Thompson Pump hosted more than 40 attendees from 15 states and three foreign countries.  The three-day workshop included training sessions for sales and service-oriented professionals on pumping fundamentals, dewatering and bypass applications, selecting the correct pumping equipment, designing, installing and maintaining pumping systems, troubleshooting, pump maintenance, and more.

Pumpology® School offers hands-on demonstrations and classroom training from industry experts. Upon completion of training and successfully passing a comprehensive examination, attendees are recognized as certified Pumpologists ® at an awards ceremony.

"Our Pumpology® School allows us to share our expertise about pumps and pumping systems and we raise the knowledge quotient across a wide spectrum of applications, markets and territories,” said Bill Thompson, Thompson Pump president. “The training is geared to address the requirements of engineers, sales representatives and operating technicians.”

Thompson Pump is respected worldwide for its sophisticated heavy-duty lines of high quality portable pumps, ranging in size from 2 to 18 inches and with capacities to 14,000 gallons-per-minute. Thompson Pump sells and rents their entire line of pumps to the areas of public works, municipalities, construction, agriculture, dewatering, mining, sewer/lift stations, and water/waste water. Types of pumps engineered include wet prime trash pumps; dry prime trash pumps with compressor-assisted or vacuum-assisted priming systems; sound attenuated pumps; utility trash pumps; diaphragm pumps; hydraulic power units with submersible pump ends; electric submersibles; rotary, vacuum and piston wellpoint pumps and high pressure jet pumps. With these different types of pumps, as well as a full complement of accessory hoses and piping, Thompson can offer the proper pump and system for any application.  In addition, Thompson provides engineering services and special applications consulting for complicated wellpoint, bypass or multiple pump systems; and offers thorough pump and dewatering education and training through its Pumpology® courses.

Thompson Pump, a family-owned company based in Port Orange, Fla., is a full-service manufacturer and provider of high quality pumps, pumping equipment and engineering expertise for the toughest dewatering, bypass and emergency pumping applications.  Since 1970, Thompson Pump has assisted contractors worldwide with pump rental, sale, design, installation and operation.  Thompson Pump operates sales, rental and service centers throughout the United States with 20 branches. The company is also aligned with more than 30 distributors in the United States, Canada, and South America.  Thompson Pump is a Blue Chip Enterprise Award winner and their products meet the requirements for certification as defined by the Contractors Pump Bureau. Thompson Pump holds numerous product patents along with the registered trademarks of Enviroprime®, Silent Knight®, and Arctic Knight®.

The company achieved ISO 9001 quality certification for their Port Orange manufacturing facility. Thompson Pump is one of only a very few pump companies to have obtained ISO 9001 certification. The globally recognized certification was granted following independent testing and assessment of the company’s quality management systems and manufacturing capabilities.

It is common to see Thompson’s pumps on some of the largest and most challenging projects in the world. Whether the job requires cleaning up an oil spill in Alaska, raising a submarine in the Atlantic, moving an east coast lighthouse, fighting western fires, controlling floods in the Midwest, handling an irrigation project in Africa or dealing with a tragic disaster in New York, Thompson Pump is there. For more information, call (800) 767-7310 or log onto www.thompsonpump.com.

FS SOLUTIONS CENTER IN GONZALES ADDS GUZZLER PARTS TO INVENTORY

Federal Signal Environmental Solutions Group has announced that its FS Solutions center in Gonzales, La., will now stock parts for Federal Signal’s Guzzler brand of industrial vacuum loaders, as well as vacuum accessories. This is in addition to high performance parts and accessories for Federal Signal’s Jetstream brand of waterblasters and other makes and models of waterblasters already available at the center.

“The FS Solutions center in Gonzales provides industrial contractors with a wide variety of products and services, including the repairs, rentals, used equipment, parts and accessories and training required to run their equipment more profitably,” said Bryce Mulligan, rental manager for FS Solutions. “Vacuum truck operators in Louisiana and the Gulf Coast area can now get Guzzler OEM replacement parts, as well as consumable parts – like vacuum hose, GuzzlerGrip™ nozzles, filter bags, hose fittings, y-adapters and gaskets – at our Gonzales location.”

To help customers in the area with their waterblast and industrial vacuum loader needs, the Gonzales center is staffed by knowledgeable employees with significant industrial cleaning experience. Additional FS Solutions centers are located in Birmingham, Ala.; Long Beach, Calif.; Houston, Texas; Toledo, Ohio; and Streator, Ill.

Mulligan added that the Gonzales center provides after-hour services for customers conducting shutdown work. “When equipment downtime just isn’t an option, our industrial cleaning customers can count on FS Solutions,” he said.

All FS Solutions locations provide access to factory-trained, certified technicians and genuine OEM parts. “FS Solutions customers look to our sales staff and service training technicians for recommendations and solutions to the unique challenges of their particular applications,” Mulligan said. “Whether it’s a contractor looking for faster, more cost-effective ways to perform cleaning operations or a business that can benefit from application expertise, equipment evaluations or training, we’re providing solutions.”

