Technical Advisory Council
for
Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Meeting held January 20, 2004 at MSU Turfgrass
Research Center.
Members and
alternates present: Del Mokma, Ron Lindsay, Larry Stephens, Chuck Cousino, Bob Godbold,
Dan Wagner, Wayne Kukuk, Dan Stock, Ben Foster, Ric Falardeau and Ted Loudon.
Guests
present:
·
Lauren
Sustic – Advance Concrete
Meeting
called to order by Chuck Cousino, Chairman.
Minutes
of the November 24, 2003 meeting were reviewed. Motion by Ted, support by Del, to approve minutes. Motion carried.
OLD
BUSINESS
Filter Fabric
Over Drainfields – Ted’s discussion with Hancor on the use of fabric around pipe
indicated that their practice is to design a particular fabric for the soil
conditions on the site. They would
recommend different fabric for different soils. Dan Wagner questioned: if that is needed, how can we come up with
one recommended fabric for all situations?
Larry passed around a piece of fabric that was removed from the top of a
failed recirculating sand filter with soil cover that was in a failed
condition. We have the specifications
from the Wisconsin requirements, and the recommendations from Orenco Systems
for fabric used over sand filters, that are reported to provide successful
results. We presently have no other
research information to verify or contradict that information. Members are encouraged to continue to
research this topic.
Ron and others will check on sieve size (opening
sizes) on the various fabrics in widespread use. It is hoped that this will be a common denominator for a
comparison of the various products available.
Ric Falardeau joined the group late, and brought
samples of geotextile fabric he has found that meet the Wisconsin
specifications. There seems to be a
wide variety of material that would be approved in Wisconsin, including
non-woven material that appears to be as heavy as about 4 oz. per square
yard.
Septic Tank
Manufacturers Meeting – Dan Wagner – Dan updated the group on a meeting held at the annual
conference with septic tank manufacturers in the state. Out of that meeting came an interest in
creating a mechanism for certifying septic tanks in Michigan as being
structurally sound and watertight. To
do that, the manufacturers need to form some type of association. Dan asked:
If the manufacturers go to the effort of coming up with such a tank
certification program, will the regulators enforce such a requirement? Ted said that he believes there is
widespread support for such a standard.
Ted moved that
the TAC get behind and “commission” the development of a standard for concrete
septic tank manufacturing and testing in Michigan. Support by Larry Stephens.
Some discussion of this topic followed.
Motion carried unanimously.
Bob
Godbold has put together a list of 128 concrete septic tank manufacturers doing
business in Michigan. This information
has come from all local health departments in the state, except two. Bob will try to complete the inventory in
the near future.
Commercial
Flow Study ---
Ted --- Progress on this study has been slow to date.
Residential
Flow Study
– Larry is working on a first draft of the companion document discussing the
use of this information. He will also
be posting the study on the MOWRA website in the near future.
Site
Compaction – Del
discussed the signs warning of site compaction. How can we get them distributed?
They are made by Smith Sign Company in Webberville. Cost is less than $0.50 each in quantities
of 2000 or more. They are made of
polyethylene, so they can be reusable.
Ted and Del think we can distribute them through the Onsite Training
Center. Those interested in these signs
to post on drainfield sites should contact Ted or Del. Ted and Del will develop a mechanism for
handling these warning signs.
Regulatory
Structure Document --- Larry will have the new revised
document posted on the website. Ric
Falardeau suggested we should pull the Guidance Document to Local Government on
Community Systems from the website. It
will need revision in light of the recent court decision in the Lake Isabella
case.
Operating
Permits ---
Chuck reported on some of his recent discussions with Livingston County regarding
some of the various types of enforcement mechanisms being discussed.
Information
Database Effort --- Larry explained the beginning of an effort by several private sector
service providers to establish a common database for system inspections and
maintenance. They will be talking with
Scott Carmody of Carmody Systems regarding this effort. The goal is envisioned to be the beginning
of an effort to coordinate the accumulation of system maintenance data such
that everyone is collecting and recording the same information in a form that
will be most useable in the future.
Others may join this effort if interested.
Annual Appointment of Member
Representatives --- Larry sent out letters to the member organizations to re-appoint
their representatives to the TAC.
Election of
Officers
--- Del moved, with Bob’s support, to maintain the same officers of the TAC for
the coming year. Motion carried. They are:
Chuck Cousino, Chairman, Ted Loudon, Vice-Chairman, and Larry Stephens,
Secretary.
NEW
BUSINESS
Northwest Michigan Onsite
Wastewater Taskforce --- Ted has been invited to the meetings of this new group, but has not
been able to attend many.
Statewide Code --- Ric – There seems to be
substantial discussion now in progress toward forming a uniform statewide
code. The Governor is expected to
mention it in her State of the State address next week.
Meeting
was adjourned at 1:00 PM.
NEXT
MEETING
Next Meeting
--- March 11, 2004
Location ---
Hancock Turfgrass Center, unless notified otherwise.
FUTURE
MEETING DATES
Future Meeting
Dates:
April 28, 2004
June 8, 2004
_________________________________
Larry
D. Stephens, P.E., Sec.