NEWS BRIEF
September 2017
NEW HAMPSHIRE’S ASSOCIATION OF SEPTIC SYSTEM PROFESSIONALS
Sara Heger Returns to NH on October 5 As part of a three-day speaking tour, which includes programs in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, Sara Heger, P.H. D, of the University of Minnesota returns to the Granite State on Thursday, October 5 for a six-part, day-long seminar titled, Focusing on Septic System Malfunctions. For those who attended the GSDI 2017 Spring Septic System Conference & Expo, Heger was our conference headliner. The program will be held at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Works Hall located at 48 Airport Road (between Loudon Road and Regional Drive/ Old Turnpike Road) in Concord, NH. Based on the topics to be covered during her program, there really is something for everyone connected to the septic system industry… including, designers, installers, pumpers and evaluators. Here are the topics to be covered along with a brief synopsis of each session: Toxics – The Dirty Dozen (1 hr) More septic systems are being negatively impacted by the use and disposal of varying chemicals, cleaners, medicines anti-bacterial products and chemicals of emerging concern (CEC). This presentation will discuss what they are, how they can potentially be removed and what we can do as an industry to limit their impact. Inspection and Troubleshooting of Septic Tanks (1 hr) The presentation will discuss methods and challenges when troubleshooting septic tanks. It will cover common problems you may need to identify and troubleshoot including locating tanks, roots, leakage, and corrosion. It will also discuss how septic systems of the 21st century often see additions of many types of wastewater that did not exist 20 or 30 years ago such as antibacterial soaps, pharmaceuticals and water treatment devices. Inspection and Troubleshooting of Pumps, Pump Tanks and Pretreatment Units (1 hr) The presentation will discuss methods and challenges when troubleshooting pump tanks and Alternative Treatment Units (ATU's). It will cover common problems you may need to identify including pump controls, system components and how changing wastewater streams can influence system performance
Inspecting and Evaluating Soil Treatment Systems (1 hr) This session will cover the process of evaluating and inspecting soil treatment systems including trenches, lowpressure pipe systems, mounds and sand filters. It will include a discussion of various distribution methods and the relating development of a biomat. Problems associated with hydraulic and organic overload will be highlighted. System Remediation – Why, What, When, Where and How (1 hr) Remediation is the act or process of correcting a fault or deficiency without changing system structure or form and is a hot topic in the onsite industry although little research is available documenting success. Determining if a septic system could benefit from remediation along with which technologies are appropriate, where they are installed how they are monitored will be discussed. Evaluating the Impacts of Chloride from Water Softening from SSTS on the Environment (1 hr) The presentation will provide an overview of a new research project at the UMN. When water is softened to remove hardness, salt is used to regenerate the softener releasing chloride to septic systems and wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Monitoring to date has shown numerous WWTPs with discharge concentrations greater than limits for protecting aquatic life. In rural areas we may have similar problems, given the prevalence of private septic systems near lakes and streams utilizing water softeners. By better understanding softening salt use, we will determine potential methods required to make significant progress in the reduction of this salt use. Dr. Sara Heger is an engineer, researcher and instructor in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program in the Water Resources Center and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota in the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department. Since 1998, she has been providing education and technical assistance to homeowners, small communities, onsite professionals and local units of government regarding onsite wastewater treatment. She has BS in Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering and a MS and a PhD in Water Resource Science. The DES Subsurface Systems Bureau has approved the program for a total of six (6) continuing education contact hours. We regret that since the Board of Septic System Evaluators has
www.gsdia.org
yet to release its rules governing continuing education requirements (including approval of programs held by organizations such as GSDI), We are unable to advertise that this program would earn credits for the renewal of the yet-to-be-issued evaluator licenses. That said, based on the session descriptions featured earlier in this article, there will be lots of great information which should prove informative and useful to evaluators.
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
DIRECTORS
Chris Kent, Kent Clean Septic Service, LLC Gary Spaulding, Advanced Onsite Solutions
COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSONS
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
The cost to attend is $50 for GSDI members, their employees or guests. The cost is $75 for all non-members. We regret that partial day registrations are not an option. The price includes all related instructional materials, including any handouts, morning coffee and danish, snack & beverage breaks and a deli-style box lunch. Certificates of attendance will be offered for state-permitted designers and installers. The quickest way to get registered is to visit www.gsdia.org and click on the blue program link shown under News & Events on our home page. A paper version of the signup form is printed on the inside back page of this newsletter, which you may tear off if needed. Due to the late notice of this event, we ask as many people as possible to use the online registration system. As a reminder, you can register online and either pay with a credit card using our secure PayPal option or you can indicate that you will send a check. Payment must be received in advance of the program. Questions about the program? Please give us a call at 603-228-1231 or send an email to info@gsdi.org.
