RCAP - NOWRA Project Phase 3
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 the 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.
Project 1: In-depth Educational Course
Develop and implement a university caliber educational course for those who are new to the decentralized workforce. This course will consist of the applied science behind decentralized wastewater treatment and will be free and open access.
Project 2: Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Glossary
NOWRA will expand, refine, and make the CIDWT Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Glossary available in an online searchable tool.
Project 3: Performance Monitoring and Troubleshooting Training and Materials
NOWRA will develop and deliver advanced training materials for service providers and operators of decentralized systems to support effective life-cycle management through advanced monitoring and troubleshooting. Educational material development and delivery will equip the service providers with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to evaluate wastewater sources, assess and troubleshoot advanced treatment and soil treatment area components, and evaluate process operational data to improve system performance.
Project 4: Responsible Management Entity Training
NOWRA will develop training materials for establishing Responsible Management Entities (RMEs) for decentralized systems and supporting the development of long-term business plans for RMEs. NOWRA will work with existing RMEs to develop case studies regarding real-world implementation, describing their legal structure and business plan, and highlight lessons learned through implementation. A stakeholder group will guide material development and support refinement of training materials.
Project 5: Training Materials for Tribal Decentralized System Workforce
NOWRA will develop training materials to improve the knowledge and skills of the Tribal decentralized wastewater treatment system workforce. The training will build technical, managerial, and financial capacity. Stakeholder input from Tribal communities will be critical to updating and modifying existing training materials such as Solutions for Difficult Sites, Operation and Maintenance, and Installation. The training will be in the classroom and on decentralized systems within Tribal communities where assistance is needed.
Project 6: Regulatory Professional Training Program (with the National Environmental
Health Association (NEHA))
NOWRA, with the support of NEHA, will develop training materials focused on the role of regulatory officials in the decentralized systems industry. The training will focus on developing regulatory, technical, management, and problem-solving skills.
Project 7: Provide Training and Technical Assistance for Cesspool Impacts
NOWRA will deliver training materials to improve the knowledge and skills of decentralized personnel targeting solutions with identified cesspool impacts, such as Hawaii. Local stakeholder involvement early in the project will develop the three-year training plan, with events focusing on Solutions for Difficult Sites, Operation and Maintenance of Advanced Treatment, and Troubleshooting. The training will be in the classroom and may include decentralized systems within communities where assistance is needed.
Questions about these materials should be directed to NOWRA at info@nowra.org.