December

Tough build on
a Maine island
Page 26

Find telltale
flooding signs
Page 30

Are you a van guy?

2015

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE www.onsiteinstaller.com

INSPECTOR

GENERAL
An educated, professional team and a burgeoning real estate
market spell success for Tim Shotzberger and Home Land
Septic Consulting PAGE 10

Page 32

For a Complete Catalog and Pricing

BOOTH

Call 1-800-382-7009

6108

24 FLAT RISER LID

HEAVY DUTY MULTI-PURPOSE

Fits most commercially

available:

4 Horizontal
Safety Screws

FREE FREIGHT
on Full Cartons!

Vertical Safety
Screws

Risers
IPEX PVC Ribbed Pipe
Corrugated Pipe
LID MAY BE USED WITH OR
WITHOUT CONCRETE CENTER
Tuf-Tite Riser

Concrete Keepers

6 Effluent Filter and 6 T-Baffle

4 Effluent Filter and 4 T-Baffle

86 ft. of 1/16 filtration area.

Increases time
between filter
cleaning.

244 ft. of 1/16 filtration area.

EF-4 Combo 18

EF-4 Combo

4 Effluent Filter EF-4

Includes Filter,
Housing and

One-piece effluent filter fits in 4

Sanitary Tee.

40 &
4 Sch.
SDR-35

Water-TITE
Vertical and
Joint
Horizontal Safety
Screws

Holds up to 70 lbs of Concrete

for Added Safety.

Foamed-in Permanent
Polyurethane Gasket.

Secured by 6 Vertical and 4 Horizontal

Safety Screws. Screws Included.

Increases
time between
filter cleaning.

EF-6 Combo

Includes Filter,
Housing and Bushing

40 &
4 Sch.
SDR-35

Injection molded PolyPro

Simple to install - Easy to clean

4 Sanitary Inlet/Outlet T-Baffle

800 GPD
ANSI/NSF
Standard 46

18

14
COMPONENT
ANSI/NSF
Standard 46

TB-4 Housing

18/carton

SD-4

Injection molded T-Baffle.

COMPONENT
ANSI/NSF
Standard 46

TB-4-18 Housing
12/carton

Injection molded T-Baffle

Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe
Simple to install
May also be used as Inlet &
Outlet Tee

COMPONENT
ANSI/NSF
Standard 46

1500 GPD
ANSI/NSF
Standard 46

TB-6 Housing

Gas/Solids
Deflector

Gas/Solids Deflector

6 Effluent Filter EF-6

One-piece effluent filter fits

in 6 T-Baffle.
Injection molded PolyPro
Simple to install
Easy to clean

6 Sanitary T-Baffle

Injection molded T-Baffle.

Injection molded
Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe
Simple to install
May also be used as Outlet Tee
with Solids Deflector

Tuf-Tite, Inc. 1200 Flex Court, Lake Zurich, IL 60047

www.tuf-tite.com

800-382-7009

2013 Tuf-Tite, Inc.

All rights reserved.

December 2015

December

contents

Tough build on
a Maine island
Page 26

Find telltale
flooding signs
Page 30

Are you a van guy?

2015

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE www.onsiteinstaller.com

Page 32

INSPECTOR

GENERAL
An educated, professional team and a burgeoning real estate
market spell success for Tim Shotzberger and Home Land
Septic Consulting PAGE 10

cover story

Published monthly by

1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd. PO Box 220

Three Lakes, WI 54562

10 Inspector General By Ted J. Rulseh

ON THE COVER: A revived real estate market has created a lot of opportunity for the onsite
inspection team at Home Land Septic Consulting in Essex, Maryland. Owner Tim Shotzberger is
shown holding a RIDGID SR-20 locator while Michel Higgs, left, and Eric Garrett, right, use a
RIDGID SeeSnake camera while checking a residential onsite system. (Photo by Bob Stockfield)

6 Editors Notebook: Hiring Tips to Build a New Installer Crew

Nows the time to identify another crew chief and add technicians who will help you keep
pace with growing demand.

By Jim Kneiszel

8 @onsiteinstaller.com

Be sure to check out our exclusive online content.

16 WWETT Spotlight:
Contractor Uses WWETT Show to Help Attract Franchisees
By Craig Mandli

18 Rules and Regs: North Dakota Judge Blocks Clean Water Act Updates
By Doug Day

20 State of the State: Go-To Educators

Even without state training requirements, the Kansas Small Flows Association seeks to
raise the professionalism of its membership.

By Doug Day

26 System Profile: Wastewater Treatment on a Craggy Rock in the Ocean

A lighthouse island off Maines wild coastline was a forbidding setting to provide an
effective onsite system for a bed-and-breakfast inn.

By David Steinkraus

30 Basic Training: Be a Floodplain Detective

Look for obvious and telltale signs that your proposed site for an onsite system is likely to
be underwater at some point in the future.

By Jim Anderson and David Gustafson

32 Shop Talk: Could a Cargo Van Be in Your Future?

Fuel economy, organized storage, access to equipment, and shelter from the weather
present advantages when making late-night emergency calls.

By Ed Wodalski

34 Product Focus/Case Study: :

Business Diversification Pumping and System Maintenance
By Craig Mandli

Call toll free 800-257-7222;

outside of U.S. or Canada call 715-546-3346
7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Central time, Mon.-Fri.
Website: www.onsiteinstaller.com
Email: info@onsiteinstaller.com Fax: 715-546-3786

SUBSCRIPTIONS
A one year (12 issue) subscription to Onsite Installer in the United States or
Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any individual
or company in the United States or Canada that partakes in the installation,
design, maintenance, manufacture, treatment, consulting or sale of onsite
wastewater treatment systems or supplies. Non-qualified subscriptions are
available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year
outside of the United States. To subscribe please visit onsiteinstaller.com or
send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money
order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above.
MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card
information with your subscription order.
Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected
companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy
is important to us. If you prefer not to be a part of these lists, please contact
Nicole at nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com.
CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING
Minimum rate of $25 for 20 words; $1 per each additional word. All classified advertising must be paid in advance. DEADLINE: Classified ads must be
received by the first of the month for insertion in the next months edition.
PHONE-IN ADS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Fax to 715-546-3786 only if charging
to MasterCard, VISA, Discover or AmEx. Include all credit card information
and your phone number (with area code). Mail with check payable to COLE
Publishing Inc. to the address above. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING APPEARS
NATIONWIDE AND ON THE INTERNET. Not responsible for errors beyond
first insertion.
DISPLAY ADVERTISING
Contact Winnie May at 800-994-7990. Publisher reserves the
right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair
or incompatible with the character of the publication.
Winnie May
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE
Send to Editor, Onsite Installer, P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes, WI, 54562 or email
editor@onsiteinstaller.com.
REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUES
Visit www.onsiteinstaller.com for options and pricing. To order reprints, call Jeff
Lane at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email jeff.lane@colepublishing.
com. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or
email nicole.labeau@colepublishing.com.
CIRCULATION
Circulation averages 21,954 copies per month. This figure includes both U.S.
and International distribution.
Copyright 2015 COLE Publishing Inc.
No part may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

Water & Wastewater

Equipment, Treatment &
Transport Show
www.wwettshow.com
EDUCATION DAY: Feb. 17, 2016 EXHIBITS OPEN: Feb. 18-20, 2016
Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

40 Product News
40 Industry News

Get Social with Onsite Installer

42 Associations List

Coming Next Month: January 2016

ISSUE FOCUS:
WWETT Pre-Show
- Contractor Profile: Marketing onsite services in Missouri
- System Profile: Advanced system prepares Kentucky subdivision for growth

4 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

www.facebook.com/OnsiteInstaller
www.twitter.com/OnsiteInstaller
www.plus.google.com
www.youtube.com/OnsiteInstaller
www.linkedin.com/company/onsite-installer-magazine

BOOTH

6001

advertiserindex
COMPANY

PAGE

Alita Industries, Inc. ...............................29

Bio-Microbics, Inc. ......................................9
Brenlin Company, Inc.................................7
Precast, Inc.

Crest Precast, Inc. .....................................21

COMPANY

DECEMBER 2015
PAGE

COMPANY

PAGE

COMPANY

Jet Inc...............................................................17
MACBlowers by Fuji Clean of Japan....43

Septic Products, Inc. ................................37

The Dirty Bird (BS Design Corp) ........43

Netafim USA ................................................31

Septic Services, Inc. ....................................8

Tuf-Tite Inc. .....................................................2

Water Cannon, Inc. - MWBE ...............43

Septronics Inc. ............................................17

Wieser Concrete ........................................17

Norweco, Inc. ...............................................13

Polylok, Inc. / Zabel .................................44

Sim/Tech Filter Inc. ................................43

Presby Environmental .............................5

Roth Global Plastics ................................19

Simple Solutions Distributing ...........43

DISINFECTION

SJE-Rhombus...........................................29

Eljen Corporation ......................................19

Fergus Power Pump, Inc. ......................29

PAGE

Salcor Inc. ........................................................7

Get Email

News Alerts for

Fuji Clean USA ............................................15

See Water Inc. .............................................21

T&T Tools, Inc.............................................19

www.onsiteinstaller.
com/alerts

Infiltrator Water Technologies, LLC ..3

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

editorsnotebook

Feedback

Onsite Installer welcomes your comments,

ideas and suggestions on how we can serve
you better. Call 800/257-7222; fax 715/5463786; or email editor@onsiteinstaller.com.

Hiring Tips to Build

a New Installer Crew

Nows the time to identify another crew chief and add technicians
who will help you keep pace with growing demand
By Jim Kneiszel

here I live in Wisconsin, theres enough frost in the ground by

now to bring most onsite work to a halt. When I call installers
this month, the chances are pretty good Ill reach them in the
office rather than in the seat of a mini-excavator digging a trench.
But that wasnt the case a few months ago. Heres how many phone
conversations with installers went right up through the early fall:
Me: Hows your summer going, Bill?
Bill: Its been crazy around here. Ive been pulling 14-hour days and I
just cant catch up. I have 30 jobs on a waiting list and I hope I can get all
the work done before the snow flies. And the phone keeps ringing.
Me: Why havent you added another crew to address the growing
demand?
Bill: Thats easier said than done. Ive got to find people I can trust;
workers with the skills to do the job right for my customers. And where am
I going to find the time to look?
Me: Hmmm. Let me think about that. In the meantime, I better hang
up the phone so you can get back on the excavator.
Bill: Thanks. Come up with some answers and give me a call in January.
Well catch up before the WWETT Show.
Ive been thinking about the hiring challenges faced by Bill and other
installers. There is intense competition for young workers cut out to be
installers. Its physical and sometimes dirty work, it requires folks who
can be motivated to work independently, and good candidates have to be
willing to learn and adapt to new technologies all the time.

JOIN THE RECOVERY

Some installers feel like they cant trust anyone else to do the job right,
so they try to take on everything themselves. Thats a lot of pressure, and
it only builds in a recovering economy where more customers are calling to
repair or replace older systems or to work on new construction. You dont
want to turn down work orders, but you also feel trepidation about hiring
new employees.
But maybe this full-throttle schedule during the busy season has gone
on long enough. Perhaps youre not spending enough time with your family
during the summer. It could be that your current crew is experiencing the
same problem and getting frustrated about working 60-plus hours a week.
It doesnt seem like it was so long ago that you were cutting back on
employees after the collapse of the real estate market. But that was seven

6 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

years ago, and the construction industry dynamic is much different today.
New development is on the rise, and homeowners have been nursing along
older systems for many years. Its time for an upgrade.
If youre considering adding a new crew for 2016, here are a few ways to
put your best foot forward:

Some installers feel like they cant trust anyone

else to do the job right, so they try to take on
everything themselves. Thats a lot of pressure, and
it only builds in a recovering economy where more
customers are calling to repair or replace older
systems or to work on new construction.
Find a new crew leader
Review the skills and temperament of your current workers and identify
a person you think could lead a new crew. Look for a responsible employee
with potential leadership skills, someone who values your company and
has a passion and excitement for onsite work. Ask that worker to take
charge of a new crew and involve him or her in the employee recruitment
process. That includes posting job ads, interviewing candidates and
making hires. Share the burden and empower your new leader to train and
supervise their helpers.
Reach out to educators
The onsite industry plays a critically important but not widely
understood role in the construction and infrastructure trades. As such,
student advisers at two-year technical colleges and high schools may not
realize the great opportunities available to students who pursue careers in
wastewater treatment. Installers can help raise awareness about these job
opportunities and perhaps land a few qualified employees at the
same time.
How can you help? Approach schools and offer to talk to students
studying construction trades and tell them about the growing demand for

SALCOR

UV

DISINFECTION Since 1978

Seal-R
Sizes:

12", 15", 18",

24", 30",
36", 42"
BrenLin Company, Inc

BOOTH

Inactivates
Life-Threatening
Superbugs

888-606-1998 www.seal-r.com

the work you do. Partner with your state onsite trade association to inform
the public about the important environmental role onsite installers play in
the community. Consider offering student internships or job shadowing
experiences to anyone who takes an interest in onsite work.
Take a fresh look at pay and benefits
As you advertise jobs to bolster your crew, take a realistic look at what
you pay for workers compared to similar construction-related positions in
your region. Is your wage and benefits package commensurate with what
other employers are paying in areas like HVAC, plumbing, excavating or
construction? Given all the new technologies to learn and the environmental
impact of onsite work, should you be paying workers more than many of
the construction trades?
What can you offer a field of potential employees to stand apart from
these other trades? Maybe its a clear path to professional training and
advancement. Or bonuses based on successful job completions. Or liberal
family-friendly perks such as paid paternity leave or offseason flex time.
People entering the workforce today want to know you care about their life
beyond the work site and will value these efforts.
Provide training now
Use the winter season to train your team on best safety practices, how
to use new tools and how to employ new onsite technologies. Be sure to
take care of all required continuing education credits in the next few
months so youre not forced to pull technicians off the job next summer to
sit in a classroom. Take your employees to the WWETT Show Feb. 17-20 in
Indianapolis. The Indiana Convention Center will be filled with exhibitors
showing all the latest onsite technologies, and a slate of Education Day
seminars and presentations throughout the week will help prepare your
crews for the coming busy season. The more knowledge they gain now, the
better they will be able to tackle onsite challenges come June.

