American Liquid Waste - December 2022

WHERE BUSINESS FLOWS

“All lasting business is built on friendship.”

Alfred A. Montapert American engineer, philosopher, and author

Looking to build a bigger business? Interested in sharing ideas with peers? How about a beer with friends? Join us at The WWETT Show. It’s the the world’s largest annual trade show for wastewater and environmental service professionals.

The WWETT Show offers multiple networking opportunities, a robust educational program with nearly 100 live and online sessions, live demos, and an expo floor brimming with the latest technology and innovations in the industry.

Register now at wwettshow.com and join thousands of your colleagues in Indianapolis for THE business event of the year!

Managing payroll can be an overwhelming challenge, but there are ways to make the process easier and more efficient for your small business. According to Entrepreneur.com, small business owners need to be financially savvy, including with their payroll.

Whether choosing to do payroll yourself or using a software program, these tips can help make your business’s payroll process run more smoothly.

CREATE A PAYROLL CALENDAR

Utilizing a calendar can keep everyone on task. A payroll calendar can identify when time cards are due, dates covered in a pay period, expected payment dates, and bank holidays that may affect normal pay periods.

Creating and distributing a payroll calendar at the beginning of the fiscal year minimizes questions and allows employees to plan accordingly.

Are You Optimizing Payroll (Or Missing Savings Opportunities?)

INDEX

Paying employees hourly may allow flexibility in scheduling, but may not be the most cost-effective ...

WORKER CLASSIFICATION

Determine if you will use hourly, salaried or contract workers. Correct classification of employees will ensure proper IRS forms are filed, appropriate taxes are paid and withholdings are correct. If hiring full-time employees, determine if they will be paid hourly or will be salaried. Paying employees on a salary can make payroll easy since the employee will be paid a consistent amount each pay period, and overtime pay will not be an issue.

PRODUCT WA TCH IN THE NEWS

UTILIZE CONTRACT WORKERS

Using contract workers for your septic, sewer, or portable restroom business may be more cost-effective for your business. While some contractors may charge a higher rate, in the long run, your business can save money not having to account for taxes and benefits, which are the responsibility of the contract worker.

ASSOCIA TION NEWS ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

PREPARE FOR APPROPRIATE PAYROLL TAXES

If using hourly or salaried employees, you will need to collect their appropriate tax forms when they are hired to set up your payroll to withhold the correct federal and state taxes as set by the IRS. By preparing for this at hire, you can streamline withholdings each pay period to save you time in the long run.

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

Paying employees hourly may allow flexibility in scheduling, but may not be the most cost-effective when issues arise that require out-of-hours work, resulting in overtime pay.

While you will not have to pay taxes for contracted workers, it can add more work. Contracted workers will

While some contractors may charge a higher rate, in the long run, your business can save money not having to account for taxes and benefits, which are the responsibility of the contract worker.

need to use a 1099 tax form, which you will need to send them at the end of the year. You will want to keep good records or consider using a payroll software program or service to help you keep track of any work contracted in a fiscal year.

PAYROLL ALLOCATION

Liquid waste management, such as septic, sewer and portable restroom services can often allocate revenue for higher payroll percentages compared to industries that must account for costs for parts or goods. By following industry standards and bidding out contract work, you can better compare and prepare for this expenditure.

AUTOMATED PAYMENTS

Save time by setting up direct deposit for employees. Funds will be deposited automatically, which reduces time spent having to cut and distribute checks. Employees can view their pay stubs anytime, anywhere, which can save any questions that may arise regarding pay, taxes, or benefits paid.

CHOOSE A PAYROLL PROGRAM

There are a wide variety of payroll apps for small businesses to suit your needs ranging from self-service needs to focus on paying contractors. Finding the best payroll software for your business can save you time. When choosing the

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Save time by setting up direct deposit for employees.

PRODUCT WA TCH

payroll program, you will save time and money for your business.

ASSOCIA TION NEWS

best one for your business, look for which HR features are included, how easy it is to use, and affordability. A payroll app can also help you easily keep accurate records.

