RCAP - NOWRA Project Phase 2
Decentralized wastewater systems represent critical infrastructure; and decentralized workers play an important role in providing wastewater treatment and removal services to communities and in safeguarding the environment. With over 25 percent of the existing population and over 30 percent of new construction in the United States being served with septic systems, advancing the knowledge of property owners, decision makers, and septic system professionals is critical for long term system performance.
The long-term goal of RCAP and NOWRA is to build a comprehensive, blended learning training library for onsite/decentralized operations and management that includes in-person and instructor-led online training, webinars, self-paced e-learning modules and anywhere anytime tools and resources for onsite/decentralized owners as well as those that directly serve those owners, such as environmental health professionals, installers, realtors and other stakeholders.
For all three tasks listed below, the goal will be for all teaching materials to fit together creating blended learning with online and face-to-face components working together to deliver an integrated course. All materials developed during this project will be co-branded and provided in a format for use and updating by RCAP and NOWRA. RCAP will take the lead in activity development and programming for online delivery of courses. RCAP will secure locations to pilot the materials and NOWRA staff will take the lead on content delivery for the pilot training events. NOWRA will serve as septic system education content developers.
Small Communities
NOWRA will develop and deliver an educational program for small communities, with the purpose of helping them develop effective processes to solve their wastewater needs. NOWRA will develop a training manual and materials to guide engineers/designers, regulatory authorities, and/or engaged community stakeholders through a process that includes - Identifying current and anticipated wastewater treatment problems, Information needs, Working with professionals, Decentralized system treatment options, Decentralized management options, Community management structure options, Financing, and Implementation. The manual created out of this process will then serve as the basis for both online and in-person training.
Operations and Maintenance
NOWRA’s work in this project will be focused on the development of materials and implementation of training on workforce development related to system management including operation, maintenance, monitoring, and troubleshooting for decentralized systems. They will work to enhance the previously developed materials by The Onsite Consortium in their “Residential Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems: An Operation and Maintenance Service Provider Program,” which includes a manual and training materials focused on assessment of various decentralized wastewater components. The new materials created will discuss troubleshooting, responsible management entity formation, and the development of long-term business plans.
Difficult Sites
NOWRA’s work in this project will be focused on developing training materials that find solutions for difficult sites for decentralized wastewater treatment. Across the United States there are thousands of rural unsewered communities including incorporated and unincorporated areas with varying site, soil, and economic challenges. The objective of NOWRA’s role is to help communities find viable solutions for wastewater treatment that meet environmental, social, and financial needs using sound decision-making processes. Common challenges from a treatment and siting perspective will be showcased including heavy clay soils, rapidly permeable soils, high strength waste, nitrogen treatment, small lots/setbacks, high water tables, steep slopes, and bedrock. The range of solutions to be discussed will include surface discharging vs. non-discharging systems, cluster systems, advanced pretreatment systems, drip, and spray distribution.