EBOLA

MRSA

Manufacturers of Seal-R Products

5100

3000

Preserves
Sensitive
Environments
DUKES OCEANFRONT
RESTAURANT, MALIBU, CA

Easy Install/O&M

HURRICANES, FLOODS,
STORMS

Survives Many
Weather Disasters
n Protects Health & Environment

n Onsite Residential, Commercial &

Municipal Uses to 100,000+ GPD
n Low Cost/Low Maintenance

n Teflon Barrier Resists Fouling

3G UV
UNIT

9,000 GPD
GRAVITY
FLOW

n Continual Monitoring for Proper Operation

n Most Third Party Tested & Approved
n UL Certified NEMA 6P Floodproof
(30-Days Underwater)
n NSF/Washington State 6-Mo Each Fecal
Coliform Tests with 21 Different ATU Units
n 2-Year Warranty, Unit & Lamp

EXAMPLES OF SALCOR INSTALLATIONS

START MAKING PLANS

This is the time to start looking forward to next spring and figure out
how to address growing demand for your services. Customers will be
calling sooner than you think to schedule work. If you have more hiring ideas
to share with fellow installers, drop me a line at editor@onsiteinstaller.com or
simply go online and start a conversation at the Onsite Installer forums.
Together we can crack the code to finding more quality front-line workers.

Nursing Home, OH
Elementary School, MO 2 Salcor 3G UV Units
3 Salcor 3G UV
in Series with an
Units (Parallel Array)
Activated Sludge
in Extended Aeration
Plant. Replaces
Chlorination

Check out NEW Exclusive Online Content & More!

www.onsiteinstaller.com

Made in
the USA

Mud River Project, WV

Over 100 Salcor 3G UV
Units Installed with
ANUA Peat Filters

Salcor Inc.

F: 760.731.2405

December 2015

Sewage Plant, AK
Little Diomede Island
Salcor 3G UV Unit with
Lifewater Engineering

760.731.0745
jscruver@aol.com
ONSITE INSTALLER |

@onsiteinstaller.com
Visit the site daily for new, exclusive content. Read our blogs, find
resources and get the most out of Onsite Installer magazine.

Overheard Online

BOOTH

3118

SIGNS OF TROUBLE

Reading Concrete

Concrete tanks are a standard in the

wastewater industry, but when you
confront one in the field, how do you
know if it has a problem? Fortunately,
theyre pretty easy to spot, says one
industry expert. And if you do find a
problem, odds are you wont have
to replace the tank. Concrete tanks
are no longer simple things, if
they ever were, but this article
gives you guidance.
onsiteinstaller.com/featured

Its important to be
mindful and consistent
in your approach to
employee vacation
scheduling, which can
save you from getting
into trouble especially
during the summer,
the Christmas season
and other peak
vacation times.
- Prevent Employee
Vacation Scheduling
Nightmares
onsiteinstaller.com/
featured

A r ith m e tic
REFRESHER COURSE

Simple Septic Math

MISSION: POSSIBLE

Team Players

Employees need to know what the

mission is, what theyre working
toward. Everyone needs to be on
the same page. This can be difficult,
but if employees feel respected and
like they are part of the process,
they will fix problems they find along
the way. Read up on how to work
with your employees, particularly the
managers, to discover the reasons
why change (and teamwork)
is necessary and beneficial.
onsiteinstaller.com/featured

Hows your septic math?

There are a couple basic
tank characteristics that are
necessary to know when
maintaining septic and pump
tanks. To determine them in
the field requires the use of
some basic math to determine
areas and volumes. Check
out an example of those basic
calculations and what can be
determined once those
values are known. It might
be time to study up!
onsiteinstaller.com/featured

emails and alerts

Visit OnsiteInstaller.com and sign up for newsletters and alerts.
Youll get exclusive content delivered right to your inbox, and
youll stay in the loop on topics important to you!
CONNECT WITH US

want more?
8 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

Find us on Facebook at
facebook.com/OnsiteInstaller
or Twitter at
twitter.com/OnsiteInstaller

FO
F
OR O
ON
NSI
SIT
TE
E WAS
ASTE
TEWA
AT
TE
ER
PROFES
PR
OF
O
FE
ES
SSI
SION
ONA
AL
LS
S!!

Bio-Microbics FAST and SeptiTech STAARTM systems are proven wastewater solutions.
Universally adaptable, scalable, and connects people to their onsite water source. Whether a
big project or small, we understand todays realities; and, we are ready to help.

www.biomicrobics.com
800-753-3278 (FAST)
sales@biomicrobics.com

BOOTH

5221

2015 Bio-Microbics, Inc.

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

installerprofile

INSPECTOR

GENERAL
An educated, professional team and a burgeoning real estate market spell
success for Tim Shotzberger and Home Land Septic Consulting
By Ted J. Rulseh | Photos by Bob Stockfield

im Shotzberger started his septic system and well inspection company

in Essex, Maryland, believing he could succeed by doing it better
than anyone else.
He struggled for the first few years but managed to grow through the
2008 recession and aftermath. Then the company hit its stride. For the past

Home Land Septic Consulting, LLC,

Essex, Maryland

FOUNDED:

2004

OWNER:

Tim Shotzberger

SERVICE AREA:

14 Maryland counties

EMPLOYEES:

10

SPECIALTIES:

Septic system inspections, well testing

and chlorination

AFFILIATIONS:

Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals

Association (treasurer)

WEBSITE:

www.homelandseptic.com

10 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

few years, Home Land Septic Consulting has grown by about 40 percent
annually and now has 10 employees who performed some 1,400 septic
system inspections and 1,100 well tests in 2014, the vast majority connected
with property sales.
A revived real estate market has certainly helped, but Home Land Septic
thrives in large part by delivering high-quality inspections and detailed
reports, and by providing the high level of service and communication
required by the real estate agents who recommend the company
to homebuyers.
Credit for that, in turn, goes to the field and office staff members, mostly
college graduates, meticulously trained and well compensated. We love
talking up our employees, says Shotzberger. We have their pictures, titles
and short resumes on our website. The field guys have degrees in areas like
chemistry and environmental science. We look for people with science
backgrounds. It isnt always easy because its hard to find smart young
people who are also willing to go out and dig holes every day.

BUSINESS TRAINING
Shotzberger grew up in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and in 2000
earned degrees in economics and finance from Salisbury University in
Maryland. His second job out of college was with Clear Creek Environmental
in Annapolis, a sister company of Wind River Environmental.

<<LEFT: Michel Higgs, left, and Eric Garrett operate a RIDGID SeeSnake camera
looking for potential problems like root infiltration, dips or breaks in the lines.
>>RIGHT: Scott Thompson (left) and Michael Higgs use a Sludge Judge (ColeParmer) to check the waste level. The lid shown is from Fergus Power Pump, Inc.

I was an acquisitions analyst, says Shotzberger. They were looking to

purchase smaller pump truck companies and roll them into something
bigger. I was the financial guy who would go in, look at the numbers and
interview the owners about their practices.
After about a year, Wind River bought out Clear Creek, and Shotzberger
continued in an acquisitions role, evaluating companies in Maryland,
Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New York. Later, he was
made a branch manager for a division in Sterling, Virginia; then he was
transferred to Sykesville, Maryland, and that part of the business was sold
to Fogles Septic Service.

We look for people with science backgrounds. It

isnt always easy because its hard to find smart
young people who are also willing to go out and
dig holes every day.
Tim Shotzberger
I worked for them for a year and a half, and thats when I started my
business, Shotzberger recalls. Short on cash for a startup, he concentrated
on an area of wastewater services with a low threshold to entry and a
perceived upside looking to the future: inspections.
Inspections didnt require a lot of equipment, and it correlated with the
training Id had at Fogles I did a lot of inspections for them, he explains.

DEMAND GROWS
The Maryland Department of Environment (MDE) has a septic system
inspection policy but no regulation requiring inspection for real estate sales.
On the other hand, most homebuyers get inspections because mortgage
lenders require them. That definitely helps us, says Shotzberger. Without
that requirement, this business wouldnt be nearly as productive.
Shotzberger took the inspection certification class that MDE requires.
Since then, the Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association
(MOWPA) has taken over the course and teaches it under MDE auspices.
Shotzberger is a fill-in instructor
and MOWPA treasurer.
It took time to get the business
on sound footing. Shotzberger hit
the pavement, visiting real estate
agents to give them business cards
and information. Its hard to get
business as someone new because
this is a very important job, he
says. Nobody wants to hire you for
a septic inspection unless you have
a reputation and are qualified.
To supplement his income in
the early years, he at various times
operated a lawn care business,
worked as an employment recruiter
(headhunter), and delivered pizzas.
He also tried unsuccessfully to take
David Vincent pulls a septic tank lid in
on a partner and offer well pumps
preparation for an inspection.
and water conditioning.
December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

11

Dave Bancewicz inspects an observation port on a residential septic system.

WE HAVE LIFTOFF
His big break came when he joined the Greater Baltimore Board of
Realtors: They give you marketing opportunities. Realtors belong to the
board, and affiliates like Home Land Septic can sponsor events and get their
name out.
They were kind enough to let me teach an Introduction to Septic
Systems continuing education class. Ive done that for the past several years.
It gets me in front of Realtors, and more importantly, teaching classes gives
me credibility. I can just talk to the people, relate to them, give them answers
and shoot straight. People trust me after I teach the class.
Shotzberger has branched out by building connections with county
Boards of Realtors. Starting in 2012, post-recession, its really in the last
3 1/2 years that weve really started to gel. Its a really good real estate
market. Interest rates are low, theres inventory, there are buyers and sellers.
Its not just about our company doing an excellent job. Its also us riding on
the back of the real estate industry.

We brag about not doing repairs if we find a

problem, were not going to replace your drainfield.
That gives us a lot of credibility.
Tim Shotzberger

His team members help keep the momentum going. Eric Garrett, field
manager, leads the crew of inspectors, which includes Jon Blevins, Dave
Bancewicz, David Vincent, Scott Thompson and Michel Higgs. Working the
office are Erin Moffett, office manager; Amy Pletz, marketing director;
Jessica Harrington, human resources manager; and Holly Dennis,
administrator.

WORKING WITH REALTORS

Recruiting challenges
Its fine to want college graduates in the sciences to work in a well and septic system inspection
business. But how do you recruit them when they have so many other options? Its not easy, but
Home Land Septic Consulting has a plan.
Jessica Harrington, our human resources manager, doubles as a recruiter, says owner Tim
Shotzberger. Shell go to the local colleges and hand out information. One of the events we attend
is a career fair for the math and science majors at the University of Maryland. Jessica has spent
about a year recruiting and has found two good candidates in all that time, both of whom we were
able to hire. She has talked to hundreds and hundreds of people to get those leads.
We tried using a headhunter, but there just arent any out there who can find people this
specific guys who can do blue-collar work but also have college degrees and can write and
communicate well. Four of the companys five inspectors are college graduates, as are all four
office team members.
We hire people who are motivated by money, Shotzberger says. The inspectors are paid
based on commission, and they make a very good income. They get full health insurance and
a match on a 401(k). We provide short-term disability coverage. We treat them well because
we expect a lot from them. The people who have joined our team have thrived, financially
and professionally.
12 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

A professional staff is key to catering to the real

estate industry, Shotzberger says. The agents are the
gatekeepers for most inspections, and Shotzberger
concentrates on his staffs relationship with them.
Realtors expect a very high level of service,
Shotzberger says. You got to be there when the phone
rings. We have four office staff members it takes that
level of staffing to communicate with the Realtors,
answer their questions, talk to underwriters and make
sure the reports are accurate. In addition, our field team
members are well-educated guys who can communicate,
write well and speak well.
New team members take the MDE-required
inspector certification course but get most of their
training in the field. Typically, a new person travels
with an experienced inspector for three months and
must pass a company-created exam before doing
inspections independently. Office staff members travel
with inspectors for at least one day. If theyre going to
explain things to customers over the phone, they need
to go out and see things for themselves.
Although MDE has an inspection form that it
recommends using, Home Land Septic created its own
form. What MDE wants us to do is something more
(continued)

than homebuyers want to pay for. Its mainly a

checklist, although it has spaces for comments
and descriptions of issues. Theres also room to
draw a map of the system.
Aerobic treatment units are increasingly
common. Company inspectors have encountered several models and received training from
the manufacturers in how to educate buyers to
move forward with operations and maintenance. The manufacturers actually frown
upon us doing any type of inspection, Shotzberger says. We pull records from the county
and the manufacturer, make general notes
about the aerobic treatment unit in question,
and suggest the owner contact the appropriate
operations and maintenance person.

Its a really good real estate

market. Interest rates are
low, theres inventory, there
are buyers and sellers. Its
not just about our company
doing an excellent job. Its also
us riding on the back of the
real estate industry.

ABOVE: The work crew at Home Land Septic includes, from left, Scott Thompson, Jon Blevins, Dave Bancewicz, Eric
Garrett, David Vincent and Michel Higgs.
BELOW: The office staff at Home Land Septic includes, from left, Emily Harris, Amy Pletz, Holly Dennis, Tim
Shotzberger, Jessica Harrington and Erin Moffett.

Tim Shotzberger

STEP BY STEP
The first inspection step is to find and
expose the septic tank. While in most cases
there is an access at grade, many tanks must be
located and dug up. Each inspector carries
probes (T&T Tools) and a metal detector (CST/
berger) that can pick up tank rebar at depths of
3 feet. For looking inside tanks, they carry a
mirror and a powerful flashlight; they use a
Sludge Judge tool (Cole-Parmer) to measure the
solids level.
They inspect the distribution box, if that is
accessible, and perform a hydraulic load test,
running water through the system in an amount
based on a formula that includes the number of
bedrooms in the home. The most important part
of the process is probing the drainfield. Because
few systems they encounter have inspection
ports, inspectors use a 3-pound hammer to drive in sections of electrical
ground rod. They pull the rod back and get a reading on whether the stone is
wet or dry or has heavy biomat.
We type up our report, which is a two-page Word document template,
Shotzberger says. We fill in the address, the date and time, the weather
conditions, the size and type of septic tank, and write comments to describe
the system and its condition. We want somebody to be able to come behind
us and do exactly what we did, so we have a lot of detail in our reports. We
email them out to our clients within 24 hours.
The reports stick to observations about the system and do not make
predictions, such as how long a system might last. You can have a great-

14 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

looking system in July, and once the wet season comes around in December,
it could fail, Shotzberger says. We cant measure the water table and what
the groundwater does. On the other hand, if we see a system that is backing
up, that is concrete proof theres a problem, and we will use stronger words.
We actually label it unsatisfactory.
Inspectors dont get involved in negotiations between buyers and sellers
but do answer questions about how septic systems work and how to maintain
them. We pride ourselves on being a third-party inspector, Shotzberger
says. We brag about not doing repairs if we find a problem, were not going
to replace your drainfield. That gives us a lot of credibility. As a shield against
liability, the company carries errors and omissions insurance.

inspections on homes connected to

municipal sewers, another service
referred by real estate agents.
Plumbing in the Baltimore area is
old and bad, and there is a pretty
big demand for sewer inspections.