Certification Requirements for Septic System Evaluators The Board of Septic System Evaluators is proposing to adopt interim rules Sep 300, relative to certification requirements for applicants applying for a license as a septic system evaluator. Beginning January 1, 2018, no person may practice septic system evaluations unless the Board licenses that person. The Board is proposing these interim rules to facilitate the issuance of licenses to those who qualify before the January 1, 2018 deadline. The board continues to work on developing full regular rules, but is proposing these interim rules to give professionals who qualify as much time as possible to obtain licensure before January 1, 2018. If these rules are not adopted, these individuals would have to wait until the Board completes regular rulemaking to obtain a license. It is possible that the Board would not adopt regular rules until after January 1, 2018 which would contradict the intent of the law and would render currently practicing professionals unable to continue to work. The proposed date for these proposed rules to be reviewed by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR) is September 21, 2017. The proposed interim rules are as follows:
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 | September 2017
CHAPTER Sep 300 CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR APPLICANTS APPLYING FOR A LICENSE PURSUANT TO RSA 310-A:210, II-IV PART Sep 301 PURPOSE AND SCOPE Sep 301.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to implement the provisions of RSA 310-A:209. Sep 301.02 Scope. This chapter shall apply to any applicant who:
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(a) Currently holds a Granite State septic system certified evaluator designation; or (b) Has completed at least 25 septic evaluations prior to January 1, 2017, and: (1) Is actively engaged in the business of septic system evaluation in this state as a means of his or her livelihood for at least 5 years; or (2) Currently holds a New Hampshire septic designer permit. PART Sep 302 APPLICATION PROCESS Sep 302.01 Application Process. (a) A person wishing to become licensed as a septic system evaluator shall submit the application form and additional documents described in Sep 302.02, including the application fee specified in Soil 302.04. (b) The board shall acknowledge receipt of an application within 60 days of receipt and shall notify the applicant of any deficiencies in the application. Failure to remedy the deficiencies within 60 days shall result in dismissal of the application. An application shall be considered on file with the board when all deficiencies are corrected. (c) If the application is denied, the applicant shall be provided an opportunity to request a hearing for reconsideration pursuant to Jus 800 on the deficiency issues identified by the board. Any such request shall be made in writing and received by the board within 30 days of the receipt of the notification of denial. (d) Applications about which there has been no communication by the applicant to the board for one year shall be destroyed. Sep 302.02 Application Form. (a) The applicant for licensure as a septic system evaluator shall complete and submit an “Application for Licensure as a Septic System Evaluator”, effective August 2017, and available on the board’s website. (b) Applicants shall sign the form described in (a) above under the following pre-printed affidavit: “I have read the contents hereof and clearly understand that the correctness and truth of my statements as recorded in this application are material, not only to the issuance of the certificate of licensure, as applied for, but also to the retention of said certificate, if issued.” Sep 302.03 Additional Information Required. (a) Applicants, if applicable, who answer “yes” to any of the general information questions on the application form shall submit a written explanation of their answer as an attachment to the application. (b) Applicants shall, if applicable, send copies of the “Reference Form”, effective August 2017, and included as part of the initial application, to each one of his or her references for completion with instructions to submit the completed form directly to the board. (c) An applicant applying for licensure pursuant to Sep 301.01(b) shall include, as part of their application, a sworn affidavit that demonstrates he or she has completed at least 25
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septic evaluations prior to January 1, 2017. (d) Applicants applying pursuant to Sep 301.02(b) shall include a list of septic evaluations completed, including the date the evaluation was performed and the address at which the evaluation was performed. Sep 302.04 Fee Payment Method. (a) All fees shall be in the form of cash, credit card, money order, bank draft, or check made payable to: "Treasurer, State of New Hampshire." (b) Applicants wishing to pay with a credit card shall do so by completing and submitting a “Credit Card Form”, effective August 2017. Sep 302.05 Fees. The fee for initial licensure under this chapter shall be $100.00. PART Sep 303 QUALIFICATION OF APPLICANTS Sep 303.01 Candidates Requirements. (a) Candidates for licensure as a septic system evaluator shall meet the requirements established by RSA 310-A:210, II-IV and RSA 310-A:210, VII before a license shall be granted. (b) The applicant shall appear for