With nearly 100 years of collective experience in industrial vacuum loading, sewer and catch basin cleaning, vacuum excavation and industrial high-pressure waterblasting, FS Solutions offers unsurpassed expertise and a unique breadth of product lines and trusted brands to meet the needs of industrial cleaning contractors and other industry professionals. For more information about products and services available from the FS Solutions centers or to find the nearest location, call 800/627-3171 ext. 298, or visit www.fssolutionsgroup.com.

Industrial cleaning in the sewer or wastewater industry has never enjoyed a big profit margin. Toss in a dicey economy, and contractors look for every advantage to cover their costs and enjoy a modest gain.
For that reason, the development of industrial cleaning tools, water blasting, and inspection equipment has recently been driven by the economy. The development of new equipment has been modest, with companies either developing improved versions of reliable standbys or making adjustments to their existing equipment to make it work better and faster without sacrificing safety.
One company that has followed that trend is NozzTeq, of Dunedin, Florida. The company is a custom manufacturer of sewer and drain-cleaning equipment. NozzTeq’s newest product is the BL Swiper, said President and CEO Scott Paquet.
The BL Swiper was developed specifically to help contractors work more efficiently and quickly while still performing at the same high level that customers have long expected from NozzTeq equipment.
“As the economy changes, the cost to clean pipe or what the contractor gets per foot is much less,” Paquet explained. “So in order to make a profit, a nozzle that performs better so they can clean upwards of 2,000 to 4,000 feet a day is required sometimes. The general trend is that it’s getting more competitive out there for contractors, and even cities, to clean more feet per day.”
Paquet continued, “We developed the BL Swiper so we can provide that product [that] performs up most with the air channels and tube system we have always used. What’s different is the air channels and the material we make [them] out of. Also, we had the opportunity to apply for a new patent.”
The BL Swiper basically is a new, patented sewer nozzle that is designed to clean sewers and storm water pipes. The BL Swiper is constructed to “super charge” the cleaning effect “by using both the water flow from the high-pressure pump together with the jet streams. The water flow, through the pressure in the jets, creates a jet stream, and the jet streams create thrust through a number of channels,” NozzTeq explains on its website.
NozzTeq said that its tests have shown that the flow rate can be almost cut in half compared with normal flow needs. “The pressure has a direct impact on the cleaning ability of the BL Swiper. By increasing the water pressure, the thrust power will also accelerate, decreasing the total cleaning time,” the company’s promotional information claims.
Each water jet is matched with a channel; so a nozzle with four water jets has four channels, for example. By placing the channels in the center of the BL Swiper nozzle, the total force of both air and water can be directed into the pipe or tube to clean it in a cost-effective manner.
Another company, Super Products, based near Milwaukee, WI, is a leading manufacturer of the Supersucker truck-mounted industrial vacuum loaders, along with the Camel combination sewer cleaners, the Camel Jet high-pressure jetters and the hydro-excavator Mud Dog.
The company is promoting its Supersucker M-Class, which uses a modular design for what it calls its state-of-the-art vacuum technology. The modular design provides low maintenance, heavy-duty vacuum efficiency, and super airflow, and it promises the best performance in the industry, according to company literature. The M, or modular design, allows operators the flexibility to select the correct body size and the proper number of separators and bag houses to meet specific job requirements.
One of the leaders in the industry is the Elgin, IL-based Federal Signal Environmental Solutions Group, which includes Jetstream and FS Solutions.
“For water blast contractors, 2009 was a very tough year due to the overall economic turndown,” said Sales Director Tony Fuller. “Lower demand for all types of goods resulted in lower productivity at the plants. This, in turn, resulted in less need for industrial cleaning services.
“In addition, normally scheduled jobs were deferred wherever possible because maintenance budgets tightened as companies attempted to save their way to profitability. The market is more competitive than ever, both for manufacturers and contractors,” Fuller said.
As with other manufacturers, Federal Signal Environmental Products Group is finding that its customers are looking for ways to boost productivity.
“The biggest change in the market is a desire for increased productivity,” Fuller said. “Contractors are under pressure to get jobs done faster, without compromising safety or increasing price.
“Flow or GPM at a given psi correlates directly to productivity; the more water you flow, the quicker the material deposits will be removed. The limiting factor has traditionally been the human operator. Productivity is limited by the amount of water the operator can safely hold with a hand tool,” he explained.
So, how has Federal Signal responded to those changes in the industry? Fuller states that manufacturers have answered with more automated tooling that either eliminates the operator from the equation or reduces his exposure to high-pressure water devices.
“Jetstream offers a wide range of pump sizes and plunger configurations to maximize flow efficiency at every horsepower range,” he noted. “We have also worked with customers to maximize utilization of their existing equipment with gun manifolds. Multiple pumps can be easily combined for more flow when needed, so automated tooling can be used at peak GMP.”
That’s not all. “Seasonal industrial cleaning jobs [such as spring and fall shutdowns] are typically project driven,” Fuller said. “The variability in demand, increasing equipment costs, and the tightening of credit over the last couple of years has also negatively affected contractor growth.”
In response, FS Solutions has aggressively expanded its locations throughout the United States, he said. “We offer a wide range of rental programs for pumps and tooling so contractors can balance the right mix of equipment and people with less risk.”
As for the future, Fuller said FS Solutions is prepared to meet the demands of a steadily growing economy.
“As employment rolls begin to improve and the demand for qualified or certified labor and operators increases, FS Solutions locations are staffed with experts to educate and train equipment operators at all levels, in a variety of areas, including operations, safety, and productivity of both water-blasting and vacuum applications,” Fuller said. “Training is available online or can be conducted at any of our four locations through the United States with our state-of-the art, hands-on training module.”
Gary Poborsky is President of GapVax, which bills itself as “the manufacturer of the world’s most advanced industrial vacuum truck.” Based in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, the company has recently introduced a hi-dump industrial vacuum truck, which Poborsky said is in direct response to requests from customers who wanted a more efficient way to do their jobs.
“We decided [to make it] because of the numerous requests we’ve had from existing customers and potentially new customers wanting to have that [hi-dump] option available. They wanted something that was more stable,” he said.
GapVax has been manufacturing industrial vacuum equipment, hydro-excavation equipment, and municipal equipment (combination machines) since 1989.
The company manufactured its industrial vacuum hi-dump in 2009, and it debuted at the Pumper Show in Louisville in 2010.
“The hi-dump was a customer request so they can dump their payloads on the jobsite instead of risking being ‘overweight’ on their way to the dump with the industrial vac truck having a full load,” he said. “This way, they can dump into a roll-off container
with the hi-dump feature and stay on the jobsite, getting more work accomplished and not risking the overweight hassles.”
Poborsky said the economy has led to tighter budgets for almost everyone. “GapVax uses the best quality materials to manufacture custom equipment to give the customer[s] exactly what they want. Our machines are reliable and last longer because they are made from such quality products. Also, we have the safest design,” he said. “When you are using the hi-dump and have a full debris body, lifting the body in the air is dangerous, but with the superior design of the GapVax Industrial Vacuum hi-dump, we ensure the safest possible positioning from the design.”
The design has been so successful that GapVax is planning on introducing a hi-dump hydro excavator and a hi-dump combination machine, Poborsky shared.
Those who build machinery for the liquid waste industry are finding that their customers are working harder to do more with less—less money, less equipment and less manpower. Their solution is to bring equipment to the market that will help customers nudge as much profit as possible from the bottom line.
“They have a need for higher quality machines, high performance, and longer lasting machines because they are a huge capital investment,” Poborsky said. “They don’t have the budgets to buy equipment every few years. They want to buy better equipment that will last longer and have better performance.”