MORE INFO:
Cole-Parmer

800/323-4340
www.coleparmer.com

CST/berger

800/435-1859
www.cstberger.us

A BRIGHT FUTURE

Right
now,
Shotzbergers
Fergus Power Pump, Inc.
biggest problem (a good one to
218/736-6772
have) is keeping up with growth.
www.ferguspowerpump.com
(See ad page 29)
Its tough because you cant plan
for 40 percent growth, and yet if
RIDGID
you dont plan for it, youre under
800/769-7743
capacity, he says. Last summer,
www.ridgid.com
the company was typically backed
T&T Tools, Inc.
up two weeks with work.
800/521-6893
The team helps hold it all
www.mightyprobe.com
together. Once on board, people
(See ad page 19)
have tended to stay; turnover has
been limited to one inspector and
two office employees.
Were trying to create a family atmosphere, Shotzberger says. Just
recently we had a happy hour at my house, where everybody came with
their families. We really enjoyed ourselves. Theyre good people, and when
you have good people they tend to stick around. O

Dave Bancewicz assembles a pole and mirror to get a closer look inside a septic
tank.

THE RIGHT TOOLS

A custom software tool called Jolene, created by a local developer, Jeremiah
Seitz, helps the office team book appointments and track revenue. We have
three people who answer the phones, so its tough to use a simple spreadsheet
the way we used to, says Shotzberger. With the software, all the office
people can book jobs at the same time without stepping on each others toes.
Once a job gets booked, all the person has to do is mark the date and time
down in Jolene. Its impossible for them to double-book a job.
The company markets almost exclusively through real estate channels.
Thats our bread and butter, and thats where we spend at least 90 percent
of our marketing dollars. Our website is new as of last year, and we love it.
We try to drive people there. It has great information that helps us build
business. People can book a job through the website by sending us
an email.
The field equipment inventory is growing. The company aims to buy an
excavator soon to limit manual digging and to access tanks buried deeper
than 3 feet beyond which Shotzberger will not ask his people to dig
with shovels.
The company recently bought a SeeSnake push camera and an SR-20
locator (both from RIDGID). That helps us find tanks and distribution
boxes, Shotzberger says. With that equipment we can offer a higher-priced
inspection. We can stick that camera in the drainfield lines and get a visual
look at the pipe. We can put on paper to scale exactly how long the front line
is, how long the back line is and how long the drainfield trenches are.
The camera and locator may enable the company to expand into lateral

BOOTH

1446

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

15

WATER & WASTEWATER EQUIPMENT, TREATMENT & TRANSPORT SHOW

spotlight

EDUCATION DAY: Feb. 17, 2016

EXHIBITS OPEN: Feb. 18-20, 2016

Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

Contractor Uses WWETT Show

to Help Attract Franchisees
By Craig Mandli

ith its creative name and Freddie, a playful bright-blue frog as a

brand ambassador, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain created a buzz at the
2015 Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport
(WWETT) Show. The company used WWETT to introduce attendees to the
company and seek new franchisees.
The plumbing and drain cleaning service, repair and replacement franchise
is backed by a national franchise system with more than three decades of
experience. Home Brands Group, the parent company of Re-Bath and 5 Day
Kitchens, seeks to move its brands forward and build systems to help them
sustain long-term growth.
We are aiming for independent company operators that utilize one to four
trucks in their business, says Jeremiah Cundiff, the companys franchise
development director. Under our plan, the independent contractor would
convert to our franchise, with the goal of growing the business into six or
more trucks.
According to Cundiff, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain focuses on providing
consumers with five attributes, including timeliness, safety, professionalism,
consideration and a transparent value.
The brand is easily marketable, and franchisees are required to stay open
24/7, 365 days a year, with no extra charges for nights, weekends or holiday
calls, he explains. Service technicians give each client a courtesy call while on
their way with the projected arrival time, and for security purposes can email a
photo of themselves to the client prior to arrival at their home.
We train our franchisees on a different way of operating a business, he
says. Our system shifts away from price to a value-based service. Instead of
offering the lowest price, our intent is to offer the best service and increase the
value for the client.
To handle increased business, the company provides education on how
small businesses can add valuable employees to their teams. The idea focuses
on helping the owner of the franchise leverage their trade knowledge by getting
them out of the truck and into a managerial role.
One of the biggest reasons small companies struggle with increased
business is that typically the owner is a plumber thats still running service calls
every day instead of taking the time to build and oversee his team, says
Cundiff. We help that owner find the right technicians to field his service calls
and positively represent his business. We want technicians that understand the
importance of a positive customer experience.
The new franchise opportunity adds an additional revenue stream thats
relevant to existing septic service and installation businesses. For instance,
Cundiff says that several franchise partners are composed of independent
system installers looking to expand their service offerings, as well as independent

16 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

Jeff Moody, middle, vice president of operations for bluefrog Plumbing + Drain,
discusses franchisee opportunities with two attendees at the 2015 WWETT Show.
The company is aimed at wastewater service professionals looking to increase
service offerings. (Photo by Craig Mandli)

plumbers who are looking to apply the proven system. That idea appealed to
several WWETT attendees.
Many of the treatment system installers Ive spoken with at this show are
already master plumbers, so this is a great opportunity for them to leverage that
to great additional revenue opportunities, says Cundiff. Coming in to this
show, our goal was to leave with three or four strong franchise partner leads. We
had 22 strong leads just the first day. We couldnt be happier with the response.
At the 2016 show, bluefrog Plumbing + Drain will again be looking to add
trustworthy, independent contractors who have an entrepreneurial drive to its
franchise system. The ideal prospect is an established independent plumber or
septic service technician who is bottom-line driven, customer-service oriented,
and has a passion for community involvement.
The great thing about this show in particular is the varied locations of
the attendees, says Cundiff. I have talked with people from all around
the country and Canada. A big goal of ours is expanding the companys
reach, so our opportunity at WWETT is great. 844/260-3764;
www.whateveryplumbermustknow.com. O

BOOTH

2275

BOOTH

1331

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

17

Rules and Regs is a monthly feature in

Onsite Installer. We welcome information
about state or local regulations of potential
broad interest to onsite contractors. Send
ideas to editor@onsiteinstaller.com.

rulesandregs

North Dakota Judge Blocks

Clean Water Act Updates
By Doug Day

park but say she did nothing to remedy the situation. About 80 families had
to relocate their mobile homes. Alabama Power said it could cost up to $1
million to remove all illegal systems and clean up the property. Fewer than 30
structures remained on the land at the time of the final court ruling.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys new Clean Water Act rules
were blocked in August by a federal judge in North Dakota. The EPA says the
temporary injunction from U.S. District Judge Ralph Erickson applies only to
North Dakota and 12 other states (Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado,
Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, South Dakota
and Wyoming). The EPA says it will continue to enforce the rule in the rest of
the country. The North Dakota case is one of 10 cases pending across the
country affecting a total of 29 states.
Designed to clear up confusion over various court rulings on challenges
to the 1972 Clean Water Act that put into doubt what waters were under
jurisdiction of the law, the revisions seemed to increase the uncertainty.
Opponents of the rule, on their Ditch the Rule website, call it a federal land
grab that would immensely expand the EPAs jurisdiction and cover
puddles, ponds, ditches, dry streams, groundwater and isolated wetlands. In
response, the EPA started its own Ditch the Myth website saying the rule
reduces the scope of waters under its jurisdiction, does not protect any
waters that have not historically been covered under the Clean Water Act,
and protects fewer waters than before.
The judge ruled the EPA exceeded its authority in its update to the Clean
Water Act, which has been opposed by agricultural, business, energy, housing
development and other groups. A federal judge in West Virginia declined to
block the rule in August.

A lawsuit filed against the operator of a large onsite wastewater system

alleges a decade of violations and overflows. The Arkansas Department of
Environmental Quality filed the suit in August against Property Owners
Improvement District Number 5, which provides onsite wastewater treatment
for more than 400 homes in a subdivision near Farmington, Arkansas. ADEQ
seeks $420,000 in penalties and proof that the operator can run the system
properly.
Inspections found overflows from an aeration pond and manhole, along
with solid waste on the ground and in a tributary of the Illinois River more
than a mile away. An emergency order required the district to stop the
discharges and to make repairs. The department says similar incidents
occurred in 2007, 2008, and yearly since 2012. The Improvement District was
fined $2,150 in 2014. According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette
newspaper, the operator claims the system is oversized, built for three times
the number of homes it serves, so the wastewater levels dont get high enough
to move waste to the next stages of treatment.

OHIO

WISCONSIN

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency has released up to $5 million

for low-income homeowners to repair and replace failing onsite wastewater
treatment systems. The Water Pollution Control Loan Fund provides the
principal-forgiveness loans through local health districts, with each district
eligible for a maximum of $300,000 in 2016. Local districts must nominate
projects, which are then selected based on state EPA criteria. The program has
been revived after being phased out two years ago. Another $18.5 million is
available to communities to correct combined sewer overflows or to provide
sanitary sewer for unserved areas.

Amish families in Wisconsin will now be able to get a waiver from state
plumbing, electrical and building codes that violate their religious beliefs. The
exemption was included in this years state budget and is available to members
of all established religious sects. The state has about 17,000 Amish, ranking it
fourth in the nation, and some have been fined or evicted for violating codes.
Under the waivers, the Amish will not have to install smoke or carbon
monoxide detectors or follow electrical or plumbing codes of the state or local
community that violate their religion. David Mortimor of the National
Committee for Amish Religious Freedom says the law could be a model for
other states.

ALABAMA
A state circuit court judge has issued a final ruling that requires remaining
structures in a mobile home park and marina to be removed. Septic tank
failures and graywater discharge problems resulted in a notice of violation to
the property owner, Alabama Power Company, which leased the 37 acres to
Lake Martins Pleasure Point Park and Marina. The company was cited in
2013 for 19 violations, including unpermitted and illegal septic systems and
graywater discharges from the mobile homes, resulting in cancellation of the
lease. Residents had reported problems to the operator of the mobile home

18 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

ARKANSAS

DELAWARE
An effort to reduce nitrogen from septic tank effluent in the Chesapeake
Bay watershed is running behind schedule. The Chesapeake Bay Foundation
reports that reduction efforts are more than 10 percent behind schedule for
the 2017 goals. Septic systems contribute 3 percent of the nitrogen in
Delawares watershed, and 7 percent in Maryland. The two states require the
use of the best available technology for new or replaced systems near the bay.
That covers about 1,500 lots in Delaware and 52,000 in Maryland. O

Your Wastewater Treatment System

Shouldnt need Mission Control to run it!
Eljen GSF
Affordable and
Non-Mechanical
Treatment Solutions

Simple, Effective, Easy to Use.

Passive dual filtration equals

affordable performance with
little to no maintenance.
Compliant with NSF/ANSI
Standard 40.
30 Years of continued
industry success.
CORPORATION

BOOTH

4259

Innovative Environmental Products and Solutions Since 1970

1-800-444-1359

eljen.com

BOOTH

6000

BOOTH

4124

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

19

stateofthestate

Go-To Educators

Even without state training requirements, the Kansas Small Flows

Association seeks to raise the professionalism of its membership
By Doug Day

he Kansas Small Flows Association (KSFA) has one prime objective

for onsite professionals in the Sunflower State: providing education
and training. With no state requirements for licensing or continuing
education, KSFA works to keep contractors and regulators up to date and
promote the proper use and installation of septic systems.
Executive Director Charlene Weiss has been involved with the group
since it formed in 1997, serving time on the board of directors and terms as
president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. After 25 years as a regulator
at the county level, Weiss became executive director of KSFA in 2013. Jessi
Woods is a board member and past president.
What do you offer in the way of training?
Weiss: We try to be the educational source in Kansas. Its a hard thing
to do when you dont have regulations that require regulators, much less
installers, to attend classes. We have 85 members; it has been as high as 110.
Its almost 50-50 between contractors, a couple who are both installers and
pumpers, and regulators, with some manufacturers and engineers.
We have 14 courses. In the past, weve offered them when counties ask
us to do training for their contractors. We have talked about changing that a
little bit.

Id like to see our association double in size.

When you see states that require contractors to
have licenses and continuing education,
it seems like it helps the state associations.
Charlene Weiss

In October 2014, we received a $43,500 grant from the U.S. Environmental

Protection Agency 319 fund through the Kansas Department of Health and
Environment to educate regulators. Weve trained about 35, including a twoday soils workshop, the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
(NOWRA) conference, and regulators could get scholarships to attend
educational sessions at our annual conference. Well be doing another soils
workshop and have one additional class to set up.

