. (1) The woodland buffer shall be those protected shorelands within 150 feet of the reference line. The purpose of the woodland buffer shall be to protect the quality of public waters by minimizing erosion, preventing siltation and turbidity, stabilizing soils, preventing excess nutrient and chemical pollution, maintaining natural water temperatures, maintaining a healthy tree canopy and understory, preserving fish and wildlife habitat, and respecting the overall natural condition of the protected shoreland. The first 50 feet of this buffer is designated the waterfront buffer and is subject to the additional requirements of subparagraph (a). 225:9 Woodland Buffer. Amend RSA 483-B:9, V(b)(2)(A)(C) to read as follows: (2)(A) On a given lot, at least 25 percent of the woodland buffer area located between 50 feet and 150 feet from the reference line shall be maintained as natural woodland. The vegetation, exclusive of lawn, within the natural woodland shall be maintained in an unaltered state or improved with additional vegetation. Owners of lots legally developed or landscaped prior to July 1, 2008 that do not comply with this standard are encouraged to, but shall not be required to, increase the percentage of the woodland buffer area to be maintained as natural woodland. The percentage of the woodland buffer area maintained as natural woodland on nonconforming lots shall not be decreased. In addition, the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development may order vegetation on lands or properties owned by, leased to, or otherwise under the control of the department of resources and economic development within the protected shoreland to be cut when overgrowth of vegetation impairs law enforcement activities and endangers public safety. If such cutting will exceed that which is allowed under this subparagraph, the commissioner of the department of resources and economic development shall provide written notification to the department of environmental services identifying the areas to be cut and an explanation of the need for the cutting at least 2 weeks prior to the undertaking. (B) Any person applying to the department for a septic system construction approval or alteration of terrain permit pursuant to RSA 485-A, or an excavating and dredging permit pursuant to RSA 482-A, within the protected shoreland shall include photographic documentation of any areas of the woodland buffer in which impacts would occur. (C) Dead, diseased, or unsafe, trees, limbs, saplings,
or shrubs that pose a hazard to structures or have the potential to cause personal injury may be removed regardless of any requirements that pertain to the maintenance of vegetation within the woodland buffer under this chapter. Such exemptions shall not be used to contravene the intent of the law. 225:10 Effective Date. This act shall take effect 60 days after its passage.
Brake Safety Day September 7th JJ Keller Roadside inspection personnel will focus on brake safety the first Thursday in September, according to
CALENDAR OF EVENTS AUGUST 22, 2017
Summer Erosion Control Field Days Grafton County Complex, North Haverhill, NH
AUGUST 23, 2017
Summer Erosion Control Field Days Stonewall Farm, Keene, NH
AUGUST 29, 2017
Considerations for Commercial and High-Strength Wastewater & NH Well Water Board Rules Board of Director Meeting Derryfield Restaurant, Manchester, NH
SEPTEMBER 12, 2017
What’s Flushable & Grease Interceptor Program NHDES Wastewater Engineering Bureau Jaffrey Fire Department, Jaffrey, NH
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
Water Industries, Inc. Continuing Education Seminar American Legion Post, Alton, NH
OCTOBER 5, 2017
Continuing Education Program with Sara Heger Details including location and times TBA
MARCH 19 & 20, 2018
GSDI 31st Annual Spring Septic System Conference & Expo Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH August 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA). Brake Safety Day, scheduled September 7, 2017, is a part of CVSA’s larger Operation Airbrake Program. During Brake Safety Day, enforcement will primarily use Level I Inspection procedures as they identify common brake violations. Those commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) found to have critical brake violations will be placed out of service. The enforcement program offers CVSA an outreach opportunity to educate motor carriers, drivers, technicians, and owner-operators on the importance of proper brake maintenance, operation, and performance. CVSA reports that brake-related violations accounted for 45.7 percent of all out-of-service violations cited during International Roadcheck 2016 — the highest percentage for that year’s campaign. Note that International Roadcheck also uses Level I Inspection procedures, which focuses on both CMVs and drivers. CVSA held an unannounced Brake Safety Day on May 3, 2017. The September enforcement campaign is a follow up to the May event and replaces CVSA’s Brake Safety Week held previous years during September.