Story by Marie Elium

Families Fighting for Their Industry
By Jim vonMeier
Remember when plaster was used to finished interior walls? Art Beierle does.  In the 1950s, Art believed he had a lifetime of work ahead of him—until the early 1960s, when drywall was developed. 
Although plastering covered all the sins of the job and made for a beautiful finish, it was time consuming and labor intensive. Drywall wasn’t necessarily better; it was just faster, maximized profits for the developers and saved the homeowners a few dollars.  In the space of a few years, almost an entire trade evaporated. 
With a growing family, Art needed to find something to put food on the table, so he started working with his brother-in-law, who had started a business of pumping septic tanks for new homes.  It wasn’t long before he started his own pumping business, but he added a little something extra to it—while most of his competitors did the pump and run, he tried taking the extra time to educate his customers.  They didn’t always listen, but there were those who did (and appreciated it), and with those individuals, Art built a lifelong relationship.  
Art’s son Brad was born into the business.  He was riding in the truck with his dad while still in diapers, and when his dad hurt his back, Brad—at the ripe old age of eight—pumped his first tank (Art drove while Brad pulled hose). 
When he was right out of high school Brad, like many of us, wasn’t sure what he wanted to do, so he went to technical college to learn diesel repair.  After that, he floated from one job to another until landing at a bank.  But one day, Brad grew tired of “working for the man,” so he took what was (and probably still is) the longest lunch break in history. It wasn’t long after that Brad went back and asked his dad for job (for the fourth time). This time, however, he stayed, bringing with him new ideas and the enthusiasm that every business needs from time to time.  They got bigger and better trucks, and, with Brad’s college knowledge, he was able to modify them to perform even better.    
By the time Brad was in his thirties, computers were becoming necessary. Art didn’t feel like learning these “new-fangled gadgets,” so Brad began to lead the company. 
In 2003, Brad and Art got into portables with Brad’s wife Dawn running it.  They have actually taken big contract jobs (Colorado International Speedway, the numerous spring/summer/fall festivals) away from the large portable players—not because they under-bid them but because they offer better service.  And all three of Brad’s daughters are involved in the family business (his first helped him pump a tank at nine years old).     
Brad has also taken it upon himself to get NAWT certified, something most only do if they have to, but Brad wants to do the job right. 
Now, however, Brad’s family business is being threatened by progress and ignorance. Colorado, like most of the country, had a huge housing boom in the 1990s, with developments going up all around the Denver area. At that time, however, the Colorado septic regulations were outdated, and the required skill levels for being a contractor were minimal. Many of the systems going in were doomed to fail, and they have. 
According to one report, 66 developments have significant failure rates. As a result, many homeowners are now hoping to become hooked up to a treatment facility.  Brad is smart enough to know that if the big-pipe goes in, a plant will not just be built for those developments. They will start running those mains from one development to the next and picking off every home along the way.  As a result, Brad will lose his local customers forever and his cost of doing business will dramatically increase because he will be forced to drive further out to find more customers. 
But Brad and his family do not just see the process as losing out on business, to them, it is an environmental cause as well.  They have seen the pollution damage these plants do, and they realize Colorado water supplies are already in jeopardy. With more plants going online (and discharging Colorado water down river to the oceans), they will seriously damage the future for all Colorado residents. 
Brad and his family are getting ready to fight back.  He is volunteering his time/expertise by working with the regulatory people to update their septic codes and will be attempting to organize the contractors in his area to work together to solve the current problems.    
He is also helping to organize educational programs for the communities so they can make the right choices; he hopes to have the programs up and running this summer. 
Unlike Brad, Don McAllister was not born into this business; he initially owned the Livestock Feed and Supply Company. In the 1980s, the Iowa farming industry began to slowing down, and by 1989, he needed part-time work to augment his income, so he began working with an elderly gentleman who did septic pumping.  A year later, the boss retired, and Don bought the truck. As a bonus, the boss threw in his customer list.  Eventually, in 1991, he branched out into the portable industry as well.
Much of his pumping work was turning into repairs, and he knew why: installers were giving their work away and weren’t doing the job right in the first place.  As such, Don added repairs and tank replacements to his list of services.  
As his business (and revenues) grew, he elected to hit the Pumper Show, and the effects were predictable—when he saw all the toys, he was amazed at how vast, advanced, and far reaching this industry was.  Not only did he see the value in proper equipment, but it encouraged him to join the Iowa Onsite Wastewater Association to get trained and certified in system design/install—he even got certifications from NEHA. 