20 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

Charlene Weiss

executive director of Kansas Small

Flows Association, 913/594-1472 or
kansassmallflows@ksfa.org

KSFA

Woods: The two-day training materials

were provided by NOWRA. In January 2015, we
paid for five contractors to attend Certified
Installers of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems (CIOWTS) training and
sit for the exam provided by the National Environmental Health Association.
Four of them passed the test that was conducted at our annual conference
in February.
We are hoping counties will adopt CIOWTS as a form of licensing and
would allow our educational programs to be continuing education for that.
Where does the regulatory power reside in Kansas?
Weiss: With the counties. The state has minimum standards, Bulletin
4-2, from the early 1980s. Most counties have their own codes that refer to
Bulletin 4-2, which has not been revised since 1997. There is one county and
several cities that have no local regulations. The state regulates those entities
as necessary.
The counties I worked in were fairly active and more advanced as far as
not being afraid to look at alternative systems. Several years ago I was on a
committee to rewrite the Kansas Environmental Health Handbook. We tried
to cover everything from the original EPA manual from 1980 and update it
to add alternative and advanced treatment systems.
Does it work?
Weiss: Thats a good question. In many counties, the population is so
sparse that its not critical. The counties that have codes, a lot of them read
the same. That makes it more consistent. Contractors have a harder time
than anyone. They may work in four or five counties and something might be
a little bit different in each.
Id guess that about 25 percent of counties require some type of licensing
or permitting for contractors, but not many require continuing education. Its
hard to get the word out to contractors about KSFA when you have county-

by-county regulations, and we have to rely on counties for names and

addresses. If they dont license them, they may not even have that information.
In the counties where I worked, wed have 50-some licensed installers,
but there were maybe 10 or 12 who did most of the work. Its hard to require
continuing education and things like that for people who very seldom put in
a system.

Your Trusted Source

for
Control Panels

Simplex Control Solutions

There has been a loss of some funding for counties.

Is that having an effect?
Weiss: There had been funding from 1990 until 2011 for the Local
Environmental Protection Program. (LEPP provided grants to local
governments for regulating wastewater and water systems. It was cut in 2011
through a budget veto by Gov. Sam Brownback.) The money received was
based on population, so some counties only received $7,000 a year but that
was enough for them to at least have one sanitarian to administer the code.
To get the funding the code had to meet Bulletin 4-2, and to keep the
funding you had to have someone administering the code. At one time, 100
percent of the counties had some kind of code. With the loss of those funds,
there may still be an existing code in a county, but it may not be administered.
Thats one reason why KSFA was interested in NOWRAs lobbying efforts
last year and even contributed to it in hopes of some federal monies coming
our way through the state.
What would be your ultimate goal?
Woods: Weve always wanted some sort of a common state-licensing
program. We realized after a couple of years of trying to get there, because of
the way things are set up, that was not going to be a very effective way to get
it done. Thats when we started going county by county, connecting with the
bigger counties first, trying to get them on board with our educational
programs and CIOWTS certification and hoping they would adopt our
programs and it would trickle down.
Weiss: There are installers that are very active in our association, and I
think that is a key. We need more of them to be active. They can help spread
the word.
Kansas provided guidance last year for local governments covering
graywater reuse for single-family homes. What has been the reaction?
Weiss: I served on the state committee to get feedback from regulators
and help write the specifications. They are fairly restrictive. Kansas has been
very conservative. I dont know that theres anybody who has used them yet.
It will be a long time before you see a sprinkler system for graywater that
you may have in other states. Everything still has to be subsurface, so really
about the only way you can do anything is with drip irrigation. Thats pretty
difficult. There are also only certain times of year you can do it, not when the
ground is frozen, so youd have to have a storage tank to be able to hold
the graywater.
But at least we have something that we didnt have before. A separate
graywater system for watering your landscape, even though its subsurface,
would not have even been discussed, probably. All of us on the committee
felt it would be so much easier if you were building a new house. It would be
really difficult to try to meet the specifications with an existing home.
Looking out a few years, what would you like to see?
Weiss: Id like to see our association double in size. When you see states
that require contractors to have licenses and continuing education, it seems
like it helps the state associations. But even if the counties required it, that
would be a big boost to our association and allow us to offer a lot more
training and have a crowd where we have to turn people away. That would
be awesome. O

Sim-A

Simple Simplex
BOOTH

5429

698A

n Single & Three Phase

n Low Cost Solution

n Large Panel Selection

n Under 1 hp

n 120/208/240/480 Systems

n Single Phase 120V AC

508A

www.seewaterinc.com Phone: 888-733-9283

Water
ater Tight Structur
Structures
2 Compartment
Commercial Sizes - Gallons

2,000 - 3,000 - 5,000 - 6,000 - 8,000

10,000 - 12,000 - 15,000 - 18,000
20,000 - 25,000 - 30,000 - 38,000 - 40,000
Water Tight Construction
Tanks meet ASTM C1227 and C913

Septic Tanks - Sand Filters - Grease Interceptors

Bio-Fast Tanks - Nibbler Tanks

Nationwide Service

Precast, Inc.

PCI & NPCA Certified Plant

1-800-658-9045
www.crestprecastconcrete.com

info@crestprecastconcrete.com

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

21

wwettshow.com

Act Now!

Make your plans early to attend

the industrys largest annual event!

Represented Industries

Septic Pumping
Onsite Installation
Portable Sanitation
Dewatering
Grease Handling
Sewer Cleaning
Laterals & Mainlines
TV Inspection
Pipeline Rehab/CIPP
Waterblasting

Plumbing
High-Pressure Cleaning
Safety Equipment
Confined Space
Lift Stations
Computer Software
Industrial Vacuuming
Hydroexcavation
Trenchless Pipe Repair
Utility Location

And Much More!

Save $30!

70

PER PERSON

WHEN YOU

REGISTER BY

Jan 22nd.
$100 per person at the door.
Children 12 and under admitted free.

Register online at wwettshow.com

or call 866-933-2653

Education Day Sessions

Wednesday, February 17, 2016
NAWT

National Association of Wastewater Technicians

Rooms 234-236
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Basics of Septic System Control Panels

Using Septic Control Panels to Troubleshoot Systems
Inspecting Concrete Sewage Tanks
An Exercise in Septic System Troubleshooting
The Basics of Inspecting Drip Systems
NAWT Ask the Experts Panel Discussion

SSCSC

National Association of Sewer Service Companies

Rooms 130-132

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Positioning Yourself for Promotion and Succession Planning

Step Up Your Game! Taking Current CCTV Inspection
Technology to the Next Level
Trailer Jetting Getting the Most Out of Your Equipment
Vacuuming: the Other Half of the Combination Unit
Sewer System Maintenance Challenges and Solutions
SSCSC Ask the Experts Panel Discussion

SSPMA

Sump and Sewage Pump Manufacturers Association

Rooms 133-135
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Understanding Pumps and Common Pumping Issues

Evaluation and Installation of Backup Pump Systems
Best Installation Practices for Trouble-Free Pump Controls
Troubleshooting Pumps, Panels and Switches
with Digital Multimeters
Sizing Guidelines for Sump, Sewage and Grinder Pumps
SSPMA Ask the Experts Panel Discussion

NOWRA

National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association

Rooms 240-242
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.

Introduction to Soils
Onsite Septic System Loading Rates and Site Layout
Making Infiltration Decisions
Understanding Soil Surface Design
Soil Dispersal Comparison
Introduction to the Elements of Onsite System
Design and Regulations
Onsite Septic System Hydraulics and Pump Design

Business Strategies

4:30 p.m.

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

Portable Sanitation

Rooms 140-142

11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

How Much Should I Charge?

Business Game Changers: Top 5 Secret Strategies
for Massive Growth in Your Service Business
The Un-Business Plan Making Your Business
Less Complicated But More Profitable
How to Use Superior Customer Service to Increase Sales
Reward the Right Stuff: Finding, Training and
Keeping Great Team Members
Is Your Business Prepared for a Crisis?

Rooms 136-138
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Marketing Basics: How to Effectively and Efficiently Grow

Your Portable Sanitation Sales
Trust How to Build it and Use it to Grow Your
Portable Sanitation Business
Portable Sanitation Forum: Current and Future Critical
Issues Affecting the Industry Discussion

Industry Safety
Rooms 237-239
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Pre-Engineered Shoring Systems for Cross-Trench

Utility Challenges
Excavation Safety
OSHA Confined Space, Air Monitoring and
Fall Protection Explained

NASSCO

Southern Section Collection Systems Committee

Rooms 231-233

Cleaning Nozzle Technology

Large vs. Small-Diameter Pipe Cleaning
The Lower Lateral The New Frontier in Sewer Rehab
Chemical Grouting Technologies
The Growth of the UV Cured CIPP Process
NASSCO Ask the Experts Panel Discussion

Treatment Plant
Operator
Rooms 243-245
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Effective Strategies for Collections System Management

Sustainable Innovation in Biosolids Management
Pretreatment and Wastewater Lagoon Management
Septage Collection and Treatment
Large Scale FOG/Septage Receiving Station
Lantern Environmental Project Case History
Progress in Electrochemical Water Treatment in Last Century

WJTA-IMCA

Water Jet Technology Assoc. - Industrial Municipal Cleaning Assoc.

Rooms 237-239
1:30 p.m.
3 p.m.
4:30 p.m.

Proper Industrial Truck Maintenance Can More Than

Pay for Itself in Productivity and Safety
Air Conveyance Through an Industrial Vacuum Truck
Vacuum Excavation Applications and Opportunities

Women in Business

Rooms 136-138
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Marketing to Women
Women of Wastewater: Building a Community of Allies
Women in Wastewater Roundtable

Vacuum Truck Equipment and Operation Training

presented by NAWT National Association of Wastewater Technicians
Rooms 109-110

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

This day-long session will discuss in detail the equipment on vacuum trucks and how to operate them. Pumping terms
will be covered, as will safety principles, materials often encountered on the job and government regulations.

WWETT Education Sessions

Thursday, February 18, 2016
Liquid Waste
Treatment & Disposal

Sewer & Drain Cleaning,

Inspection & Repair

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

Rooms 130-132

11 a.m.

Analysis of Drainfield Failures and Restoration Methods

Cash In on Community System Operations and
Maintenance
Ultra-Efficient Inspection Technique to Locate Leaks on
Septic Systems

Rooms 133-135

11 a.m.

Using the Clean Water Act to Grow Profits

Winning Trench Warfare Finding Profitability
in Sewer/Septic Work
Your Best Shot at Sewer Success
How to Get the Most From Inspection Technology

Business Strategies
Rooms 136-138
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

How Self-Employed People Can Make More Money

Growing Your Business in a Tough Economy
Staying in Front of Your Customer

NOWRA Design Course

Rooms 240-242

SSCSC Sewer & Drain

Cleaning Course
Rooms 231-233
8 a.m.
10 a.m.

Hands-On Nozzle Technology

Hands-On Jetter Hose Maintenance Care and Repair

Onsite Septic Installation,

Repair & Design
Rooms 237-239
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Overview of Application, Design, Installation

and Operation of Drip Dispersal Systems
Onsite System Pump Design Made Easy
The Onsite Wastewater Industry and Our Carbon Footprint

Sewer & Pipe Rehabilitation,

Relining & Repair
Treatment Plant Operator
Rooms 234-236
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Take Control of Inflow and Infiltration in Manholes

When Things Go Wrong on a Lining Job
Taking Small-Diameter Drain Lining Inside Infrastructure

Rooms 243-245

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Mound and At-Grade Design

Low-Pressure Pipe in Drainfield Distribution
Subsurface Drip Irrigation

Municipal Sewer & Water

Rooms 140-142
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

How to Recover Non-Revenue Water

Phased Assessment Strategy for Sewers - Understanding
Sewer Condition Quicker with Fewer Resources
The Science of Pipe Cleaning Flow and Pressure

Smart Water Technology in Theory and Practice

Dissolved Ozone in Municipal Collection, Treatment
and Disposal
Municipal Biological Waste Treatment

Many states
approve WWETT
education sessions
toward fulfilling
required certified
education units or
professional development hours.
See wwettshow.com
for a list of approved
states and courses.

wwettshow.com 866-933-2653

Friday, February 19, 2016

Liquid Waste
Treatment & Disposal

Sewer & Drain Cleaning,

Inspection & Repair

Rooms 130-132
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Rooms 133-135

Fact vs. Fiction: The Top Ten Septic Myths

All About Facultative Bacteria
Brown Grease Recovery From Grease Trap Waste: Science
and Economics

8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Advanced Pipe Bursting

Low-Latency, High-Definition Video Over
Coaxial Cable for Remote Inspection
Plumbers vs. Technicians: The Slow Decline of the
Tradesman

Industry Safety
Rooms 140-142
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Identifying and Managing Risk

in a Septic or Sewer Business
How Well Do You Know Your Cleaning Hose?
Pathogen Exposures to Workers in the Onsite Industry

Municipal Sewer & Water

Rooms 231-233
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Business Strategies

Using Acoustic Inspection to Prioritize Sewer Cleaning

Evaluation of Automatic Filters for Nozzle Protection in
Recycled Water Applications
Flow Monitoring How to Make Your Program Successful

Creating a Data-Driven Strategic Marketing Plan

What Every Sewer and Drain Contractor Needs to Know
About Asset Protection, Tax Reduction and Estate Planning

Municipal Sewer & Water

Rooms 240-242
11 a.m.

GIS: Empowering Water, Wastewater and

Waste Removal Organizations

Rooms 136-138
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Rooms 234-236
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

Treatment Plant Operator

Rooms 243-245
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.
11 a.m.

Insights into Ozone Water Treatment Plants

Wastewater Microbiology
How to Ensure Gold is the Result Choosing the Right
Dewatering Equipment

Know the State of Your Business Using

Business Charts and Reports
Using Software to Save Time and Increase Profits
Using Mobile Devices for Business

Sewer & Pipe

Rehabilitation,
Relining & Repair

11 a.m.

Rooms 240-242
8 a.m.
9:30 a.m.

Business Software &

Technology

Buying Back Capacity

Successful Reduction of I&I Using the Holistic
Approach to Sewer Rehabilitation
Large Scale Centrifugally Cast Concrete Pipe Culvert
Rehab in CO Dept. of Transportation Region 1

COLE Publishings
Onsite Installer Course
Rooms 237-239

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.

This day-long session will walk professionals through

an introduction to proper installation practices for the
sustainable use of onsite treatment systems

Detailed session information available at:

www.wwettshow.com

systemprofile

Wastewater Treatment on
a Craggy Rock in the Ocean
A lighthouse island off Maines wild coastline was a forbidding setting to
provide an effective onsite system for a bed-and-breakfast inn
By David Steinkraus

single entry on the permit form summed up the challenge of the

project Type replaced: Overboard discharge. Year installed: 1892.
Things have changed between 1892 and now. Modern codes
would not allow a pipe to dump untreated wastewater into the Atlantic
Ocean for a new bed-and-breakfast operation built in a renovated lighthouse
along the coast of Maine. Yet a creative group of wastewater professionals
developed a solution that enabled the business to proceed while containing
and treating all the wastewater on what is little more than a rock table
sticking out of the ocean.