KEEP UP-TO-DATE RECORDS

It is vital to keep accurate payroll records, including HR information, tax forms, and wages paid. Records should be kept for at least four years, per the IRS. By keeping records current, whether in-house or through a

ASSOCIA TION INSIDER

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

These tips can help you optimize payroll for your business. Through thoughtful planning and preparation, you can set up a successful payroll process that will help you save time and run an effective liquid waste management business. Sources https://www.entrepreneur.com/growing-a-business/3-key-waysto-be-a-successful-business-owner-in-2022-and/411077 https://fitsmallbusiness.com/how-to-do-payroll/ https://www.surepayroll.com/industry/independent-contractor https://www.business.org/finance/accounting/best-payrollapps/

https://www.patriotsoftware.com/blog/payroll/payroll-tax-record-keeping-irs-requirements/

Tax Strategies for 2022 7 Small Business

7 TAX STRATEGIES EVERY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER SHOULD KNOW

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

As a small business owner, you can meet your goals more easily by taking advantage of tax savings suggestions that you can apply to your financial planning for 2023. The strategies include, for example, improving your tax payments strategy, better management of your charitable giving by using appreciated stock, protecting your wealth with an umbrella insurance policy, and others. Consider the list below for some very helpful tax savings strategies as part of your financial planning for the new year.

As you close out 2022, hopefully, you’re sticking to your 4th quarter budget through December and are already working on ways to save for Q4 2023. While you’re preparing your business and personal budgets for the coming year, see if you need to incorporate any of these ideas into the financial plan you’re currently shaping to meet your goals for the coming year.

1. ADOPT A MORE ADVANTAGEOUS TAX PAYMENT STRATEGY.

You may have opted to pay estimated federal taxes this year. If so, presumably, you have been tracking your tax payment amounts. If not, be sure to do that in 2023. Installments for estimated tax are paid in January, April, June, and September. Your quarterly tax payments should be estimated and paid in amounts that will help you satisfy at least 90% to 100% of your total annual liability. That’s essential to avoid IRS penalties for underpayment.

2. RESTRUCTURE 401(K), 403(B), AND ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTIONS.

Small business owners have multiple alternatives for retirement savings that offer tax advantages. There is

your individual 401(k) account. It permits you to save the entire amount of your income as an employee of your liquid waste handling business up to these annual limits:

4 Under age 50 = $20,500

4 Age 50 or over = $27,000

4 As an employer up to 25% of your wage That means you can contribute up to $61,000 total taxfree until you withdraw amounts after you retire. You can also save in a Roth IRA.

3. RETHINK YOUR AMOUNT OF HSA CONTRIBUTIONS. By year-end 2022, you can put up to $3,650 into your Health Savings Account for an individual and as much as $7,300 for your family’s coverage. Keep in mind that your HSA contributions are not lost if you don’t use the funds for medical expenses. You can let the account grow

Keep in mind that your HSA contributions are not lost if you don’t use the funds for medical expenses. You can let the account grow and use the money later ...

and use the money later during retirement if you wish. You can take out funds as tax-free income during retirement by withdrawing funds from the HSA to cover medical expenses for the previous year.

4. USE AN UMBRELLA POLICY TO PROTECT YOUR GROWING WEALTH.

For a small business owner, an umbrella insurance policy can be a powerful protective strategy to avoid serious risk of financial impact from liability claims that may exceed your homeowner’s and auto coverages. Umbrella policies are comparatively low-cost and can deliver major financial benefits when you need them most.

INDEX

5. GIVE TAX DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS TO LOVED ONES.

If you have achieved a financial position that causes you now to look for benefits in redistributing some of it for tax savings, consider giving financial gifts to your loved ones up to the legal maximum. This year, 2022, you can still give up to $16,000 per family member to as many of your loved ones as you wish with zero gift tax. This is a way to reduce your estate value and at the same time improve the finances of others in your family.

6. THINK ABOUT REFINANCING YOUR MORTGAGE. Interest rates are currently attractive for refinancing a

If you have achieved a financial position that causes you now to look for benefits in redistributing some of it for tax savings, consider giving financial gifts to your loved ones...

mortgage. If you haven’t refinanced your home or business property in a long time, there’s an opportunity to do that now and free up more cash flow. Plus, you can potentially reduce your total interest on the remainder of your debt by a significant amount.

BEST SEPTIC SERVICE

In 2010, Jeffrey Ruggiero decided that more than 25 cumulative years of experience in the septic business was enough to base a business on, and he was right. Today, Best Septic Service is a leading small septic business working in Southern Vermont. Relatively recently, they expanded into Western New Hampshire. They are a fully familyowned and operated business, serving a challenging but very rewarding set of communities.

But unlike most small septic companies we cover, the story of Best Septic Service isn't just the story of a scrappy group of individuals ready and able to do a job that no one else will. It is the story of a man who was so devoted to his family and his community that the people of Greater Falls stood up and took notice.