Ticks On The Rise Across New England By Michael Casey Tick numbers are on the rise across New England, raising the prospect of an increase in Lyme and other diseases associated with the blood suckers. Much of the region got a respite last year as the drought took a toll on ticks, whose numbers drop as the humidity falls below 85 percent. But the drought is largely gone from the region and ticks are taking advantage. Residents in Maine are complaining they are finding as many as 30 ticks at a time on their clothes, and public health officials in Vermont are reporting an aboveaverage rate of emergency room visits for tick bites in the last three weeks. "All of sudden everybody you know has got them," said George Africa, owner of Vermont Flower Farm. He's found two black-legged ticks on him in the last several weeks. Alan Eaton, a tick expert with the University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, said the high numbers he has seen in New Hampshire are in line with what was expected, considering the high moisture levels and short dry periods. "It's a really bad year," Eaton said. On top of that, ticks have taken advantage of a proliferation in their favorite hosts, especially mice, chipmunks and other small rodents. But it isn't so much
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the number of rodents this year that is critical. Researchers from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, which for the past decade has studied ticks, found that a bevy of acorns one year can lead to a spike in Lyme-infected ticks two years later. They documented a bumper acorn crop in 2015 that resulted in an increase in small-rodent numbers a year later. As a result, they projected that 2017 would be especially bad for Lymedisease ticks. "When those mice have a big boom in their population in the summer, that is when new baby ticks are just hatching out of their eggs," said Richard S. Ostfeld, a disease ecologist with the Cary Institute. "If there are a ton of mice, many of those baby ticks feed on a mouse. They are likely to survive and come out as nymphs the next year, and those mice are the place those baby ticks get infected with Lyme disease bacteria." With the explosion in tick numbers in the past decade, there has been a dramatic increase in tick-related diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of Lyme disease cases has tripled to about 30,000 cases nationwide annually. Cases of anaplasmosis, which can cause fever, headache, chills and muscle aches, have also risen steadily. Two years ago, Vermont had the highest rate of reported Lyme disease cases nationwide. How can people limit their exposure to ticks? According to the Vermont Health Department, people should avoid wooded, bushy areas with high grass and leaf litter, wear long-sleeved shirts and pants, apply a tick repellent with at least 30 percent DEET and check their body daily for ticks. Public health officials in New England said it's too early to say what impact all these ticks will have on diseases this year. Catherine Brown, deputy state epidemiologist for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, said it could be "good news" that people are seeing more of the dog tick rather than the black-legged deer tick that carries Lyme. The dog tick, the hardier of the two, carries Rocky Mountain spotted fever and tularemia, but those diseases are rare in New England. "No matter what happens, there are a lot of ticks in New England," she said. "If there is a few fewer this year or more next year, then from a public health standpoint it doesn't change the fact that there are a lot of ticks and great potential for exposure to the diseases they carry."
Have You Restocked Your Supply of GSDI’s Septic System File Folders? GSDI’s redesigned septic system recordkeeping file
folders are in stock and ready for shipment (or for pick up) from GSDI’s executive offices in Concord. The new folders include updated graphics, more current terminology, and an expanded list of do’s and don’ts for system owners. The cost for GSDI members is $.40 per folder. The cost for non-members is $.80 per folder. They continue to be popular public relations tools in helping to promote your business and GSDI at the same time. They are also popular items at annual lake association meetings, at county and town fairs, and on the front counter at many town offices throughout the state.
Members use the files as a means to convey system proposals, plans, invoices, and other system-related documents to their clients. Space is provided on the back cover to imprint your company information. A link to the order form is available on the Association’s website home page at www.gsdia.org. To avoid postage and handling fees, anyone looking to purchase folders may indicate on the enclosed order form whether or not they would like to have them shipped or if they will pick them up at our offices in Concord. Payment for the folders must be made in advance and must accompany all order forms.
Disposal of Water Treatment Backwash at Single Family or Duplex Residences What is Water Treatment Backwash Water? Approximately 40 percent of New Hampshire residences are served by private wells. Minerals, hardness (calcium) and other naturally occurring conditions can impair the quality of the water supplied by those wells, presenting both aesthetic and health concerns. To address those concerns, various methods of treatment are used. Most residential water treatment systems focus on the aesthetic aspects of drinking water, such as water softening, pH adjustment, removal iron and manganese. Treatment for arsenic is also common in some areas of New Hampshire. Examples of treatment methods in use are reverse osmosis, ozonation, aeration and ion exchange. In the process of water treatment, filters and treatment media require regular “backwashing” to clear out solids and regenerate media. The backwash water may contain silt, sand, brine, iron, manganese, arsenic and incidental sludges. This fact sheet focuses specifically on singlefamily and duplex home drinking water treatment systems and the disposal of associated backwash water from the filters and other treatment devices. Why are Backwash Wastewaters a Problem? In the past, water treatment system backwash has been directed into the home septic system for disposal. This is still an option provided that the additional volume from the discharge can be accommodated. Unfortunately the majority of treatment systems are installed after the home and septic system are built. The additional water to the septic tank and leaching field may cause problems with septic system operation or may overload the existing leaching area and result in flooding. Additionally, some experts believe that the brine from backwashing may have detrimental effects on bacteria growth and may influence the soil's ability to infiltrate water.
What Should Be Done With This Wastewater? If a water treatment system is anticipated at the home then the backwash discharge may be incorporated into the design of the septic system. However, if the water treatment system is installed after the septic system is built and the leach field is not large enough to accommodate the backwash discharge then alternate methods of disposal may be used. These alternatives do not require a test pit, plans by a subsurface disposal system designer, fees, formal review, or approval from DES. These alternatives may include mini dry wells, small leaching pits, or trenches with perforated piping. Under What Conditions Can Alternative Disposal Be Used? The treatment systems recommended are those that backwash based on actual demand, that is, based on the amount of water used. If the backwash is not discharged to an approved septic system and an alternative disposal method is used, then the area must be capable of receiving and infiltrating all wastewater without flooding and the discharge. • Must infiltrate on site and not cause erosion, siltation; or a discrete runoff. • Must not discharge to a surface water or wetland. • Must include water treatment system wastewater ONLY. No discharge of black water, gray water, or laundry water to a separate drywell is permitted without DES Subsurface Systems Bureau approval. • Must be located so as to minimize influence on the water supply well, septic system, and any abutting drinking water well. • Must not render groundwater undrinkable on any adjacent properties. Note: This fact sheet is accurate as of June 2010. Statutory or regulatory changes, or the availability of additional information after this date may render this information inaccurate or incomplete.
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Granite State Designers and Installers Association
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