REUSING HISTORY
The lighthouse was built on the Cuckolds Islands, about 1/2 mile
offshore from Boothbay Harbor, which is itself about 30 miles up the coast
from Maines largest city, Portland. A fog station has been here since 1892,
and the lighthouse since 1907. Both warned ships away from a pair of rock
ledges that would rip open hulls. In 2006 ownership of the lighthouse was

26 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

transferred to the private group Cuckolds Fog Signal & Light Station
Council, which began restoration.
When the plan for a bed-and-breakfast came up, wastewater disposal
was a major question. Because the island is bedrock with a thin covering of
soil in some places, there was not enough treatment capacity for the planned
use. The first proposed solution was to pump wastewater through a 1.5-mile
pipe on the ocean bed and up the coast of the mainland. There it would
come ashore, go beneath a small freshwater pond and an asphalt road, and
end on a parcel of land where it would be treated. This proposal ran into
opposition from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and state regulators who
were concerned about the potential for underwater leaks and other harm to
the environment.

A TOTAL ONSITE SOLUTION

Engineers from the Knickerbocker Group assembled a team that
included environmental consultant and system designer Albert Frick of

<< Opposite Page: White bags hold dirt ready to be spread

across the rocky island where the Cuckolds Islands lighthouse sits off
the coast of Maine. The shed at left was a boathouse and was
repurposed to hold the BUSSE membrane bioreactors.
BELOW: A boat hauls supplies to the Cuckolds Islands
project off the coast of Maine. This was a calm day, but wind
and waves sometimes prevented work.
>> RIGHT: David Potts (left) and Dan Borkowski (center)
build the absorption field at the Cuckolds Islands lighthouse.
Wastewater comes from the shed in the background that
holds the BUSSE membrane bioreactors. (Photos courtesy of
Albert Frick)

Albert Frick Associates, David Potts of Geomatrix Systems LLC, and Ingo
Schaefer of BUSSE GT.
The BUSSE system uses aerobic digestion paired with microfiltration
membranes to treat wastewater to rainwater quality, meaning less than 5
mg/L of BOD and TSS, and less than one fecal coliform. Then the SoilAir and Geomatrix system takes over. It pumps wastewater and air to the
distribution field where Geomatrix GeoMat fabric helps disperse the water.
Thus the system tackles treatment with aerobic digestion in two ways, Frick
says. One is in the membrane bioreactor, and the other is at the soilwater interface.

When you look at this project, what we essentially

did was put a wastewater system on top of a boulder
sitting in the water. We are now at a point with
technology where you can have both
development and sustainability.

SYSTEM PROFILE
Location:

Cuckolds Islands, Maine

Facility served:

Bed-and-breakfast inn at Cuckolds Lighthouse

Designer:

Albert Frick Associates Inc., Gorham, Maine

Installer:

Albert Frick Associates; BUSSE GT of Oak Park,

Illinois; and Geomatrix Systems LLC of
Old Saybrook, Connecticut

Type of system:

BUSSE membrane bioreactor with SoilAir/

Geomatrix dispersal

Site conditions:

Loamy gravel and gravelly sand

Hydraulic capacity: 450 gpd

Albert Frick

From the lighthouse building where the bed-and-breakfast is, wastewater

flows by gravity through a 4-inch pipe to an older plastic septic tank
repurposed as a settling and pump tank. A 1/2 hp solids pump pushes
wastewater through a 2-inch line to a four-tank BUSSE model 500 housed
in what was once a boathouse. The first of the four tanks is for settling. Then
there is an aerated mixing tank, and finally two aerated tanks equipped
with membrane filtration.
From the BUSSE tanks, effluent moves through 1/2-inch tubes to a
275-gallon plastic tank holding a pair of Goulds 1/3 hp pumps. These
alternately send effluent through about 50 feet of 2-inch Schedule 40 pipe
to the manifold. A pair of SoilAir blowers push air through the pipes and
into the soil. This also blows particulate matter and water out of the orifices
to prevent the accumulation of slime and to minimize the need to brush or
jet laterals. A custom Geomatrix control panel runs the system. It is time-

dosed unless the flow is heavy, in which case a float shifts the system to
pump on demand.
The absorption field consists of 470 feet of 1-inch pressure pipe divided
into three zones to match the contours of the bedrock. Lateral lengths range
from 9 to 21 feet, and laterals were spaced 16 inches on center. Orifices are
5/32-inch diameter, drilled 3 feet on center, and covered with GeoMat
orifice shields equipped with a pin to keep the shields aligned over the
orifices. Laterals are covered with GeoMat fabric. It attracts water
(hydrophilic) to create a more even distribution across the absorption field.
The field is set on 3 inches of pea gravel spread on the bedrock and topped
with 12 inches of gravelly coarse sand. On top of that is another 4 inches of
gravelly coarse sand, and 4 inches of loam on top of that provides a base for
a lawn.
When the system is winterized, another part of the system comes into
play. All remaining effluent is pumped to the absorption field. Residual
December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

27

<< LEFT: The BUSSE membrane bioreactor system is housed in a shed that used to
be a boathouse for the Cuckolds Islands
lighthouse.

solids, maybe 25 to 75 gallons per year, are moved from the BUSSE tanks to
a 125-gallon Infiltrator chamber. A third SoilAir blower supplies oxygen to
this chamber so the solids decompose just like a compost pile. This
eliminates the need to bring a pump truck out to the island or arrange the
logistics of moving solids to the mainland.

CHALLENGES
This system presented several major challenges.
First was working on an island. Even though it is only about 1/2 mile
offshore, at times the wind, waves and tide made it hard to off-load
equipment and supplies. On the final day of work for Potts, environmental
scientist and president of Geomatrix and SoilAir Systems, the weather
shifted and prevented him and engineer Dan Borkowski from reaching the
island. Because of the logistical difficulties, they took a large inventory of
specialty parts, including items they didnt think they would need. Common
items were sourced from local stores because the nearest supply house was
a 90-minute round trip.
Equipment and people were moved to and from the island with a
combination of private boats and a contracted barge.
Soil to backfill the installation site was brought out in bags. The
advanced treatment also helped keep this cost down because it did not
require a large absorption field. The cost of backfill on the mainland might
be $15 per cubic yard, but when you barge it out and handle it in bags, and
drop it off at the dock, and spread it around, the cost of the fill may approach
$50 to $100 a yard in labor and logistics, Frick says.
When they headed for the island, they didnt know exactly what they
would find. On shore you know the contour of the land. That wasnt the
case on Cuckolds Islands, Frick says. They basically stripped all the soil
which is a glacial till sandy loam saw where the bedrock was, and then
chipped away at some of the peaks to get the best fit. The bedrock is a
metamorphic rock, like a schist, and the chipping was done with a hydraulic
hammer attached to a mini-excavator.
Normally he and his staff only consult on systems, Potts says. But in this
case, with the topography unknown, it made sense to design and build at
the same time. When the soil came off, workers found a deep pocket in the
bedrock that no one knew about. This became the site for the absorption
field because it provided the greatest depth of soil for tertiary treatment and
absorption. As a result, the absorption field changed. The shape remained
roughly the same, but Potts and Borkowski decided to break it into three
zones so each could be at a different height and conform closely to the
contours of the rock.

28 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

ABOVE: David Potts (left) and Dan

Borkowski of SoilAir and Geomatrix build
the absorption field for the Cuckolds Islands
lighthouse project off the coast of Maine.
The field was split into three zones to more
closely match the contours of the rocky
islands.
>>RIGHT: Albert Frick drills a hole in what
will become the pump tank to move water
from the BUSSE units to the absorption field.

NATURAL WATER FLOW

When the system is done treating wastewater, it will flow through the
soil and into the ocean as it does naturally when the shallow soils of the
island become saturated, Frick says. Quite a bit will be taken up by the soil
and the grass in the ceremonial lawn atop the absorption field.
The use of technology may be advanced, but this is not an uncommon
project along the coast of Maine where the use of GPS navigation technology has made lighthouses almost
obsolete, Frick says. New construction would not be allowed because
MORE INFO:
of modern standards, but Maine
BUSSE GT
grandfathered these sites and
708/204-3504
www.busse-gt.com
requires owners to use the best
treatment they can while giving
Geomatrix Systems, LLC
regulators latitude to determine
888/764-5247
what is acceptable. In the case of
www.geomatrixsystems.com
Cuckolds Islands, the high quality
of effluent coming out of the system
Goulds Water Technology convinced regulators to reduce the
a xylem brand
866/325-4210
setback from the ocean, Frick says.
www.goulds.com
When you look at this project,
what we essentially did was put a
Infiltrator Water
wastewater system on top of a
Technologies, LLC
boulder sitting in the water. We are
800/221-4436
now at a point with technology
www.infiltratorwater.com
(See ad page 3)
where you can have both
development and sustainability,
SoilAir Systems
Frick says. O
860/510-0730
www.soilair.com

onsite CONTROLS
No matter the application, weve got it under control,
from oat switches to event monitoring control
panels, and everything in between. Now backed
by our industry-leading ve-year limited warranty!

New & Improved PS Patrol System

The newly enhanced PS Patrol system

features a sleek angled clear enclosure
with a removable cover for easy access for eld wiring. All components are
sealed within the cover for protection
from the elements. Red LEDs illuminate
cover for 360o visual of alarm condition.

www.sjerhombus.com

IFS Panels with C-Level Sensor

Tank Alert EZ Alarm System

C-Level sensor detects the liquid

level in the tank and sends a signal
to the IFS panel. Pump activation and
alarm levels are adjusted on the panel
touch pad, eliminating the need to go
into the tank. One C-Level sensor
simulates up to four (oat) levels.

Duel Power Lid

This new alarm is all about making installations easier! It features an innovative enclosure which integrates the
red LED beacon, external mounting
tabs for quick installation and a removable cover which allows greater access
for easier eld wiring.

ALITA LINEAR AIR PUMP

 Full range of efficient and reliable aeration

Plugs, Lids & Adaptor Rings

Sizes Available:

pumps for Aerobic Treatment Unit

 Low energy cost and quiet operation
 3 Years Manufacturer Limited Warranty
 Parts and repair available for variety of
brands of linear air pumps
 Call 626-962-2116 for more information

18", 24",
30" & 36"

Fergus Power Products

Providing Environmental Products

The Company who maintains a pulse on the environment!

Toll Free 1 - 8 0 0 - 2 4 3 - 7 5 8 4
E-mail fpproducts@prtel.com

www.FergusPowerProducts.com

UL

ALITA INDUSTRIES, INC.

US

P.O. Box 660923, Arcadia, CA 91066-0923, USA

phone: (626) 962-2116 fax: (626) 962-2177
on-line: www.alita.com e-mail: sales@alita.com

UL certified in compliance to USA and Canada

safety standards for outdoor air compressors

FOR

GET
EMAIL NEWS
ALERTS
Go to onsiteinstaller.com/alerts and get started today!

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

29

Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E.,

are connected with the University of Minnesota
onsite wastewater treatment education program.
Dave is Extension Onsite Sewage Treatment
Educator. Jim is former director of the universitys
Water Resources Center and is now an emeritus
professor, and works with the National
Association of Wastewater Technicians education
committee. Readers are welcome to submit
questions or article suggestions to Jim and Dave.
Write to ander045@umn.edu.

basictraining

Be a Floodplain Detective

Look for obvious and telltale signs that your proposed site for an onsite
system is likely to be underwater at some point in the future
By Jim Anderson and David Gustafson

rom time to time, people ask us about systems installed in floodplains

and other areas subject to ponding. They ask how to determine if an
area is subject to flooding.
As we view it, there are at least two types of situations an installer may
face relative to systems that could flood. The first is the scenario most
people think about: building a system in the 100-year floodplain. The
second is in areas where temporary ponding occurs from snowmelt or
runoff. Both of these situations need to be considered when designing and
installing a system.

County soil survey information easily accessed through the Web soil
survey will indicate soils and areas that are prone to flooding or ponding
due to landscape position, as well as indicate drainageways or intermittent
streams in a given area. Some states we have worked with, including Arizona
and New Mexico, have provisions where intermittent streams, drainageways,
washes or arroyos are present and typically have 25- to 50-foot minimum
setbacks from the edges of these features. In semiarid climates, water may
very seldom run in these features, but when it does run the flow is
usually significant.

MAPS WILL HELP

LANDSCAPE FEATURES

Flooding for the regulatory purpose of establishing a floodplain is

the temporary covering of the soil surface by flowing water from streams
overflowing their banks, runoff from surrounding slopes or any combination
of sources. This is distinguished from the temporary ponding of water over

Here are a few keys to identifying areas that may be prone to flooding or
ponding. First, use of landscape features. During site evaluations it is
important to look beyond the site proposed for the system and recognize
where it fits in the bigger picture of the area around it. From a flooding
standpoint, features associated with past and present
flooding include former river channels, natural levees
Each area has (tree) species that can withstand partial or total
and terraces oxbows, meander channels, and other
similar features. These are usually easily identified and
submersion during the growing season, while there are others that
are also captured on the soil survey. For the temporary
are intolerant and will not survive. A local biologist or forester can
ponding situation, location at the foot of slopes or in
depressions on the landscape would be telling features.
help identify species that indicate wet or flood-prone areas.
Vegetation can also be a key to identifying floodprone areas. Survival of different tree species in the area
can be telling. Each area has species that can withstand partial or total
a system due to snowmelt or rainfall runoff. From our perspective, though,
submersion during the growing season, while there are others that are
both situations can negatively impact the long-term performance of
intolerant and will not survive. A local biologist or forester can help identify
onsite systems.
species that indicate wet or flood-prone areas. In terms of temporary
A designated floodplain consists of the floodway and the flood fringe. The
ponding, if there are grasses and small shrubs and the inundation exceeds
floodway is the area directly adjacent to the channel of a stream and
a couple of weeks, you may see areas of dead vegetation. You may see a
conducts water during a flood. The flood fringe is the remainder of the
change in plant species from the surrounding areas, reflecting the presence
floodplain where the water is shallow and slow moving. Installation of
of water.
systems in the floodway is usually not allowed, although in our home state
Evaluation of soil pits can also identify areas subject to flooding. A thin
of Minnesota there are systems that have been grandfathered, so they do
strata of material at the surface different in color and texture from a deeper
exist in these areas.
area would be a good indicator. For instance, a horizon of dark, rich organic
Maps and boundaries for the established 100-year floodplains for
matter under a layer of brown material indicates the original soil surface
insurance and land-use regulation purposes are available from federal and
was covered by a more recent deposit. Or a series of soil layers with abrupt
state agencies, counties and local municipalities. These maps can provide
boundaries of contrasting materials, say sand and gravel over finer-textured
information on the boundaries and elevations of designated floodplains.