Mr. Ruggiero took the regional 2011 person of the year award home when he was recognized by the Greater Falls Regional Chamber of Commerce for his generosity and dedication to the community. Best Septic was also featured with a full write-up in Pumper Magazine twice, in 2011 and 2015, and today he and his business are being covered by us.

So, clearly, the Ruggiero family is doing something right.

BEST SEPTIC MEANS BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE

But of course, this is also the story of a scrappy small business made up of a team that is willing to do what no one else will - because there really is no other way to run a successful septic service company.

...this is also the story of a scrappy small business made up of a team that is willing to do what no one else will

Best Septic's first (but not only) priority is to serve customers at the earliest possible opportunity or failing that, to serve them on time. For them, this is a matter of policy and it makes good sense. Because when you're serving the septic needs of your neighbors in the place where they live, time is everything.

For the customer without a functioning toilet, the difference between satisfactory septic service and unsatisfactory service can manifest in minutes, or moments. As the company's operations manager told us, "You can get there on time. No one will argue with

that. But when you get there early, that can make all the difference."

Customers are invited to schedule their own appointment at the time of their choosing, within reason, pick the services they need, and sometimes to be served sooner and faster than advertised.

BEST SEPTIC SERVICES

So, Best Septic is about family, charity, community, and ultra-prompt service. With a lot of companies that lead with claims like that, what you get is a bunch of lip service and not a lot of value. Not so with the companies, we highlight, and certainly not so with Best Septic. They focus on the core services that construction sites, events, and domestic customers need most, namely: 4 SEPTIC PUMPING : The heart and soul of any good septic service company, septic pumping is the core

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offering Best Septic has in its tool belt. Their septic pumping capabilities are supported by people who have been recognized as the best in their service area.

4 GREASE TRAP SERVICES : A key service in parts of the country where hospitality and restaurants have a heavy presence, grease trap service, and pumping are absolutely essential to restaurants, diners, and hotel cafeterias. These are some of Best Septic's core customers.

4 SNAKING: The plumber's snake was invented in 1933, but it didn't really take hold in the world of plumbing until the late 1970s. Septic snakes came into their own

MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON COMMUNITIES AND ENVIRONMENTS AROUND THE WORLD

in the 1980s when these devices became bigger, stronger, and more robust. The original patent expired in 1953, and increasingly more advanced iterations have been coming out regularly since then. Best Septic uses one of the largest and most capable forms of this device to open up pipes that would otherwise be a lost cause.

Every good septic service team offers inspections, and Best Septic is no different.

do inspections for residential and commercial clients. They also specialize in real estate transaction inspections, which can be especially demanding jobs.

4 JETTING: This service is surprisingly rare in the septic treatment business, but Best Septic employs it to help support their guarantee of effective service. Jetting is an application of high-pressure water to blast through invading roots, heavy clogs, and even frozen pipes.

4 INSPECTIONS : Every good septic service team offers inspections, and Best Septic is no different. They do inspections for residential and commercial clients. They also specialize in real estate transaction inspections, which can be especially demanding jobs.

4 CAMERA SERVICE : Not an uncommon service at all, but sometimes septic service teams need to actually see what's down there and a camera is often the only way to do it.

4 PORTABLE TOILET RENTALS: Finally, we come to their portable toilet rentals. With any good septic service, this is a key way to ensure that

They

the customer's needs are taken care of, even if the worst possible septic conditions have developed. Best Septic's portable toilets are regular and jumbo-sized with hand wash stations and handicap units. They also come with the promise that the units will never smell like a toilet.

Finally, we like to drive it home when a company is doing an especially good job of serving its community. Of course, numbers don't lie, and when you look at the state of the competition, the leading position of an outfit like Best Septic is hard to deny. But there's no getting around their long, long list of glowing customer reviews. One thing is clear, looking through them, and that is that the people of Southern Vermont and Western New

Hampshire are more than a little grateful to have Best Septic watching their backs. Sources https://bestsepticvt.net/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plumber%27s_snake

quality problems. This is due to the high water table, but it is also a natural consequence of life in coastal locations. Experts have also determined that The Cape's water quality woes stem mostly from existing septic systems. ■