With the number of repairs he did, he knew right away he wasn’t going to be the cheapest, but he was going to do it right.  And although certification is not required in every area, he still gets certified and requires his crew do the same. 
Today, they do it all: Don’s son Jeremy, like Brad, started out in the truck in grade school.  Now, at 35, he runs the install portion of the business.  Daughter Tera handles the phones and scheduling.  Wife Karen deals with the books and red-tape that goes with running a business. 
They also employ Kristy, who handles the portables, and two others—one for installs and another who handles pumping and fills in wherever needed. 
Although the economy is down, they still manage to do well. However, Don and his competition are now facing an enemy that is far more dangerous than a down economy or a sewage treatment plant.
Not long ago, Don got a call from Andrew Johnson, a contractor who worked a few counties away.  Andrew’s father had started RJ’s Plumbing and Heating in 1982.  The septic side of their company does installs, pumping and repairs (the county sanitarians do the designs per their county regs).  This is a family business as well.  
Andrew learned about something that may affect both his and Don’s businesses. In this part of Iowa, they have to go deep, approximately 7,000 feet, to hit water, and it is not the best quality. As a result, several years ago, a nonprofit company was formed to harvest surface water and deliver it to those homes and businesses that chose to tap into it.  Today, they have 3,600 miles of pipeline supplying water to over a dozen counties.  They have also built and currently operate several municipal treatment plants—and now they want to get into the septic industry. 
The plan is that when the homeowner needs a system, the organization will have the county sanitarian design the system, and then they (the organization) hire the contractor to do the installation.  After completion, the organization will own the system, and the homeowner will pay a monthly fee to cover service, operation, maintenance and future replacement.   
There are several potential problems with this plan:

• The new company would pick which contractor would do the work, not the homeowner.  
• The company would also control the price.  That means the contractor would have to agree the job was only worth a certain amount, but what happens if none of the contractors on that chosen list agree that the price they are given is fair? 
• And what if you don’t make it on that chosen list, or do not get along with someone who makes the picks?   

I actually talked to one of the people with this organization, and he seemed like a sincere and honest man who did not want to hurt the independent contractors, but that is one individual who will not always be there. What if the next person has no regard for the local contractors?  Growth and taking advantage of opportunities is a natural progression of any business. 
Not many individuals will turn away work. The same idea applies here.  A few years down the road, a new director may come in with the attitude that growth for them is more important than protecting a handful of independents, and work will be lost.    
Brad’s fight in Colorado will be fairly easy because all he has to do is tell the homeowners the truth about price: $5,000 to $15,000 for a septic system or $30,000 to $60,000 for the pipe.  He can also use public perceptions of how government-run projects are routinely mismanaged, suffering major delays and escalating costs.  It doesn’t hurt that people already feel they are overtaxed and over assessed.     
However, Don and Andrew are going up against a non-profit, and that is a different story.  To many, the term non-profit means two things: the company is dedicated to a cause, and if no one is making a profit, it means individuals are receiving services at rock bottom prices.  Of course, if you have ever seen a study on non-profits, you know that is not the case.  With the big charities, the workers may be doing it for free, but the operators are not; they get paid and some of them get paid very well.   
Remember that even a non-profit has to make a profit if they are going to keep operating. They can often undercut the independents because they don’t have to pay any federal taxes.  And, a non-profit has easier access to grant money. 
While many non-profit companies can secure grants, family businesses, like Don’s, Andrew’s, or Brad’s must pay for improvement or repairs from their own profits. These individuals cannot afford to provide services for customer’s who cannot pay—they do not have the option of using grant money.  Additionally, family businesses have to pay taxes on the money they make. It is no longer a level playing field for the independents; in fact, it is an uphill battle for them if they don’t fight back. 
About the only defense independent contractors have is to point out to the homeowners if this is allowed, the independents will be forced out of business and that means no competition—and competition is what keeps pricing fair and encourages higher levels of service.  They can also explain that the organization will make them pay a monthly fee and will own that piece of their property.  And if they get to the point where they own it all, they could easily change from a non-profit to a for-profit.     
Clearly, this industry is very often a family-business enterprise.  But it is also clear that more and more of these family businesses are facing difficulties with the influx of larger enterprises and non-profits into the industry.  This trend is forcing these families to fight to remain solvent; in order to continue serving their loyal customers and in order to avoid losing their livelihood, these families are “fighting back” and becoming more proactive.