30 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

WHATS THE MAGIC IN

WASTEWATER TREATMENT?

Socially

Answer - the soil! Thats where effluent becomes fresh

water. So use the soil! Stop disposing, start dispersing.

Accepted
facebook.com/OnsiteInstaller
twitter.com/OnsiteInstaller
plus.google.com
youtube.com/OnsiteInstaller

BIOLINE DRIP DISPERSAL

Follow a few specific design guidelines if a system will be placed in a

floodplain. First, of course, is avoiding the area if possible. This is probably
more relevant for the ponding situation. Moving the location within the lot
can usually avoid the problem. But if not, the onsite system should be
located on the highest portion of the lot and should have preference over all
other improvements other than the well.
There should not be inspection ports or other connections installed to
the surface and open to the distribution media or other parts of the system.
If a pump is employed in the system, there needs to be a way to make sure
it does not run during times of flooding. If time permits, the best approach
would be to pull the pump out.
As always, an installer should be familiar with the state and local rules
and regulations covering flooded systems in their area. O

WHATS TRENDING FOR ONSITE SYSTEMS?

FIND OUT AT
ONSITEINSTALLER.COM
ALSO: FREE Subscriptions
Online Exclusives
Email Alerts

E-Newsletters
Blogs and Videos
Manufacturers/Dealers

Cant get
enough
Installer?

Page 6

Installing media filters

Page 18

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

www.onsiteinstaller.com

System Profile:
Mound in a Box
Page 24

Partnerships
in Practice
Onsite consultant Mike Treinen
takes a team-based approach
Page 10

Mike Treinen,
Onsite Wastewater
Consultant

Clean sand for mounds

Page 18

June

WHEN TO AVOID AN AREA

Becoming credentialed

2011

2012

Replacement
restaurant system
Page 22

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

www.onsiteinstaller.com

The roles of
septic tanks
Page 32

Fixing the
RIGHT PROBLEM
Christmans Septic insists on a
correct diagnosis before making
system repairs PAGE 10

Does effluent ponding

mean system failure?

February

materials, indicates materials were laid down suddenly at different times

from different sources. This is something we see often in the Southwest.

November

www.netafimusa.com/wastewater

2013

Page 16

A perfect system
in a tight spot
Page 20

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE

www.onsiteinstaller.com

Watertight and
workin right
Page 28

SHOW ISSUE

MIRACLE

WORKER

Georgias Gravelator Systems has

built a reputation on creating systems
for lots previously considered unusable
PAGE 8

For the past 10 years Onsite Installer has been telling

your story. Read past issues to relive the articles, news
and events of the wastewater treatment industry.

Visit www.onsiteinstaller.com to read past issues.

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

31

shoptalk

Could a Cargo Van

Be in Your Future?

Fuel economy, organized storage, access to equipment, and shelter from

the weather present advantages when making late-night emergency calls
By Ed Wodalski

es, that sporty pickup truck is fun to drive and carries most of what
you need. And a trailer adds lockable security. But what about those
late-night or weekend calls when a septic overflows? You rush to the
job, only to find you need a special fitting, pump or switch. Its pouring rain,
freezing sleet. You know that part is somewhere in your truck but where?
Ronnie Tamez, 40, owner of First Call Septic Services in Battle Ground,
Washington, says he wouldnt think of leaving the yard without Hanz or
Franz, the 2006 Freightliner 2500 Sprinter vans he has outfitted for every
possible emergency.
You might wonder why someone who services septic systems needs a
cargo van. Its a question Tamez gets asked a lot by pumpers and
onsite installers.
Well, I have to show up for an alarm call, he says. A high-water alarm
or a low-air alarm; a UV light went out. Im not going to show up in a
vacuum truck that gets 2 miles to the gallon. You cant carry a $150 light
bulb in a vacuum truck, youll break it.
Tamez says he looked at other vans before purchasing the two used
Sprinters powered by Mercedes-Benz turbo-diesel V6 engines, but they
didnt have the features he was most interested in.

FUEL EFFICIENCY
I wanted to be sure the truck was going to last, but also get really good
mileage, he says. We own a Mercedes-Benz R350 with the same engine,

32 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

ABOVE: The walkthrough interior provides room for larger

equipment.
>>RIGHT: Plastic tubs
help organize fittings
and couplings. (Photos
courtesy Ronnie Tamez)

<< OPPOSITE PAGE: Cargo vans can serve as

traveling billboards.
>> RIGHT: Side-door access adds convenience.

so I already know how to work on it.

Thats quite a stretch from the Honda Accord
Tamez first used to make calls.
I had to fold the seat down, put parts down.
Every night when I got home Id back up to the
garage, pull everything out and it was back to the
family car, he says.
That was about 10 years ago.
Tamez also had a Chevy 1-ton, but while the
Honda got 26 mpg, the Chevy pickup with 454
engine got about 6 to 9 miles a gallon, even when
it was empty. In his quest for better fuel mileage,
Tamez purchased a Saturn station wagon, which
he ran for two years. Needing more room for
inventory, Tamez added a Ford F-250 pickup
with canopy topper, which he still owns.

ACCESS TO PARTS AND EQUIPMENT

Everything was organized, he says. I knew where everything was in
the back of the pickup, but I always seemed to need the piece of equipment
that was all the way in the back, like the jetting equipment or something. Id
have to empty out half my tools. Or my control switches that were in the far
left corner I was always lying on top of my tools to get the control
switches out.
Two years of hunting and pecking along with hiring his first employee
convinced Tamez that a better solution was needed.
For me to go through the tools is one thing, but its another thing to
have an employee do it, says Tamez, who now has two technicians and a
third in training. In 2013, we went out and bought the first Sprinter van to
see how we liked it.
Tamez had RC Display Vans in Portland, Oregon, install three rows of
7-foot-long by 1 1/2-foot-deep Weather Guard shelving and LED lights in
the rear for night work.

If I get a call at 2 in the morning, Im assuming the

van is ready to go and tools are put back where they
belong. That way, Im not fumbling around trying to
find a tool that a driver decided to put someplace else.
Ronnie Tamez
One set of shelves is designated for fittings, bushings and adapters.
Tamez also carries check valves, check gates, ultraviolet disinfection devices,
indoor and outdoor alarm panels, control panels, blowers, and pumps
common to the area. Strapped inside is a 3-foot-tall toolbox fitted with
screwdrivers, volt meters, drill bits, large wrenches, fuses and light bulbs
that can be rolled where needed.

WEATHER PROTECTION
Living in the Northwest, rain can be a daily occurrence. Working out of
a pickup, Tamez would put his rain suit on outdoors, finish the job, throw

ORGANIZATION IS EVERYTHING
Ronnie Tamez, owner of First Call Septic Services in Battle
Ground, Washington, has two rules for maximizing van
efficiency:
1. Supplies must be restocked at the end of the day and
inventory replenished and rotated to ensure it doesnt age on
the shelf.
2. Every piece of equipment must have a designated place
and be returned after its used.
If I get a call at 2 in the morning, Im assuming the van is
ready to go and tools are put back where they belong, he says.
That way, Im not fumbling around trying to find a tool that a
driver decided to put someplace else.

it in the back of the pickup and run to the cab.

Your suit wouldnt really dry out until summer, he says. Now I can
hang it up.
Tamez also looked at mechanics trucks, but like the pickup, equipment
was susceptible to weather. He also appreciates the organization the
van provides.
I figure when we pull up people dont want to be paying me to move
tools around. Just like if you took your car to a mechanic if youre going to
pay the guy $120 an hour, you dont want him looking for a screwdriver; he
needs to walk right up and grab it.
Tamez also has a 24-foot trailer, but says its too big for most jobs.
Looking back, Tamez says if he had to do it over, he would buy a 1-ton
van with a longer bed.
Its a little cramped in there, he says. Ive added a lot of stuff since we
bought the vans. We have the jetting equipment back there. This summer I
got tired of swinging pig bars and pickaxes and bought a Makita jackhammer.
Thats a big piece of equipment. So were starting to outgrow the vans a little
bit. O
December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

33

productfocus

Business Diversification
Pumping and System Maintenance
By Craig Mandli

ACCESSORIES

Marengo Fabricated Steel Tank-Intel

Cougar Vibration
DC Truck Vibrator
The Cougar DC Truck Vibrator from
Cougar Vibration, a div. of Martin Engineering, is designed to improve the speed
and efficiency of unloading vacuum trucks
and other mobile equipment. Vibration helps achieve more payload per cycle
and fewer cycles per job. The small, lightweight unit requires minimal space
and uses a high-speed, low-amp 12- or 24-volt electric motor. Its weatherproof aluminum housing provides a high output-to-weight ratio. It is sealed
against dirt, dust and water for long life in extreme conditions, and shielded,
oversized, permanently lubricated ball bearings ensure reliable service life. It
provides up to 3,200 pounds of vibratory force to improve the unloading of
wet, sticky, fibrous or even frozen material. It is supplied with mounting hardware and electrical connections. 800/544-2947; www.martin-eng.com.

Crescent Tank Mfg.

Flat Vacuum Tank
The Flat Vacuum Tank from Crescent
Tank Mfg. can make a truck into a
vacuum service and pickup and delivery
truck. It allows the operator to tow a trailer and plow snow. It is sized from
300 to 1,000 gallons, and can carry up to 10 portable units and equipment
needed for the job on the bed. Waste is held inside the truck bed. Freshwater
is held in the poly tank. The vacuum tank is constructed from 1/4-inch mild
steel. Larger tanks come standard with Masport pumps. 585/6574104; www.crescenttank.com.

LMT VAXTEEL ST
The VAXTEEL ST Series of steel
vacuum tanks from LMT come in preconfigured sizes with standard options, or
can be custom-configured to meet specific
needs. These vacuum truck bodies can be shipped for installation or custominstalled by LMT on a chassis of choice. Standard tanks have full-length
mounting rails, full-length hose trays, primary shut-off, top and rear manways,
and load and discharge ports. Options include full-opening rear door and
hydraulic hoist for easier unloading. Standard bright-white industrial finish
coat is included in every package, with custom colors and full graphic design
and application available. Tank Size Wizard at LMTs website assists in the
design of custom vacuum tanks, providing a dynamic graphic view of the
tank design, including capacity and weight distribution. 800/545-0174;
www.vaxteel.com.

34 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

Tank-Intel smart remote tank monitoring systems

from Marengo Fabricated Steel are a hardware- and
software-based solution that works on any tank. It is
composed of dual level-sensing equipment with smart
technology, allowing the operator to read two liquid
levels on any tank from a smartphone, PC or tablet. The
equipment enables precise and reliable continuous level measurement in
almost every liquid and most bulk solids, independent of process conditions.
Changes in the chemical and physical properties of the measured substance
do not affect the sensor. It has very few installation restrictions as its coaxial
tube probe is unaffected by nearby obstacles, and it can be mounted in high
and narrow openings. It is usable in extreme temperatures and is
customizable. 800/919-2652; www.mfsltd.com.

Mid-State Tank septic truck tank

Aluminum and stainless steel tanks
for septic trucks from Mid-State Tank
are available in capacities up to 5,500
gallons. They come standard with a
20-inch top manhole, 20-inch rear
manhole, primary, three 5-inch sight eyes, pressure-relief valve, 4-inch
inlet, 6-inch discharge, full hose trays, hose support at rear, ladder to the
top manhole, LED lights and wiring, work lights at the rear, a full mounting
kit and heavy-duty rear bumper. The facility where they are manufactured
is DOT and ISO 9001-2008 QMS registered. 800/722-8384;
www.midstatetank.com.

Pik Rite 5,300-gallon

aluminum tank
The 5,300-gallon aluminum tank
from Pik Rite is split into three
compartments, with the capacity for
300 gallons of freshwater, 3,800 gallons
of wastewater and 1,200 gallons of graywater. The vacuum pump is a
National Vacuum Equipment 4310 blower system. Four-way valves for the
inlets with pneumatic actuators allow the operator to switch between tank
compartments while pumping. The jetter system is mounted in a heated
toolbox for cold-weather operation. It has a large rotating vacuum hose
storage reel and a digital level indicator, and a remote control system for the
vacuum pump, jetter, pneumatic valves and hose reel. It comes with polished
aluminum hose trays, a heavy-duty rear bumper with toolboxes and drip
pan, an LED running light kit, work lights and safety beacon. 800/3269763; www.pikrite.com.

Southland Tool Safety

Shutter Vacuum Nozzle
The Safety Shutter Vacuum Nozzle from Southland Tool puts the vacuum control into the hands of
the operator at the end of the hose. It is designed to
instantly release vacuum with the push of a lever. A
detachable tripod design lets it stand on its own,
granting hands-free operation. The shutter design
allows the operator to regulate airflow as needed. It is designed for 4- and
6-inch flex hose. 714/632-8198; www.southlandtool.com.

Thaw Tech industrial valve

and scrubber heaters
Industrial valve and scrubber heaters
from Thaw Tech are 450-watt, 110-volt and can
be used in both stationary and mobile applications. Made of 6061 aluminum, the heaters are
explosion-proof and provide direct contact with
the fluid. Valve heaters install between the flanges behind the butterfly
valve, while scrubber heaters are threaded and screw onto the drain outlet
of the scrubber unit. 888/570-1376; www.thawtech.com.