a personal audience with the board to clarify the information contained in his/her record if his or her record of experience is unclear, contradictory or incomplete. Sep 303.02 Experience Requirements. Candidates for licensure pursuant to RSA 310-A:210, III-IV and Sep 301.01(b) shall be eligible for licensure after demonstrating completion of at least 25 septic evaluations prior to January 1, 2017. PART Sep 304 REJECTIONS Sep 304.01 Denial of Application. An application shall be denied if, after notice and an opportunity for hearing, there is a finding that: (a) The applicant, or someone acting on the applicant's behalf, has submitted false information to the board in connection with the application; (b) Evidence of past disciplinary action taken by another certification or licensing body or a professional society or association, indicates the applicant cannot be relied upon to practice competently, safely, and honestly, or adhere to the standards of conduct required by RSA 310-A:205; (c) Evidence of behavior that would violate the ethical standards of RSA 310-A:205, indicates the applicant cannot be relied upon to practice competently, safely, and honestly, or adhere to the ethical standards required by RSA 310-A:205; or (d) The applicant failed to meet the experience requirements of Sep 303.02
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Penny Wright Never Walks Away From a Tough Challenge By Scottie Dayton, Onsite Installer When others walk away, this experienced New Hampshire system designer picks up difficult residential and commercial projects and makes them work. In March 2015, homeowners approached onsite designer Penny Wright of Nottingham, New Hampshire, to design a replacement system, but she was too ill to work. Throughout the summer and fall, 17 other designers evaluated the property and walked away in defeat. The owners finally got their system when Wright recovered. Wright established her reputation for tackling projects nobody else wanted to touch while working for New Hampshire Soil Consultants. As a sideline, she opened The Wright Choice Septics in 1997, designing a few systems a year for friends. In 2008, the economic downturn caused NHSC to lay off its entire septic department. Wright switched her business to full time, and was hired three weeks later to design a replacement system for a hotel on a cliff that dropped almost straight down to a river. The structure was built on a slab, and all the plumbing ran through it to the tanks, which straight-piped to the water. “No other designer would look at it,” Wright recalls. “That project launched my company, and I’ve remained busy ever since.” Wright spent 10 years becoming familiar with New Hampshire’s varied climates and soils. The former ranges from temperate in the south and coastal areas to frigid in the northern White Mountains. Of the state’s six soil groups, Group 3 (sand and
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loam) and Group 4 (ledges) are most common. The southern region where Wright works is densely populated, often with two- and three-bedroom cottages built after World War II on thumbprint lots, many on the back-barrier salt marshes. “The homes had septic tanks straight-piped to the marshes,” says Wright. “Homes not on marshes had holding tanks, which residents popped holes in rather than pay for weekly or even more frequent pumping.” In response to those environmental problems and the mid1980s building boom, the state approved alternative products such as plastic leaching tubes and plastic chambers. But there were problems. “We’re constantly replacing them,” says Wright. Installers and septic evaluators report finding liquid in the leaching tubes and a biomat on the bottom. “The aerobic bacteria were drowning and creating the biomat,” says Wright. She removed them from the equation by turning to aeration pretreatment. While no product is a
perfect fit for every site, Wright prefers the Clean Solution ATU from Advanced Onsite Solutions (formerly Wastewater Alternatives). “The shoebox-size air compressor plugs into a standard outlet, makes less noise than a refrigerator, and doesn’t require a licensed electrician,” she says. While aeration pretreatment prolongs the life of leaching tubes and chambers, it doesn’t prevent the chambers from failing prematurely because they have lost up to half their volume. “Evaluators tell homeowners if they have septic problems, then a designer comes out to rectify them,” says Wright. “I’m finding 13- to 15-inch-high chambers one-third to one-half full of coarse sand due to settling. What confuses me is I’m not seeing any above-ground depressions associated with their sinking, and no one I’ve talked to has heard of an answer.” Wright suspects the chambers were not installed correctly or a design flaw enables them to settle during backfilling and grading. In 2010, manufacturers widened the chamber lips and are recommending placing concrete sidewalk blocks under the corners where chambers meet to support them. “The Granite State Designers and Installers installed five different drainfields at an adult day care facility in Stratford,” says Wright. “The fields are monitored every few months by Tom Canfield, who runs the state septic evaluator certification program. In the next few years, it will be interesting to see which changes, if any, have made a difference regarding leaching tubes and plastic chambers.”