Jim vonMeier performs educational programs directed at homeowners teaching them the health and environmental need for proper septic systems and how to find a certified septic professional to inspect/design/install/maintain their systems.  He has also represented homeowners in their fight against public sewer projects and speaks at contractor certification courses around the country on the subject of customer service.  1-763-856-3800  jvonmeier@septicprotector.com          

Vacall® high-performance sewer cleaning equipment, sweeper/cleaners, straight jetting trucks, hydro-excavators and industrial vacuum loaders, all distinguished by their exceptional vacuum force and rugged durability, is now connecting with fans through Facebook.

The Facebook profile is being used to directly communicate with those interested in Vacall products and who want to receive updates about the company including product releases, news items and trade show schedules. The profile also serves as an open forum for questions and comments about Vacall machines.

"We are always looking for ways to stay connected to the people who are using our Vacall machines," said Michael Norman, Director of Marketing at Gradall Industries. "Facebook allows us another chance to not only connect, but interact, share and immediately update our fans on what’s happening at Vacall Industries."

The profile also will be updated regularly with video and project photos. Fans are encouraged to submit pictures, job stories illustrating Vacall machines or ask questions about the Vacall product line.

To become a fan of Vacall Industries, search for “Vacall Industries” on Facebook or visit www.vacallindustries.com and click on the small Facebook icon at the top of the page.

First introduced over 50 years ago, Vacall brand products are owned by the Alamo Group. Vacall machines are designed, built and supported by Gradall Industries, with processes that meet ISO 9001 standards. Gradall is known worldwide for productive, versatile equipment for governments and contractors. Gradall also is wholly owned by the Alamo Group. For more information about Vacall, call (800) 382-8302 or visit www.vacallindustries.com.

There is a well-known proverb: wine and friends improve with age. The Michigan Septic Tank Association is an organization that can also lay claim to that adage.
Established in 1951, the group is one of the oldest onsite septic associations in the nation, claiming more than 200 members. The non-profit Michigan Septic Tank Association has members from all areas of the septic industry: installers, sewer and drain cleaners, manufacturers, excavators and portable restroom manufacturers, distributors and maintenance companies. As the association has grown, so have its benefits and offerings.
Education is high on the organization’s list of priorities, according to association president Mark Scott. Last year, the group spent almost $18,000 on television public service announcements to educate Michigan residents about the importance of properly maintaining their septic systems. As those in the industry know, a huge majority of property owners tend to ignore their septic systems until something goes wrong. When that happens, the results can be disastrous or expensive or both. The PSAs are working to eliminate problems by educating septic owners.
The advertising spots were originally obtained from The National Environmental Services Center (NESC). With their permission, the spots were modified to add the association’s logo and website address at the end. The ads were titled Lifestyles, Squishy Feet and Das Bloop.
This year, because of the economy, the Michigan Septic Tank Association’s public service budget is lower but no less ambitious. During the first week of May, the same PSAs will air across Michigan. The association website is referred to in the announcements; and, the website has a contractor director on the home page in the upper right corner of the member’s service counties.
Membership brings a slew of advantages, according to Scott. The association lobbies on behalf of those in the septic industry, keeping members posted about state and federal environmental protection agency groups, local laws, the availability of disposal sites and legal issues.
As is true with other business groups, the Michigan Septic Tank Association provides certification and important education credits for members. For example, last month, along with the Michigan Water Environmental Association, the group co-sponsored the diversified Septage Educational Seminar in Mount Pleasant, MI. Participants were able to earn five continuing Septic Education (CSE) hours during the one-day event. Topics covered included:

• What is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA-2010) and how does it affect members of the MSTA?
• Compliance with Department of Transportation safety rules.
• How is belonging to a trade association beneficial to those in the septic industry?
• Tips on how to approach a local, rural wastewater treatment plant to possibly accept septage waste.
• Questions about gathering and testing soil and/or septage waste (including food-establishment septage) properly before disposal.
• Defining “drag-hose” septage injection and explaining how it can benefit septic maintenance companies.
• Tips on how to install and safely service complex onsite wastewater systems.
• Scott said the association also offers the following member benefits:
  1. Member support – help and assistance with MDNRE permits and licensing.
  2. Quarterly MSTA newsletter.
  3. Advanced MSTA website access. (www.msta.biz).
  4. Publication in the MSTA membership directory.
  5. Continuing septage education tracking of ongoing educational events.
  6. Two discounted tickets to the annual MSTA banquet held during the onsite wastewater conference.
  7. A legislative consultant in Lansing working for your rights and legal protection.
  8. Limited free legal assistance from MSTA- retained legal consul.
  9. Discounted insurance program tailored for our industry by an MSTA member agency.
  10. Discounted state and federal Department of Transportation compliance review program by an MSTA affiliate member for carrier companies.
  11. Spring and Fall Board meetings with MDNRE-accredited continuing septage education available.
  12. Affiliate membership with the National Association of Waste Transporters (NAWT).