Water Cannon RKV Series

RKV Series contractor-duty pressure washer
replacement pumps from Water Cannon can be
viewed online in a 360-degree rotating view.
Replacement pump packages are available for
consumer, professional, contractor and
industrial-duty applications. This model
delivers 5.5 gpm and 4,200 psi. 800/333-9274; www.watercannon.com.

Westmoor Conde Flush Kit

The Conde Flush Kit from Westmoor Ltd. is designed
to ease the process of periodic flushing to extend pump
life. The unit is made of durable aluminum, and is activated
by simply turning on the pump and opening the ball valve.
Instructions are found on the side of the pump. It can be
mounted in any convenient location. 800/367-0972;
www.westmoorltd.com.

HOSE
Armstrong Equipment ProClipse
ProClipse hose from Armstrong
Equipment is formulated with a
chemical- and grease-resistant liner to
increase hose life. By making it crush-proof and resistant to abrasion, it
provides a longer life out of each length. It has a bend radius equal to 2x the
internal diameter and temperature resistance from minus 40 to 180 degrees
F, meaning it can be used in the used-cooking-grease industry and can be
rolled tightly to accommodate limited space. Precut lengths of 25, 35 and 50
feet in 2- and 3-inch widths with poly-welded cuffs mean faster build time
and a secure cam fitting. Its smooth bore and liner construction leads to less
separation. 800/699-7557; www.vacpump.biz.

Continental ContiTech Velocity

Velocity Water Transfer hose
from Continental ContiTech is a tough,
clear PVC hose that lets the operator see
the water in motion, even in demanding
applications. It is effective for full suction or transfer, with eight diameterwidth options ranging from 1.5 inches (110 psi) to 8 inches (60 psi). Its corrugated outer PVC helix and synthetic braid reinforcement are designed to
stand up to the rough terrain of job sites, with a smooth inner bore that keeps
water moving. 800/235-4632; www.contitech.us.

Joe Johnson Equipment Vacuum Truck Hoses

Vacuum Truck Hoses from Joe Johnson Equipment
have an abrasive-resistant liner with a smooth bore and
corrugated cover for increased flexibility, while their soft
cuffs allow for easy installation. The 8-inch-diameter
cuffed hoses are available with top hats and clamps
custom-made for a tight fit and optimal connection.
866/648-7257; www.jjei.com.

Kuriyama of America
Tigerflex Tiger Green
Tigerflex Tiger Green from Kuriyama
of America is a black, flexible, lightweight
EPDM rubber suction hose with a bright
green polyethylene helix construction for outdoor wet
or dry applications. It is made with EPDM compounds for
superior chemical resistance, flexibility and durability. Abrasion-resistant
green helix is designed to slide easily over rough surfaces and around
objects, making hose easier to handle and work with. 847/755-0360;
www.kuriyama.com.

Texcel SIGMA ULTRAVAC

SIGMA ULTRAVAC industrial vacuum
hose from Texcel is a heavy-duty, abrasionresistant polyurethane suction hose for use
in a variety of wet and dry industrial vacuum
applications. It can handle a range of materials, such as
crushed rock, sand, pea gravel, dry cement, grains and slurries.
It is made with a permanently conductive lightweight tube that remains
flexible at low temperatures for ease of handling. 800/231-7116;
www.texcelrubber.com.

VACUUM PUMPS
A.R. North America RTP30.60
The RTP30.60 triplex plunger pump
from A.R. North America delivers consistent
high pressure and flow. Its wet end has
hardened, heat-treated SST plungers with a
long-life coating, a forged brass manifold
providing a better flow performance strength and no porosity, a triple-staged
sealing system, and newly designed valves. The drive end has a vibrationresistant cast iron crankcase, forged crankshaft, bronze connecting rods,
oversized taper roller bearings and dual-lip plunger rod oil seals. Multiple
mounting holes offer a retrofit to many pump models. Performance is up to
7.9 gpm and 8,700 psi. 763/398-2008; www.arnorthamerica.com.
December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

35

Fruitland Manufacturing RCF 870

Pentair HPE Series

The RCF 870 vacuum pump from Fruitland Manufacturing is fully automatic with no
adjustment necessary, and is environmentally
friendly when used with Fruitland biodegradable oil. It offers free airflow of 500 cfm, a maximum vacuum of 28.5 inches Hg, 4-inch hoses,
an operating speed of 1,400 rpm, eight Kevlar
vanes, and an approximate net weight of 575 pounds. 800/663-9003;
www.fruitlandmanufacturing.com.

HPE Series oil-cooled, premium efficient submersible

solids-handling pumps from Pentair are designed for long
motor life and low maintenance cost. Premium efficient motors
provide wire-to-water efficiencies resulting in energy savings.
The pumps Hydromatic seal leak probes provide early warning
moisture detection to minimize unplanned maintenance costs.
A shaft-grounding ring protects against variable-frequency
drive-induced currents to prevent premature bearing failure.
They have quick-disconnect cables, cartridge seals and terminal
blocks, and permanently lubricated bearings, all designed to
simplify maintenance and reduce downtime. 419/289-1144;
www.hydromatic.com.

Goulds Water Technology 3SD

The 3SD sewage pump from Goulds Water Technology - a xylem brand combines dual hard-face mechanical
seals with a 300 Series stainless steel keyed shaft motor
for defense against harsh environmental conditions. It is
designed for continuous operation in commercial, industrial and residential applications. It has cast iron twovane semi-open non-clog impellers with pumpout vanes
for mechanical seal protection, and comes in single- and
three-phase options with a 1.5 to 5 hp range. Its balanced for smooth operation and capable of running dry without damaging the inner components.
It supports a variety of hydraulic requirements and is certified by Underwriters Laboratories and the Canadian Standards Association. 866/3254210; www.goulds.com.

Jurop/Chandler Equipment
pump package

Moro USA PM110W

The PM110W vacuum pump from Moro USA
is a commercial-grade vacuum pump designed for
tough industrial-duty applications. The liquidcooled pump has Kevlar vanes, visual inspection
ports and a cantered rotor. It can be cooled by
water or other liquids. It has Viton oil seals, directfeed oil-injected lubrication and sealed or oilinjected bearings that eliminate grease points. It
includes an integrated check valve, changeover valve and automatic oiling
system, which along with low-speed rotation helps extend pump life under
rigorous conditions. It weighs 645 pounds, has 29 psi positive-pressure
capability, 630 cfm free airflow, can run at 24 inches Hg continuous (28
inches Hg max intermittent), and a suggested tank size between 2,000 to
6,000 gallons. It is available in right-angle and engine-drive packages.
800/383-6304; www.morousa.com.

ONSITE INSTALLER

The PV750 rotary vane pump from Presvac

is designed for continuous full vacuum
operation in extreme conditions. It offers 400
cfm free airflow, 350 cfm at 15 inches Hg,
maximum vacuum of 27 inches Hg, and
maximum pressure of 35 psi. Dual fans and twin ballast ports efficiently cool
the pump. The solid housing with deep cooling ribs allows for heat transfer
from the vacuum chamber. Aluminum fans and shrouding work like a heat
exchanger to further aid in heat reduction. Multiple manifold and drive
options are available. 800/387-7763; www.presvac.com.

Wallenstein Vacuum Pumps 753 Series

Pump packages from Jurop/Chandler incorporate Jurop vacuum pumps and blowers. They
are designed for maximum use of available space
and ease of installation. Available in both
hydraulic and gearbox configurations, the RazorPak, Juro-Pak, Muffler-Pak and Right-Angle Drive Paks are engineered and
constructed to withstand tough conditions. Diesel- or gasoline-engine-driven
Jurop pump packages are available and designed with the same construction
and engineering standards. The availability of pump packages containing
either dual fan, liquid or ballast port cooling technology provides multiple
choices and configurations to meet all requirements and applications. 800/342-0887; www.chandlerequipment.com.

36 |

Presvac PV750

December 2015

The 753 Series vacuum pump from Wallenstein Vacuum Pumps incorporates extra-wide vanes
that allow up to an inch of wear, designed for longer
service life and lower maintenance costs. It provides
422 cfm airflow at 1,200 rpm and is precisionmachined to provide for vacuum levels up to 28
inches Hg. Options include air, liquid or dual cooling systems where air injection is combined with liquid cooling. A pumpflushing port is included on the top valve for convenient routine
maintenance. The quick-access housing end plate allows for easy internal
inspection with no bearings to pull. Oil lubrication is via a mechanical piston pump driven by shaft rotation or available with a sight feed valve oil regulator system using vacuum/pressure to draw oil with no moving
parts. 800/801-6663; www.wallenstein.com.

VACUUM TRUCKS
Curry Supply vacuum truck
Curry Supply vacuum trucks are designed
for rugged conditions. The American Society
of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has
authorized the company to build pressure
vessels in accordance with the requirements of the ASME Boiler and Pressure
Vessel Code. Tanks are made with 1/4-inch steel, available in 3,360, 4,200 or
4,620 gallons, and are Federal Bridge Law compliant. Tanks are designed with
a stress-free mounting system for increased truck life. Units include 4-inch
unloading ports, 36-inch rear manway, and a 6-inch push bumper. Theres a
driver-side ladder added for convenience. Tanks have a ball float level indicator,
full-length fenders and storage trays. All tanks are blasted, prepped and painted
using Axalta Coatings for corrosion resistance. Units are available in kit form
for easy self-assembly. 800/345-2829; www.currysupply.com.

FlowMark 2500 VAC

The 2500 VAC aluminum vacuum tank
from FlowMark comes mounted on an
International 4400 with an N9 engine and
Allison automatic transmission. The unit
has a National Vacuum Equipment 607 vacuum pump, 4-inch inlet and
6-inch discharge, and an aluminum toolbox for storage. 855/805-7183;
www.flowmark.com.

Guzzler Manufacturing Predator

The
Predator
vacuum
tanker
from Guzzler Manufacturing is designed
for handling bulk liquids, sludge and
semisolid waste in industrial applications.
The 3,000-gallon payload capacity tanker
has a standard vacuum pump capable of
suction pressures up to 27 to 29 inches Hg, maximum airflow of more than
400 cfm, and more than 300 cfm at 18 inches Hg. Alternate pump sizes are
available. The single compartment tank is constructed with carbon steel
and rated for continuous maximum vacuum operation and 15 psi working
pressure. The tank is ASME Section VIII boiler code- and DOT 412-compliant
for hauling hazardous materials on the highway. 815/672-3171;
www.guzzler.com.

Hino Trucks 338

The Hino Trucks 338 model is suited
for septic/vacuum tank applications at
33,000 GVW (Class 7). It has a Hino 8L
J08 engine rated at 260 hp and 660 ft-lbs of
torque. It has an 80,000 psi standard
frame, with an optional 120,000 psi
frame. It comes standard with an Allison 2500 RDS transmission with Shift
Energy Management; an Allison 3000/3500 RDS is optional. Other options
include differential lock with controls, a Hendrickson severe-duty 23,000pound suspension, and power-heated driver and passenger side mirrors. All
models have INSIGHT 2.0 powered by Telogis, Hinos cloud-based location
and telematics solution. 248/699-9300; www.hino.com.

Imperial Industries VAC3000

VAC3000 Series trucks from Imperial
Industries are ASME-certified 407/412
steel DOT units with capacities of 3,200
and 3,600 gallons. Choose either a blower
system (National Vacuum Equipment
4310 or the Hibon 820) or a vacuum system (Fruitland, Moro or Wittig).
The units feature three rollover bars, bolt-on aluminum hose trays, 4-inch
riser intake, 6-inch discharge, full-opening rear door, three-stage hoist
assembly and a complete hydraulically controlled system. 800/5582945; www.imperialind.com.

backup alarm, and grounding reel. Options include multiple compartments,

ASME/DOT 412 certification, stainless steel tank with wetted stainless steel
parts, high-pressure jetting systems with integral water compartment, an
auxiliary transfer pump, and a top-mounted hydraulic 4-inch boom. 800/3348237; www.keithhuber.com.

Robinson Vacuum
Tanks septic truck
Septic trucks built by Robinson
Vacuum Tanks are available in polished
aluminum and carbon steel, and can be
built as large as 5,500 gallons. They come
with full-length 3/16-inch polished aluminum hose trays with hose protectors
along the tank, 20-inch top and rear manways, three 5-inch sight glasses, rear
inlet and discharge with brass lever valves, low-profile primary, heavy-duty
bumper, LED DOT lights and work lights, large hose hooks and anti-surge
baffles. Options include the choice of vacuum pump or blower, toolboxes,
front hoist, a full rear-open door, multiple valve options including heat
options, additional inlets and/or outlets, digital capacity readout, jetters and
hose reels. 844/393-1871; www.robinsontanks.com.

SchellVac Equipment
septic vacuum truck
The 2,150-gallon septic vacuum tank
from SchellVac Equipment is constructed
using 1/4-inch steel, 1/4-inch flanged and
dished dome ends welded inside and out
to tank shell, a full-length tank frame, one
baffle, 12-inch low profile primary shut-off, 5-gallon heated secondary
moisture trap, and pressure- and vacuum-relief valves. It has four sight eyes
(three rear and one front), full-length aluminum diamond plate hose trays,
21-inch rear door, heated 4-inch intake and 6-inch discharge, and an LED
light package. Various pump models are available. 877/336-0081;
www.schellvacequipment.com.

Vacutrux Limited
SepticTrux
SepticTrux from Vacutrux
Limited are available on chassis
from 33,000 to 86,000 GVWR
single axle, tandem or tri, with tank sizes from 1,800 to 5,400 gallons.
Vacuum systems are powered by Wallenstein vacuum pumps. 800/3054305; www.vacutrux.com. O

BOOTH

1438

Keith Huber Dominator

The Dominator vacuum truck
from Keith Huber Corp. has a 3,300-galloncapacity steel tank with 5/16-inch shell, a
20-inch top manway, hydraulic tank lift
and full-opening rear door, a PTO-driven hydraulic vacuum/pressure system,
a liquid-cooled high-performance pump, full-length hose trays, a 4-inch inlet
with internal standpipe for easy decanting, a 6-inch discharge valve for direct
pressurized or gravity unloading, rear work lights and LED running lights, a
December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

37

Extra!
Extra!

Want More Stories?