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BATTLE-TESTED SYSTEMS Wright designs 30 to 35 systems per year, with 80 percent residential. Replacing those systems with 600 gpd designs equals 90 percent of her work. Whenever possible, Wright prefers pretreatment aeration with traditional stone-and-pipe drainfields. “The state gives such systems almost a 90 percent reduction — 900 to 1,200 square feet down to 150 square feet,” she says. “Stone-and-pipe is simple and reliable, while the smaller footprint enables people to use most of their yard.” Her design challenges frequently include access — the most expensive system required renting a crane to lift components over the house — tiny lots, property line disputes, tidal buffers, shoreline regulations, and local conservation commissions. Such projects drag out for three to 12 months, and involve surveyors and advising clients to hire an attorney. “Attorneys are proficient at obtaining legal access permits and explaining grandfathered rights to neighbors and officials,” says Wright. “In one instance, the abutter needed a replacement septic worse than my client. When the man’s attorney explained my client’s legal rights to the abutter, that person suddenly realized everything he would be up against for a septic repair and became much more cooperative.” Wright always consults with clients on-site before accepting projects. Her homework includes referring to the Army Corps of Engineers soil map to gain a feel for the land, and obtaining the property’s tax card for a bedroom count. “If homeowners
have a septic design or some other legal paper that shows a different number of bedrooms, then I’ll design for that. Otherwise, I follow the tax card and not what clients tell me,” she says. ADVICE ON MEDS Working in the onsite industry for 21 years has taught Wright a few tricks that aren’t in the state technical college’s curriculum. For example, many lots are on ledge, especially in New Castle. To locate suitable test pit sites, she walks around the backyard with clients looking for multiple chipmunk holes. “In winter, chipmunks need sleeping quarters below the frost line and above the water table,” she says. “They burrow in areas where the ledge probably dips, and that’s where we’ll dig, too.” Wright often encounters situations where a family member is taking medications that will harm the system’s microorganisms. She advises patients receiving radiation and chemotherapy to rent a commode throughout treatment and to continue using it two to three weeks afterward to maintain the system’s healthy microbial colony. “People should ask their county and hospital social workers or the local Visiting Nurse Association about obtaining home medical equipment,” says Wright. “The VNA also will have information on who can empty the commode’s storage tank and dispose of the waste.” She advises asking the VNA about safe home cleaning products or to suggest a certified biohazard cleaning company, as bleach and strong detergents will kill the microbes in the tank and field.
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Wright also applies her magical touch to designing 1,000 to 20,000 gpd systems for shopping centers, senior-assisted living communities or subdivisions. Although this comprises only 20 percent of her work, rapid turnarounds on cookiecutter systems are the company’s bread and butter. “Most commercial projects come from professional engineers,” says Wright. “I’m extremely good at limiting their liability, which is a huge sales point.” The state requires a licensed designer and installer — Wright is both — a professional engineer, and a construction inspection report for systems larger than 2,500 gpd. Wright monitors those installations, then writes the report. It includes copies of invoices to verify specified components were installed, and photos of utility locations to aid future contractors. “The reports limit liability for all parties by ensuring that systems are installed correctly, but I go a step further,” says Wright. “I know which contractors have excellent reputations in each field and, depending on the site’s requirements, I assemble my A-team from them.” Such dedication produces brand loyalty. The owner of Nordic Village in Bartlett and Nestlenook in Jackson refuses anyone except Wright to touch his septic systems. POSITIVE OUTCOMES Another of Wright’s specialties is keeping commercial designs below 20,000 gpd to avoid the state’s perpetual ground discharge monitoring program. One example is Baxter Lake Campground, which had 365 lots, 321 of them with cabins. Only 110 lots were permitted for septic and 114 lots were permitted for community well water, with seven lots having both permits. The state agreed to permit the occupied lots, but the 44 unoccupied parcels were designated permanent green spaces. “My 16,210 gpd design was based on six months of water meter readings from the four wells instead of sizing by soil,” says Wright. “Most soils were Group 3, which are assigned 1,250 gpd per acre.” The five septic tank/pump stations, sized according to the number of lots served, pumped