The traditional Title 5 systems that are common in Cape Cod, and across the nation, do remove contaminants and pathogens that can be harmful to human health. But they have their limits and were not designed to handle the high volumes of nutrients, most especially nitrogen, by which they were being overwhelmed. It is for this reason that innovative thinkers, like

designs that look like they have the potential to solve the problem. These "alternative" designs are optimized to reduce the amount of nitrogen found in household wastewater. These systems were approved by the Massachusetts Dept. of Environmental Protection (MADEP) despite the fact that they had yet to deliver the level of nitrogen reduction a water treatment plant delivers. Even so, the people behind the project decided to move forward, certain that they will reduce excess nutrient levels if not mitigate them completely.  The people at Shubael Pond Project and MADEP say that even if these new systems are not a complete solution to Cape Cod's water quality problem, they can still be part of a broader solution. By constructing a group of 40 systems in a test neighborhood, the team believes they can demonstrate that groups of these systems can accomplish what single or isolated systems could

not. They choose a neighborhood adjacent to Shubael Pond where groundwater conditions are just right for monitoring the effect these systems will have in practice.

The pond was also closed in 2019 due to cyanobacteria. This makes the location an even better test location since the results are easier to measure with certainty. In 2021, the project managers decided to install a total of 15 systems in the test area.

ELEGANCE IN DESIGN

While the concept was more than two years old by the time teams started installing it, it remains the most promising design of its kind so far. The systems have come to be known as NitROE systems, and they are exceedingly simple.

The project installed 6 units in August of 2021 in an area with 350 homes. The system was developed

by a company known as KleanTu. It consists of a 2,000-gallon tank that relies entirely on gravity with the exception of a small electric air pump. The units consist of a limestone aeration chamber and a chamber that contains wood chips. The limestone aeration chamber turns ammonia into nitrate and the wood chips section changes nitrate into nitrogen gas.

The early experimental systems also included sampling ports on the outside of the unit close to the ground. According to data gathered on the progress of the experiment, traditional Title 5 units can only mitigate between 20 and 30% of the nitrogen found in household wastewater. The NitROE units, conversely, are able to eliminate between 80 and 90% of excess nutrients.

WORKING OUT THE BUGS

The units have an expected useful life of 20 to 25 years. At the end of that period, it is presumed that the units will need to be dismantled and completely replaced. However, the designers will focus on making them repeatably serviceable with future iterations. For the time being, the goal is to test the units and remove them at the end of their operational life.

The early experimental systems also included sampling ports on the outside of the unit close to the ground.

The KleanTu company has high hopes for this technology and in 2022, they have been able to get the efficiency of the system up to a consistent 90%, a marked improvement. At just five years old, the concept is still quite new with plenty of room for improvement.

KleanTu is looking to make improvements to the performance of the units during winter temperatures. They say they have also enabled the systems to include phosphorous treatment for disinfection of the unit when needed.

At present, the biggest concerns are about longterm commercial viability, since the units need to be dismantled at the end of their functional life. But removable and replaceable tanks are likely to be the way these issues are solved.

Sources

https://www.affordablepumpingservices.com/ blog/2021/march/the-latest-technology-used-to-inspect-septic-tan/ https://www.probuilder.com/new-septic-technology-allows-building-previously-unbuildable-lots https://ecori.org/2021-4-2-the-possible-future-of-septicsa-simpler-cheaper-nitrogen-removing-system/

SPOTLIGHT INDEX

GENERAL PIPE CLEANERS NAMES

ANGELA GRIEB ASSISTANT NATIONAL SALES MANAGER

General Pipe Cleaners a division of General Wire Spring , has named Angela Grieb Assistant National Sales Manager.

During 17 years with General , Angela expanded and diversified her position as Executive Sales Coordinator by updating and modernizing company administrative practices, maintaining key customer contacts, and

participating in sales & marketing efforts.

“We wanted the person who would be the absolute best choice for the job, and Angela checked all the boxes,” Dave Dunbar, National Sales Manager, says. “She knows the product, she knows the industry, she knows the sales reps, and she knows how to get things done at General .”

A graduate of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, Angela previously served in production, shipping, sales, and marketing positions with two other manufacturers. An NRA-certified Basic Pistol Instructor and Range Safety Officer, she enjoys training new pistol shooters in her spare time.

About General Pipe Cleaners

General Pipe Cleaners, a division of General Wire Spring Co., is a leading manufacturer of high quality, Americanmade drain cleaning equipment. In business since 1930, the fourth-generation, family-owned company is celebrating nearly a century of service to drain cleaning professionals and plumbing contractors, as well as to facilities managers, the rental industry and the hardware/ DIY market. The Toughest Tools Down The Line.