            MSTA Committees include a Technical Advisory Council, Portable Restroom Regulatory, Storage & Land Application, Weight Restriction Immunity, Northwest Onsite Task Force, Newsletter Committee, Continuing Education, Wastewater Conference, Part 117 Advisory Committee, Insurance Advisory Committee, Membership Drive Committee, Onsite Inspections/Point of Sale, MSTA PAC Committee, Washtenaw[??] County Rules & Regulations for the Management, Treatment & Disposal of Wastewater Committee, Ad Campaign Committee and a Legislative Committee.
            In January, the association was involved in one of the country’s oldest onsite wastewater conferences, held in the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. The conference drew thirty-six exhibitors, with 439 people registered to attend at least some portion of the event.
            The conference was a joint venture by the Michigan Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) with the Michigan Environmental Health Association and MSTA, along with support from the Michigan Water Environmental Association and Michigan State University.     
The Michigan Septic Tank Association can be found online at www.msta.biz or by calling 989-275-4947.

Clarus Environmental is committed to providing environmentally sustainable solutions to water quality problems. Whether a project deals with wastewater treatment, effluent dispersal, or anything in between, it upholds the highest standards for reliability.

The Clarus team of experts is ready to help. With deep roots in the onsite wastewater industry, Clarus has a complete product line that covers wastewater collection, treatment and disposal. Clarus can tailor high quality and proven technology solutions for any project from residential Fusion Series treatment systems to community and commercial decentralized systems.

"Clarus Environmental is a great opportunity for Zoeller to serve the onsite, as well as the larger environmental market”, said Matthew Byers, Ph.D. Clarus staff are dedicated professionals with a passion for their work."

Please visit the new web site at www.clarusenvironmental.com for more information on the products and services.  For additional information or assistance, please call or email at: 1-877-244-9340; info@clarusenvironmental.com

THE 2009 4th ANNUAL WASTE TREATMENT SYMPOSIUM WAS A SUCCESS, NOW WE’RE PREPARING FOR THE  2010 5TH ANNUAL WASTE TREATMENT SYMPOSIUM .  THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE CONDUCTED OVER A TWO DAY PERIOD – WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH AND 16TH IN WASHINGTON, PA WITH A FIELD TRIP TO LIQUID ASSET DISPOSAL IN WHEELING, WV.

While not finalized yet, the Agenda will look something like…

Day 1 (Classroom)
Case Histories
Facility
Description of the Treatment Process
(Polymers)
Treatment Alternatives
Economics of Treatment
Equipment
Dewatering Operations
Belt Filter Press
Container Filter
Processes
Other Treatment Processes
Social Hour for Networking W/Dinner    Day 2 (Classroom & Field)
Tour of Septage Treatment (in Morning)

Septage Conditioning

Screening and Grit Removal
Hands On With Dewatering

Belt Filter Press
Container Filter
Other Treatment

Peripheral Equipment
(Lunch Included Both Days)

THE FIRST DAY WILL BE IN A CLASSROOM SETTING WITH PRESENTATIONS OF CASE HISTORIES EXPLAINING THE ADMINISTRATIVE, TECHNICAL, AND ECONOMIC DETAILS OF HOW AND (MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY) WHY THEY DO IT THIS WAY. PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN THE ABILITY TO CREATE A BUSINESS PLAN BASED ON THEIR OWN SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES. PRESENTATIONS WILL BE GIVEN BY INDUSTRY PEOPLE WHO HAVE – BEEN THERE- DONE THAT — TO ASSURE CREDIBILITY. PARTICIPATING VENDORS WILL BE GIVEN AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS THE PROS AND CONS OF THEIR PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT OR TECHNOLOGY.  AT THE END OF THE DAY LONG PRESENTATIONS A NETWORKING COCKTAIL HOUR FOLLOWED BY DINNER WILL ALLOW THE GROUP TO INTERACT.

THE SECOND DAY OF THE SYMPOSIUM WILL START AT A NEARBY SEPTAGE TREATMENT FACILITY (LIQUID ASSET DISPOSAL).  AT LIQUID ASSET DISPOSAL YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SEE EQUIPMENT PROCESSING REAL SEPTAGE, GREASE TRAP WASTE, AND SEWAGE SLUDGE. A SET SCHEDULE WILL BE PREPARED FOR FACILITY TOURS AND VENDOR PRESENTATIONS SO PARTICIPANTS GET TO SEE EVERYTHING IN AN ORDERLY FASHION.  BY NOON PARTICIPANTS WILL BE BUSED BACK TO THE HAPCHUK SITE IN WASHINGTON, PA FOR LUNCH AND AN AFTERNOON FULL OF ADVANCED TECHNICAL PRESENTATIONS.