to a 3,000-gallon dosing tank, then to the original undersized drainfield. Wright’s design specified repurposing the dosing tank to a buffer tank and building a new pump station. It pumped effluent to a distribution box feeding six 38.5-foot-wide by 100-foot-long drainfields in a large athletic field. Six fields enabled one to always be dormant. Referrals from contractors and evaluators drive the business, but persuading local and state officials to consider multiple waivers and options requires involving them from day one. “Once they understand how a design will bring the lot as close as possible to current standards, they grant clients concessions they never thought possible,” says Wright. “It just takes being 100 percent open and honest.” MAGIC ACT By day, Penny Wright wore work boots to evaluate properties before designing new or replacement onsite systems. By night or on weekends, she transformed into a mysterious woman in
high heels and an evening gown, introducing magic acts. “I couldn’t speak in public,” says Wright, owner of The Wright Choice Septics. “Therefore, I wanted my children to be comfortable doing it and to master other skills they would need as adults.” A chance meeting with Wendel Gibson, owner of Gibson Magic Co., let the genie out of the bottle. “The kids went crazy, because years ago my father had purchased one of Gibson’s first magic effects and later gave it to them,” says Wright. Gibson introduced the family to the Society of Young Magicians and Phillip, then 8, and Arwen, 6, became members. Through the years, the children’s involvement with magic taught them public speaking, how to run a business and schedule bookings, how to interact with the public, and how to apply science when building props for their acts. Wright benefited as well. “Magic is nothing but science presented artfully,” she says. “Helping the kids build props taught me different ways to look at things. It’s responsible for my reputation for thinking sideways, which is a reference to magic.” A perfect example is the girl who climbs into a magician’s box. When the audience views her straight on, she is much broader than when she turns sideways. “Creating magic effects taught me how to fit septic components into places deemed impossible,” says Wright. “Every one of my creative septic ideas is based on a magic trick.”
GSDI Membership Dues It is that time of year and the invoices for membership dues in the Granite State Designers & Installers Association have been mailed to all current members. The deadline for payment of the membership dues was September 1st. We greatly appreciate those who have sent in their dues for the 2017-2018 year. Invoices are being sent out to those who have not renewed their dues and they are welcome to continue their membership without interruption by paying their dues today. Please contact the association office at 228-1231 with any questions you may have on your membership dues.
Welcome New Member! The following individual has recently joined GSDI. Kevin Hatch, Cornerstone Survey Associates, 25 Whitetail Lane, Chester, NH 03036. He has joined as a designer. He can be reached at 603-887-6647.
NH Monthly Indicators / July 2017 NH Association of Realtors How long can the residential real estate market go on like this? We are about two years into a national trend of dropping housing supply and increasing median sales prices. There are some regional variations to the story, but the shift to a predominantly seller's market is mostly complete. Multipleoffer situations over asking price are commonplace in many communities, and good homes are routinely off the market after a single day. It is evident that a favorable economy keeps hungry buyers in the chase. September 2017 | GSDI News Brief
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New Listings were up 2.4 percent for single family homes and 8.1 percent for condo properties. Pending Sales increased 14.4 percent for single family homes and 42.4 percent for condo properties.
education credits, employers will have more billable time to cover, he says.
The Median Sales Price was up 5.3 percent to $269,950 for single family homes and 6.7 percent to $196,855 for condo properties. Months Supply of Inventory decreased 23.7 percent for single family units and 31.1 percent for condo units.
Licensing is currently done by each municipality through its local board of health, and that works well, King says. He added that he doesn’t know where H146 came from, and no one has asked the opinion of pumpers, but he plans to call a meeting of Massachusetts pumpers to talk about it. Word out of the Legislature is the bill will have a hearing in the fall.
Although the unemployment rate remains unchanged at its favorable national 4.3 percent rate, wage growth has not been rising at the steady clip that would be expected in an improving economy. Sales activity manages to keep churning along despite looming shortages in new construction. Lower price ranges are starting to feel the effects of the supply and demand gap, as first-time buyers scramble to get offers in at an increasing pace.