Get more news,
information,
and features
with our

casestudy

Pathogen protection system

designed for jet truck operators
Problem: Colorado Springs Utilities
(CSU) became aware of new and
dangerous
pathogens
found
in
wastewater in a study published in m-Bio
magazine by the American Society of
Microbiologists. Sewer maintenance
crews also expressed concern over
growing reports of antibiotic-resistant
bacteria and viruses they may come in
contact with and the potential health
consequences to themselves, their
families and citizens in the community.
Solution: Utility management decided
to employ the Vanguard Pathogen
Protection System, which is designed to
substantially reduce contaminants in
sewage from reaching equipment
operators. An independent environmental company was contracted to field
test the system with a CSU crew during standard sewer maintenance
operations. Cultures taken from the field showed a reduction of bacteria
colony counts by up to 98 percent. The system is simple and convenient to use
right from the operator control panel. It comes with a hand-held antibacterial
spray gun with 50 feet of retractable hose to clean boots, gloves, crawlers,
tools, vacuum tubes and the work area. OEM and retrofit systems for jet,
combo and CCTV units are available.

online content.

Result: By taking a proactive stance for the health and safety of its team,
CSU saw increased worker confidence and morale while working in a
known hazardous environment. Reduction in worker sick days
and insurance costs are currently being assessed. 800/781-3164;
www.hydro-products.com. O

Check out

To subscribe or renew,
visit www.onsiteinstaller.com

exclusive

Online Exclusives
at
www.onsiteinstaller.com/online_exclusives

Beyond
buckets
and blades.
FIND OUT HOW.

FREE subscription at digdifferent.com

38 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

3 DAYS OF HANDS-ON BUSINESS BUILDING & NETWORKING

CELEBRATION, FLORIDA BOHEMIAN HOTEL

APRIL 4-6, 2016
EARLY REGISTRATION: ONLY $395 PRIOR TO JAN. 25, 2016
ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS FROM SAME COMPANY SAVE $100
WWW.PUMPERPROFIT.COM
866-933-2653

DAY 1 & 2 - GEORGE HEDLEY

BIZ-BUILDER BLUEPRINT ACTION
PLAN WORKSHOP
BIZ-DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING & SALES
ACTION PLAN WORKSHOP

DAY 3 - STEVE BEECHAM

BASS/ACKWARD BUSINESS WORKSHOP

SOLD
Sell your equipment in
Onsite Installer classifieds
Reach over 21,000 potential buyers
each month when you list your equipment in the classified section. Plus,
your listing is placed automatically
online at the Onsite Installer website.
Thats two ways to move your
equipment out of the parking lot!

industrynews
Researcher Receives ADS Achievement Award
Rafael Munoz-Carpena of the University of Florida-Gainesville received
the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) 2015
Advanced Drainage Systems Soil and Water Engineering Award. The ADSsponsored award recognizes Munoz-Carpena for his research, methodology
and educational contributions in the development and advancement of
integrated hydrologic and water-quality modeling. O

productnews
Komatsu Tier 4 Final wheel loader

The WA380-8 wheel loader from

Komatsu features a 6.69-liter, 191 hp
Komatsu SAA6D107E-3 variable-geometry turbocharged and after-cooled Tier 4
Final diesel engine that uses 6 percent
less fuel than its interim predecessor.
SmartLoader logic software combines with a lockup torque converter that
activates in second, third and fourth gears. Together, the system provides
optimal engine torque for improved acceleration, hill climbing, higher top
speed and fuel savings. 847/437-5800; www.komatsuamerica.com.

Water Cannon pressure washer/jetter

The 17HJ39 pressure washer/jetter package from

Water Cannon has a Honda GX 630 electric-start
engine with battery and 15-gallon fuel tank. Rollcage protected, it features V-belt drive, General HP
Series triplex plunger pump (5.5 gpm, 3,500 psi), jetter/pulse valve on demand, 350-foot, 3/8-inch capacity hose reel, ball valve, hose, wand and four nozzles.
800/333-9274; www.watercannon.com.

KOHLER mobile paralleling box

Why wait?
Go to
OnsiteInstaller.com/classifieds/place_ad
Scan the
code
with your
smartphone.

The mobile paralleling box from KOHLER

Power Systems enables users to combine different
size generators with different fuel types. Designed
for use with KOHLERs LP or natural gas and diesel mobile generator line, four boxes can be used
to parallel up to eight generators. The KOHLER
Decision-Maker 3500 digital controller, standard
on all KOHLER LP or natural gas and Tier 4 Final
diesel mobile generators, provides the paralleling intelligence and network
communications. 800/544-2444; www.kohlerpower.com. O

Get Email

News Alerts for

www.onsiteinstaller.com/alerts

40 |

ONSITE INSTALLER

December 2015

installer classifieds

onsite

Place your ad online at: www.onsiteinstaller.com

AERATORS
We sell Flagg-Air 340, Secoh, Gast and
Medo Linear, FPZ and Gast Regenerative,
Thomas and Gast Rotary Vane aerators, rebuild kits and alarms at wholesale prices.
Septic Services, Inc. www.septicserv.com.
1-800-536-5564
(IM)

Seasons
Greetings
Wishing you a wonderful holiday season
and a prosperous new year!

Aerators: Multiflo alternative replacement $325 + shipping. Alternative replacement, NEW FILTER SOCKS, 30 per
case $370 + shipping. Spring clips to
hold filter socks in place, $3.86 per clip.
Alternative Jet Aerator available $425.
Call us at 800-717-8807 or email us at
fabulousfungi@gmail.com. www.RolandTurbo-Aerator.com. Multi-Flo and NAYADIC are registered trademarks of Consolidated Treatment Systems, Inc. used here for
reference purposes only.
(PBM)

HAND TOOLS
Crust Busters - Portable, lightweight machine guaranteed to mix up septic tanks and
grease traps! Save time and money! 1-888878-2296. www.crustbusters.com (IM)

PUMPS

BUSINESSES

Hydromatic, Zoeller, Liberty, ABS, Myers, grinder and effluent pumps. Lift station packages and high water alarms
are also available. Septic Services, Inc.
www.septicserv.com, 1-800-536-5564 (IM)

Start your own septic tank business in

FLORIDA. Call for more details. 931-2481284 or 931-287-5413.
(PBM)

For sale: Used, re-honed Utile 150 vacuum

pump. $250. Eastern Long Island. Call 516790-8637.
(P12)

YOUR FRIENDS AT COLE PUBLISHING

10,000 Attendees from 53 Countries

Septic tank cleaning & inspection service

business for sale in Central Maine. Profitable, turnkey business with a loyal customer base. Two pump-truck operation (1) 2000
GMC - 2,500-gallon capacity, 136,000
miles. (2) 2004 Peterbilt 4,500-gallon
capacity, 129,000 miles. Serious inquiries
only! $257,000. Call 207-782-1620 or email
septicbizsale@gmail.com
(PBM)

Over 80 Educational Sessions

Ideas to Boost Profits

www.wwettshow.com | 866.933.2653
Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Show

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

41

associationslist

If you would like your wastewater trade

association added to this list, send contact
information to editor@onsiteinstaller.com.

Serving the Industry

Visit your state and provincial trade associations
Alabama
Alabama Onsite

Georgia
Georgia Onsite

Wastewater Association;
www.aowainfo.org;
334/396-3434

Wastewater Association;
www.onsitewastewater.org;
678/646-0379

Georgia F.O.G. Alliance;

Arizona
Arizona Onsite Wastewater
Recycling Association;
www.azowra.org; 928/443-0333

Arkansas

Association;
www.cowa.org; 530/513-6658

Colorado
Colorado Professionals
in Onsite Wastewater;
www.cpow.net; 720/626-8989

Connecticut
Connecticut Onsite Wastewater
Recycling Association;
www.cowra-online.org;
860/267-1057

Delaware
Delaware On-Site Wastewater
Recycling Association;
www.dowra.org

Florida
Florida Onsite Wastewater
Association;
www.fowaonsite.com;
321/363-1590

Idaho
Onsite Wastewater Association

Illinois
Onsite Wastewater

California
California Onsite Wastewater

Professionals of Illinois;
www.owpi.net

Indiana
Indiana Onsite Waste Water
Professionals Association;
www.iowpa.org; 317/889-2382

Iowa
Iowa Onsite Waste Water
Association;
www.iowwa.com; 515/225-1051

Kansas
Kansas Small Flows

ONSITE INSTALLER

Professionals Association;
www.mowpa.org; 443/570-2029

Massachusetts

Kentucky
Kentucky Onsite Wastewater
Association;
www.kentuckyonsite.org;
855/818-5692

Maine
Maine Association

December 2015

Granite State Designers and

Installers Association;
www.gsdia.org; 603/228-1231

New Mexico
Professional Onsite Wastewater
Reuse Association of
New Mexico;
www.powranm.org;
505/989-7676

Massachusetts Association of
Onsite Wastewater Professionals; New York
www.maowp.org; 781/939-5710
Long Island Liquid Waste
Association, Inc.;
www.lilwa.org; 631/585-0448
Michigan
Michigan Onsite Wastewater
Recycling Association;
North Carolina
www.mowra.org
North Carolina Septic Tank
Association;

www.ncsta.net; 336/416-3564
Michigan Septic Tank
Association;

www.msta.biz; 989/808-8648
North Carolina Portable
Toilet Group;
www.ncportabletoiletgroup.org;
Minnesota
252/249-1097
Minnesota Onsite
Wastewater Association;

www.mowa-mn.com;
North Carolina Pumper Group;
888/810-4178
www.ncpumpergroup.org;
252/249-1097

Missouri
Missouri Smallflows

Organization;
www.mosmallflows.org;
417/739-4100

Association;
www.ksfa.org; 913/594-1472

of Site Evaluators;
www.mainese.com

42 |

Maryland
Maryland Onsite Wastewater

www.georgiafog.com

of Idaho;
www.owaidaho.org;
208/664-2133

Arkansas Onsite
Wastewater Association;
www.arkowa.com

Maine Association of
Professional Soil Scientists;
www.mapss.org

Nebraska
Nebraska On-site Waste Water
Association;
www.nowwa.org; 402/476-0162

New Hampshire
New Hampshire Association

of Septage Haulers;
www.nhash.com; 603/831-8670

Ohio
Ohio Onsite
Wastewater Association;
www.ohioonsite.org;
866/843-4429

Oregon
Oregon Onsite
Wastewater Association;
www.o2wa.org; 541/389-6692

Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Association of
Sewage Enforcement Officers;
www.pa-seo.org; 717/761-8648

marketplace ADVERTISING
IndustrialOdorControl.com

UNIVERSAL
REPLACEMENT
PUMP

A Broad and Economical Range of Odor Control Solutions

Pennsylvania Onsite Wastewater
Recycling Association;
www.powra.org
Pennsylvania Septage
Management Association;
www.psma.net; 717/763-7762

Tennessee
Tennessee Onsite
Wastewater Association;
www.tnonsite.org

Texas
Texas On-Site
Wastewater Association;
www.txowa.org; 888/398-7188

Virginia
Virginia Onsite Wastewater
Recycling Association;
www.vowra.org; 540/377-9830

Washington
Washington On-Site
Sewage Association;
www.wossa.org; 253/770-6594

Wisconsin
Wisconsin Onsite Water

British Columbia
British Columbia Onsite
Wastewater Association;
www.bcossa.org; 778/432-2120
WCOWMA Onsite Wastewater
Management of B.C.;
www.wcowma-bc.com;
877/489-7471

Management Association;
www.mowma.org; 877/489-7471

CANADA
Alberta
Alberta Onsite Wastewater
Management Association;
www.aowma.com; 877/489-7471

973-846-7817 in NJ

watercannon.com
800.333.9274

Toll Free 888-999-3290

TruCore Sludge Sampler

Tired of taking multiple
samples just to guess
the sludge depth?
Try our TruCore!

Nova Scotia
Waste Water Nova Scotia;

Quick & accurate sampling

Works in thick sludge
No mess release of sample
Simple straight-thru design
Clear tube is made of
Polycarbonate
Inside diameter of 1-3/8"
BOOTH
Extendable

www.wwns.ca; 902/246-2131

Ontario
Ontario Onsite

2206

www.simtechfilter.com
Invented and
Made in the USA

Saskatchewan
Saskatchewan Onsite Wastewater

Converts your ugly septic

vent into an attractive
pedestal/bird bath and
controls odor too!

Management Association;
www.sowma.ca; 877/489-7471

Canadian Regional
Western Canada Onsite
Wastewater Management
Association;
www.wcowma.com;
877/489-7471 O

2000 PSI
For Vertical
Shaft Engines

Onsite Wastewater Professionals;

www.nbaowp.ca; 506/455-5477

Ontario Association of
Sewage Industry Services;
www.oasisontario.on.ca;
877/202-0082

National Association of
Wastewater Technicians;
www.nawt.org; 800/236-6298

(866-667-8465)

67.99

New Brunswick
New Brunswick Association of

Wisconsin Liquid Waste

Carriers Association;
www.wlwca.com; 608/441-1436

National Onsite Wastewater

Recycling Association;
www.nowra.org; 800/966-2942

866-NO-STINK
Makers of the Wolverine Brand
of Odor Control Solutions

Onsite Wastewater Systems

Installers of Manitoba, Inc.;
www.owsim.com; 204/771-0455

Wastewater Association;
www.oowa.org; 855/905-6692

www.wef.org; 800/666-0206

Manhole Odor Inserts

Pollution Control Barrels
Activated Carbon
Vapor Phase Adsorbers
Septic Vent Filters
Custom Solutions

Manitoba
Manitoba Onsite Wastewater

Recycling Association;
www.wowra.com; 608/441-1436

NATIONAL
Water Environment Federation;

Pictured: Super Wolverine 8# Unit

Patent # US 8,273,162

866.968.9668
Reps & Distributors Wanted

2016 WWETT
Kickoff Party inside
Lucas Oil Stadium!

This 2-night welcome reception is a

great way to network and socialize.

Wednesday &
Thursday Night

781.806.0797

www.thedirtybird.com

Get The Most Recent

PRESS RELEASES
At

WasteWaterPR.com
View all the latest product news

December 2015

ONSITE INSTALLER |

43

BOOTH

2000