PREVIOUS VENDORS HAVE INCLUDED:

CRYSTAL ENVIRONMENTAL — SOLID-LIQUIDS SEPARATION
AQUA BEN CORP — POLYMERS
ATLANTIC DEWATERING — CONTAINER FILTER
BOERGER PUMPS – SLUDGE PUMPS
BUCKS Fabricating – CONTAINER FILTER
FKC SCREW PRESS — SCREW PRESS
FLO TREND — CONTAINER FILTER
FORT BEND SERVICES – POLYMERS
FOURIER CORP — ROTARY PRESS
PRIME SOLUTION – ROTARY FAN PRESS
MSD ENVIRONMENTAL – BELT PRESS
BIG FISH — TURNKEY SEPTAGE TREATMENT FACILITIES
CENTER CAPITAL CORP — FINANCING
CARMEUSE — LIME SUPPLIER
GEOTUBE — DEWATERING TUBES
BURT WASTE — OIL/WATER SEPARATOR
JUGGLER — SEPARATOR TRUCK
LELY — SCREENING EQUIPMENT
LAKESIDE — SCREENING EQUIPMENT
USABlueBook – Parts and Equipment Supplier
VOGELSANG — PUMPING AND SHREDDING EQUIPMENT

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THE SYMPOSIUM WILL BE HOSTED BY HAPCHUK, INC, OWNER OF THE LIQUID ASSET DISPOSAL FACILITY.
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THE REGISTRATION FEE OF $275 PER PERSON (NON NAWT MEMBERS RATE IS $375 PER PERSON) WILL INCLUDE FULL SYMPOSIUM PRIVILEGES FOR TWO DAYS INCLUDING DINNER ON WEDNESDAY AND LUNCH BOTH DAYS AND BUSING TO THE SEPTAGE TREATMENT FACILITY TO AND FROM THE HAPCHUK YARD.
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PLEASE CALL THE NAWT OFFICE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EXCITING EVENT
(800) 236-NAWT              (800) 236-NAWT       (6298)

PHONE, FAX OR SEND YOUR FORM WITH PAYMENT TO THE NAWT OFFICE BY SEPTEMBER 3, 2010.

NAWT
336 CHESTNUT LANE, AMBLER, PA 19002-1001

REGISTER BY PHONE AT (800) 236-6298              (800) 236-6298     

REGISTRATIONS WITH PAYMENT INFORMATION MAY BE FAXED TO 267-200-0279              267-200-0279       OR EMAIL TO INFO@NAWT.ORG info@nawt.org

As October rolls around in a large portion of the United States and all of Canada, restroom operators begin to gear up for what winter brings: frozen assets. It’s inevitable that at some point during the winter months, those of us in the industry miss the target winterization temperature, and we end up with frozen water lines, tanks and toilets—frozen assets.

I have always thought that when coming into this part of the business cycle, it is best to be proactive in as many ways as possible. The following suggestions and remedies will provide you with ways in which you, too, can be proactive.

1. Prepare and distribute a flyer that can be mailed (via regular mail), e-mailed or distributed by your service technicians. In plain and easy-to-understand terminology, explain that the winter months are difficult, and all cooperation is appreciated in helping to winterize and avoid potential problems. Ask that contractors refrain from plowing or piling up snow by restrooms and, better yet, that they clear a path for the driver and users.
2. Have a plan and coinciding method for winterizing your units. Make sure that your technicians are onboard with the plan and understand that a lack of winterizing only makes the situation worse.
3. Common products used in the winterizing process are rock salt, calcium chloride, methanol and Hot Flakes (available from PJ). Most need to be blended with water in advance, but some can be dispensed directly onsite.  Be certain, however, to wash your trucks as often as possible, as these products are all highly corrosive.
4. Be sure to use a “salinometer” to measure the salinity level of any salt solution; this step will help you to be sure you’re using the right amount of the solution when it’s cold and that you are not overusing during winter thaw times. Eight- to ten-day temperature projections are readily available and should be used to determine the target amount. Measuring can and should be precise.
5. Use rock salt in the urinals so that when the “stream” goes through the urinal, the rock salt dissolves and maintains the salinity level in the waste tank. A perforated, plastic golf ball works great as a strainer when filled with rock salt and placed in the urinal.
6. Use windshield washer fluid as a base for your spray bottle cleaners instead of water. The chances of it freezing are greatly diminished.
7. If possible, implement a “winterization” surcharge but only for the months that you actually winterize. This should not be used as a profit center but to simply cover your added expenses.

The winter months can be frustrating for your service technicians. Support them as much as possible with the necessary tools to do their jobs most effectively in difficult conditions.

Based in Burr Ridge, Illinois, near Chicago, Finkbiner Equipment has served the region for over 40 years. Throughout the state and region, the dealership is known for being experts in highway and road equipment. They also have a great working relationship with government and private contractors.

Vacall’s AllJetVac product line is known worldwide as industry leading sewer cleaners/hydro-excavators.