Proposed Laws in Massachusetts Onsite Installer Two proposed laws That will make it harder for pumpers to maintain necessary licenses in Massachusetts concern Frank King. King runs Action King Services in Lowell, Massachusetts, and is a former member of the board of directors of the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. His company handles domestic and commercial pumping, jetting and drain cleaning, and although it’s based in Lowell, it covers a 100mile radius that takes technicians into Vermont and Maine for some clients. The bill that concerns him most is H146. Introduced on Jan. 23, it would create a statewide septic license. That doesn’t sound bad, except for a sentence that says a license could not be held by a business.
“In addition to other clients, we service a supermarket chain that has over 80 stores. The work of every person counts here.”
The other bill that bothers him is H140, which would order the state Board of Plumbers to establish licensing standards for people who clean drains. Cleaning a pipe to a tank is often part of the pumping service his technicians perform, King says. And again, requiring a license for someone to do this simple work adds another burden to doing business, he says. This bill is new but the idea is not. It has been introduced before, during the 2013-2014 session and again in the 20152016 session. Both times it died in committee.
Wet Wipes To Now Be Regulated in Nation's Capital Public Works Washington D.C. will begin cracking down on flushable wipes next year in an effort that could lead other states to regulate the pesky products. “Starting next year, companies that make wet wipes sold in the District must prove that products labeled ‘flushable’ won’t damage the pipes. Otherwise, the package must make it clear that flushing the wipes is a no-no,” The Washington Post reported.
“It is my belief they want to license each person, and that would be a headache. If I have to train people to get a license, I don’t know how I’m going to find the help,” King says.
“Proponents of the bill — including DC Water, the city’s water utility — say the standards are needed because most wet wipes do not break down when flushed, causing stoppages in the sewer system,” WAMU reported.
There is already a shortage of people in Massachusetts who hold a commercial driver’s license.
Six states, including Maryland, are considering similar measures, the report said.
“And a lot of people don’t want to do this work because it isn’t clean,” he says.
Bathroom Wipes Causing Issues for City's Wastewater Facility
King says he often must hire people fresh from driving school only to see them quit after they have six months’ or a year’s experience with him. Other job applicants are recent immigrants. They’re good people and work very hard, but they are not fluent in English, and that impairs communications with customers. And if a licensing course becomes mandatory, that lack of language skill will effectively close off opportunities for those immigrant workers, King says. The last time he searched for a driver it took two or three months to find one. Then, there’s his in-house training process, which requires about a year to complete. And it’s not as if he has extra workers. Of the 16 employees at his firm, there are 11 driver-technicians. Take a couple of vacancies, add someone on vacation, and his staff is down about 30 percent. If the bill becomes law and the license process requires continuing
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By Xander Landen, Keene Sentinel In the grit chamber at the city of Keene’s wastewater treatment plant, a loud rumble fills the room as two 40,000 gallon tanks filled with water and sewage churn. In this room, pieces of machinery called air diffusers inject air into the liquid so that sand, grit and inorganic material settle to the bottom of the tanks before the wastewater moves along for further purification. This month, plant staff have been working to clean out the chamber, an annual process that can take up to a few weeks. The process involves draining the tanks and using a claw-like device called a clam shell to scoop up the inorganic material. It also forces staff to confront a nuisance that’s been increasingly plaguing the wastewater treatment facility in
June 2016 | GSDI News Brief September 2017 | GSDI News Brief 13
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recent years: “flushable” wipes.
estimate for how much the wipes have increased costs.
In February, Donna Hanscom, Keene’s assistant public works director, told The Sentinel that city employees have always found baby wipes that have been flushed down the toilet in the sewer system. But in the past two years, they have seen a marked increase in the number of wipes sold and marketed by toilet paper companies to adults.
But Aaron Costa, who is operations manager at the wastewater treatment facility, said grappling with the wipes has certainly taken up a lot of employee time.