Abbott Rubber CO. Inc. 2 800-852-1855 / pumperhose.com

American Jetter 40 866-944-3569 / americanjetter.com

American Tank Co. 10 254-721-5675 / atcvacuumtruck.com

AR North America. 24 763-398-2008 / arnorthamerica.com

Arcan Enterprises...................................................... 10 888-352-7226

Aqua-Zyme Disposal Systems Inc. 22 979-245-5656 / aqua-zyme.com

Armal Inc ....................................................................... 17 866-873-7796 / armal.biz

Bright Dyes 40 800-394-0678 / brightdyes.com

Cam Spray ..................................................................... 18 800-648-5011 / camspray.com

Com Vac 5 800-243-7986 / comvacsystems.com

Comforts of Home 42 877-382-2935 / cohsi.com

Coxreels 32 800-269-7335 / coxreels.com

Ecological Laboratories Inc. 38 800-326-7867 / propump.com

Eljen Corp. 11 800-444-1359 / eljen.com

F.M. Manufacturing 19 877-889-2246 / fmmfg.com

FMC Advisors .................................................................. 2 727-486-0306 / 407-765-9440 / fmcadvisors.com

Fruitland Manufacturing 39 800-663-9003 / fruitlandmanufacturing.com

Greasezilla 12 304-658-4778 / greasezilla.com

GSBB Services, LLC 40 843-535-5712 / gsbb.biz

Guzzler............................................................................ 23 guzzler.com

Hi-Vac Corp. .................................................................. 27 800-752-2400 / hi-vac.com

Imperial Industries Inc 35 800-558-2945 / imperialind.com

In The Round Dewatering 28 317-539-7511 / ITRDewatering.com

J.C. Gury Company Inc. 6 800-903-3385 / jcgury.com

Jack Doheny Co. .. 36 800-336-4369 / dohenycompany.com Jet. 38 800-321-6960 / jetincorp.com

Key Commercial Corp. .............................................. 38 877-333-4539 / keycommercial.com

Lane's Vacuum Tank, Inc........................................... 37 800-592-3308 / lanesmobilejohn.com McKee Technologies 9 866-457-5425 / mckeetechnologies.com

Mid-State Tank Co., Inc 4 800-722-8384 /m idstatetank.com

Milwaukee Rubber Products 15 800-325-3730 / milwaukeerubber.com

National Vacuum Equipment, Inc. 29 800-253-5500 / natvac.com

Navitas Credit Corp. 16 800-422-1844 / navitascredit.com Norweco. 7 800-667-9326 /norweco.com

Paul Swoyer Septics LLC ........................................... 33 830-935-4936

Peterson Products 6 800-669-1434 / pipeplug.com

PolyJohn Enterprises 47 800-292-1305 / polyjohn.com

Power Line Industries / Hot Jet USA 40 800-213-3272 / hotjetusa.com

RapidView BC 800-656-4225 / rapidview.com

RCS II Inc .................................................................... 6, 16 518-812-0000 / septicdrainer.com

Robuschi 31 gardnerdenverproducts.com

Roeda ............................................................................. 28 800-829-3021 / store.roeda.com

Roth Global Plastics 4 866-943-7256 / roth-america.com

Stamp Works ................................................................ 40 800-758-2743 / sales@stampworks.net

T & T Tools Inc. 34 800-521-6893 / mightyprobe.com

WWETT23 3, 43 WWETTShow.com

Transway Systems Inc. 41 800-263-4508 / transwaysystems.com VacCon 25 904-493-4969 / vac- con.com

Vactor Impact. 13 vactor.com

Wee Engineer 37 877-296-2555 / wee-engineer.com Westmoor Ltd .............................................................. 40 800-367-0972 / westmoorltd.com

WHERE BUSINESS FLOWS

“All lasting business is built on friendship.”

Alfred A. Montapert American engineer, philosopher, and author

Looking to build a bigger business? Interested in sharing ideas with peers? How about a beer with friends? Join us at The WWETT Show. It’s the the world’s largest annual trade show for wastewater and environmental service professionals.

The WWETT Show offers multiple networking opportunities, a robust educational program with nearly 100 live and online sessions, live demos, and an expo floor brimming with the latest technology and innovations in the industry.

Register now at wwettshow.com and join thousands of your colleagues in Indianapolis for THE business event of the year!