“We are proud to have Finkbiner as our newest dealership in the midwest region,” said Edgar J. Chavez, Vice President of Vacall Product Group. “Like Vacall, they have an exceptional reputation of customer service and product knowledge. We are excited to work with Finkbiner and look forward to many years of success.”

First introduced over 50 years ago, the Vacall product group offers a variety of high-performance sewer cleaning equipment, straight jetting trucks, hydro-excavators and industrial vacuum loaders. All of Vacall’s product design, production, sales, support and marketing are managed by Gradall Industries, Inc. in New Philadelphia, Ohio, where Gradall excavators have been produced since the early 1950s. To learn more about the Vacall advantage, visit www.vacallindustries.com.

For more information about Finkbiner Equipment, visit www.amstate.com.

Alamo Group, Inc.: For 40 years, we’ve been a world leader in the design, manufacture, distribution and service of high quality equipment for right-of-way maintenance and agriculture. Our products include tractor and truck mounted mowing and other vegetation maintenance equipment, excavators, street sweepers, vacuum trucks, snow removal equipment, pothole patchers, agricultural attachments and related aftermarket parts and services. We currently produce and assemble products in 16 principal facilities worldwide. Our products are sold through Alamo Group’s marketing organizations and our extensive independent worldwide dealer networks under various trademarks and trade names. These include Alamo Industrial, Tiger, Schwarze, Gradall, Vacall, Nite-Hawk, Henke Manufacturing, Schulte, Rhino, M&W, SMC, Herschel, Valu-Bilt, Bomford, Spearhead, McConnel, Twose, SMA, Forges Gorce, Faucheux, Rousseau, Rivard, and others. Alamo Group went public in 1993 and
since 1995 has been listed on the New York Stock Exchange as ALG. Visit our website at www.alamo-group.com.

Alexandria, Va. – The Water Environment Federation (WEF) and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) — a not-for-profit organization that educates and represents the decentralized systems and onsite wastewater treatment profession — are pleased to announce a significant new partnership that will take effect on February 1, 2010. Passed this month by the organizations’ boards of trustees, the resolution formalizes a three-year agreement to closely collaborate and promote a shared vision of an integrated and holistic approach to water, stormwater, and wastewater management.

Currently, one-quarter of the U.S. population and one-third of all new residential and commercial development use decentralized systems for wastewater treatment. Although the water and wastewater sector is heavily segmented, there is a growing consensus within the sector that water and wastewater management strategies must be integrated and various approaches considered in order to meet the evolving needs of the public and address emerging environmental challenges. To that end, leaders from both WEF and NOWRA have agreed that a strategic partnership can leverage their respective resources and capabilities to advance their mutual goals and interests.

“WEF has long been the go-to source of information for centralized wastewater treatment training and education and NOWRA is the acknowledged leader for decentralized approaches,” said WEF President Paul Freedman. “While these two approaches haven’t been easily reconciled in the past, this strategic partnership demonstrates both organizations’ interest in collaboration with a view toward a common goal of a cleaner global water environment.”

Under the agreement, WEF and NOWRA will strategically partner on several key initiatives including expanding knowledge sharing and training in common areas; promoting existing technologies and new applications for onsite and natural treatment systems; educating the public on proper use and benefits of onsite and natural system technologies; and promoting consistent regulation for effective management and oversight.

Specifically, WEF and NOWRA will explore collaboration on educational events; increased content and options for distance learning; joint publications; and offering more varied perspectives about water quality issues to their respective members. In addition, WEF and NOWRA will work closely to share association management resources to help direct emphasis to mission critical activities. Part of this special relationship will include NOWRA staff and offices relocating to WEF’s Alexandria, Va.-based headquarters in the coming weeks.

“WEF has offered NOWRA an opportunity for an office in the Washington, D.C.-area and a chance to combine forces to share our knowledge of the decentralized systems and onsite wastewater treatment profession with their experience as a global organization,” said NOWRA President Tom Groves. “After investigating partnership options, the NOWRA Board decided that WEF provides us with the most viable option for partnership and the Washington location allows us to be more responsive to and involved in legislative actions related to the field.”

Groves also believes this partnership will help to acknowledge the need for and the importance of decentralized approaches in solving wastewater treatment problems in situations where traditional sewerage is challenging. “We are excited about the opportunity to increase awareness and promote our sector to state and federal institutions as well as the engineering community who are less familiar with the range of institutional and technical options our members offer to help sustain North America’s wastewater infrastructure.”

For more information about WEF and NOWRA, visit www.wef.org and www.nowra.org.

About WEF
Formed in 1928, the Water Environment Federation (WEF) is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 36,000 individual members and 75 affiliated Member Associations representing water quality professionals around the world. WEF and its Member Associations proudly work to achieve our mission of preserving and enhancing the global water environment.

About NOWRA
Formed in 1992, NOWRA is a not-for-profit technical and educational organization with 4,000 individual members and 20 affiliated state/province associations representing the onsite/decentralized wastewater industry in North America. NOWRA’s principal purpose is to educate and serve its members and the public by promoting sound federal, state, and local policy, improving standards of practice, and advancing public recognition of unsewered wastewater infrastructure. Its mission is to advance and grow the onsite and decentralized wastewater industry by promoting sustainable wastewater management on a watershed basis through education and outreach.