The problem with the wipes, according to city industrial pre-treatment coordinator Eric Swope, is that they don’t disintegrate in water quickly, like toilet paper. On Aug. 17, as staff were working to clean out the grit chamber, this fact was on full display. An air diffuser, which had been raised up from one of the drained 40,000 gallon tanks was caked with a dry, tangled mass of wipes. The diffuser, which sports nearly a dozen metal prongs, looks like a large rake. Small green sprouts had started popping up between the prongs in thick, dried layers. “What it’s doing is it’s kind of plugging off our air and not allowing this to be as efficient as it should be,” said Bob Bishop, a wastewater treatment plant operator. Wipes also collect on the bottom of the tanks in the grit chamber, which Bishop said reduces the tank’s capacity to hold sand and grit. The wipes can technically be labeled “flushable” because they pass an industry trial called a “slosh test,” according to Swope. He said the test requires wipes to begin to disintegrate in three hours after being moved around in a box filled with water. But the conditions of the slosh test don’t reflect the conditions wipes meet after they’re flushed down the toilet and into Keene’s sewer system and treatment plant. “We can treat sludge, we can treat water, but we’re not designed to treat garbage,” Bishop said. Swope has estimated that as many as 1,000 pounds of wipes may be in the wastewater treatment facility at a given time. But wipes also get caught up in the system and can lead to a proliferation of problems even before they reach the facility. After being flushed down the toilet, wipes have clogged Keene’s sewer pipes and led to sewage overflows on the street level. Wipes that stick together block sewage from flowing through pipes and into the city’s manholes. That causes street overflows and backup of sewage into home plumbing systems, also leading to flooding. The city’s Martell Court pumping station, which the department upgraded in recent years to improve energy efficiency, is particularly impeded by wipes. They constantly build up on and around the facility’s impellers, propeller-like pieces of machinery that help power the pumping system, Hanscom previously told The Sentinel. Swope said these wipes increase cost and lead to wear and tear on machinery in the sewer system and wastewater treatment facility. City officials interviewed for this report didn’t have an
14 GSDI News Brief | September 2017
“It’s just a lot of cleaning, lots of plugging,” Costa said. The wipes clog pumps used to transport wastewater throughout the facility, he said. In some cases, staff have had to take pumps apart to clean out wipes, a process that can take days to complete, according to Costa. And they’ve caused problems in the facility’s sludge storage tank, where waste that’s been separated from the liquid is held before it is processed and turned into a disposable solid. Costa said that hundreds of pounds of wipes would wind themselves around mixers in the tank. “We had to go down there and cut them off,” he said. Staff recently removed the mixers from the tank, in part because they were old and in part because of the headache they caused when wipes got stuck on them. The city of Keene has put out public service announcements about non-flushable items that get caught in the sewer system; it’s also sent out educational materials to neighborhoods, residences and other buildings, such as daycare facilities and nursing homes, from which it believed wipes were frequently being flushed and causing blockages. But Swope said there hasn’t been any marked improvement in the sewer or wastewater treatment facility when it comes to wipes and other non-flushables. “I am concerned that it’s not getting better,” he said. “People are going to tend to flush things that really, really should not be flushed, just out of convenience.” Costa noted that there’s an easy way to remember what can and cannot be put in the toilet. “One of the things we always say is, ‘Remember the three p’s,” he said. “Poop, pee and paper are the only things that should be going down into the sewer system.”
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 nonmembers 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.
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September 2017 | GSDI News Brief
15
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.
DES Staff Changes NHASH was pleased to hear that Ray Gordon was moved to Residuals Management Supervisor upon the retirement of Mike Rainey. Ray assured the group that he will remain closely involved. He recently introduced Heidi Lemay as the new Residuals Coordinator (formerly known as Sludge & Septage Coordinator). We look forward to working with Heidi on future septage-related matters and disposal concerns.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
Water Industries, Inc. Continuing Education Seminar American Legion Post, Alton, NH News from NHASH
By Donna White, NHASH Executive Director
Confined Space Entry Training NHASH, along with Sandra Peters of Wieczorek Insurance, Merchants Insurance, and NH Department of Environmental Services, will hold a training session on Confined Space Entry on November 14th. The training will be held at N H Department of Environmental Services Auditorium, 29 Hazen Drive, Concord beginning at 9:00 a.m. This is an OSHA certified course and is open to all septic haulers, designers, and installers. The class offers 3 hours of continuing education. As a member benefit this training is being offered FREE to all NHASH members and their employees. There is a $50 per person fee for non-members (see below to join and save). All attendees must register beforehand. Seating is limited and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have any questions regarding this training or wish to register please contact Donna at nhash@nhash.com. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. DES doors will open at 8:30 a.m. for sign-in. Please plan to arrive punctually so that can be completed without delaying the start of the session. Why not become a member of NHASH and instantly receive FREE admission to the Confined Space Entry training along with other member benefits? For a membership application contact Donna at nhash@nhash.com or on the NHASH website at www.nhash.com.
NHASH Meeting The next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 11th, 6:00 p.m. at the Red Blazer on Manchester Street in Concord. The tentative agenda includes a discussion with representatives of Plymouth Water & Sewer about plans for upcoming improvements to their facility and grease disposal. Please notify Donna at nhash@nhash.com if you plan to attend the meeting. A head count is required for seating reservations.
16 GSDI News Brief | September 2017
SEPTEMBER 26, 2017
GSDI Board of Directors Meeting Concord, NH (4:30 p.m.)
OCTOBER 5, 2017
Continuing Education Program with Sara Heger Visit www.gsdia.org for more information or to register
OCTOBER 31, 2017
GSDI Board of Directors Meeting Concord, NH (4:30 p.m.)
MARCH 19 & 20, 2018
GSDI 31st Annual Spring Septic System Conference & Expo Radisson Hotel, Manchester, NH
(Online registration is encouraged! Go to the homepage of gsdia.org to register.) Granite State Designers and Installers Association is pleased to welcome back Sara Heger from the University of Minnesota for a day-long training program...
Focus on Troubleshooting Septic System Malfunctions Thursday, October 5, 2017 - 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM IBEW Local No. 490, 48 Airport Road, Concord, NH As an onsite wastewater professional, you may need to evaluate the type of problem(s) and determine the potential factors that may have contributed to the septic system malfunction. This training is designed for designers, installers, evaluators, pumpers and others involved with troubleshooting systems. This 6-hour training will provide you with ideas, techniques, tools, and solutions to deal with challenging users, sites and systems. You will also learn the steps involved to complete a malfunction analysis procedure. Topics will include:
• Toxics - The Dirty Dozen
Dr. Sara Heger is an engineer, researcher and instructor in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program in the Water Resources Center and is an Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Minnesota in the Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering Department. Since 1998, she has been providing education and technical assistance to homeowners, small communities, onsite professionals and local units of government regarding onsite wastewater treatment. She has BS in Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering and a MS and a PhD in Water Resource Science.
• Evaluating the Impacts of Chloride from Water Softening from SSTS on the Environment • Inspection and Troubleshooting of Septic Tanks, Pumps, Pump Tanks, and Pretreatment Units • Inspecting and Evaluating Soil Treatment Systems • System Remediation (Why, What When Where and How)
Register online at gsdia.org
Registration fee includes instruction, handout materials, morning coffee and danish, breaks, and box lunch. Program approved for 6 Continuing Education Contact Hours for NH designers and installers. REGISTRATION FORM: Troubleshooting Septic System Malfunctions Thursday, October 5, 2017 - IBEW Hall, Concord, NH Attendees: (please print clearly) 1._____________________________________________________________ 2. _____________________________________________________________ 3. _____________________________________________________________ 4. _____________________________________________________________ Company: ______________________________________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________ Phone: _________________________ Email: _________________________
Registration Deadline: 10/2/2017 Cancellations: If you are unable to attend, please contact us prior to 10/2/2017. No refunds will be given after that date.
Registration Fee: GSDI Member: $50 Non-member: $75
Total Amount: $_______________
Make check payable to GSDI Ck#:_____________ or charge my credit card: Name on Card: ____________________________________ Signature: _______________________________________ Card Number: ____________________________________________ Exp. Date: ____________ CSC #: _____________ Card Billing Address (if different than above): __________________________________ __________________________________
(4 digits from front of Amex; 3 digits from back of all other cards)
Mail to: GSDI, 53 Regional Drive, Suite 1, Concord, NH 03301 or FAX: 603-228-2118 September 2017 | GSDI News Brief 17 Questions: Contact us at 603-228-1231 or info@gsdia.org
Granite State Designers and Installers Association
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53 Regional Drive, Concord, NH 03301
PRINT MEDIA EVENTS News Brief is GSDIA’s member newsletter
GSDIA.ORG CertifiedSeptic Evaluator.org
Annual Spring Septic Conference & Expo Granite State Certified Septic System Evaluator Program
53 REGIONAL DRIVE SUITE 1 CONCORD NH 03301 | (603) 228-1231 | INFO@GSDIA.ORG