Technical Advisory Council
for
Onsite Wastewater Treatment
March 11, 2004
Meeting held, March 11, 2004 at Michigan State
University, Turfgrass Research Center.
Members and alternates present: Ted Loudon, Del Mokma, Ric Falardeau, Steve
Aguinaga, Ron Lindsay, Larry Stephens, Chuck Cousino, Dan Wagner, Ben Foster,
Gary Rowe, Dan Stock, and Gary White.
Guests present:
Steve Brown,
Meeting called to order by Chuck Cousino, Chairman.
Motion by Ted, support by Dan Stock, that the
minutes of the January 20, 2004 meeting be approved as distributed with minor
amendments discussed.
OLD
BUSINESS
Filter Fabric
Specifications for Use Over Drainfields--- After further discussion on this subject, the
following were suggested as the beginning set of fabric specifications:
Weight --- Not to exceed 1 oz. per
square yard
Apparent
Opening Size --- Between 20 and 70 Seive Size
Non-woven
Trapezoidal
Tear --- to
be provided
Puncture
Strength --- to
be provided
Ben will
prepare a letter to be sent to several manufacturers with these specifications,
asking for feedback and samples of fabric they make that would meet these
specifications. We will try to have this
information by the next meeting so that we can begin to wrap this up and
prepare a recommendation.
Commercial
Flow Study ---
Ted passed out some preliminary study information done by one of the students
at MSU. He will probably need to put
another student on the project because the current student is graduating.
Residential
Flow Study ---
Larry explained his thinking on a rational method of interpreting the flow
study results in the design of cluster systems. The process would involve a statistical evaluation of 1,000 or
more actual records of individual residential flow records. T.A.C. members are encouraged to feed any
individual flow records, or ways to obtain them, to Larry for use in this
effort.
Site
Compaction Advisory --- Del passed out and the T.A.C. reviewed a draft of his cover document
on soil compaction. Members contributed
some editorial comments to Del’s work.
Del will
finalize this for adoption as a formal advisory at the next meeting.
Ted did check with the University on the possibility
of selling the signs through the training center. MSU says it can be done.
Del and Ted will put together the final details for distribution. Those interested in purchasing signs should
get in touch with Ted or Del.
Operating
Permits ---
Ric has not had much time to work on this effort.
MEHA Ready
Reference ---
Gary reported that Tony Drautz of Oakland County was working on finalizing the
wastewater section of this manual for the MEHA conference next week.
Michigan
Concrete Tank Association --- Dan Wagner reported that the association of tank
manufacturers has now been formed. Dan
introduced Steve Brown of Brutsche Concrete Products, Battle Creek, as an
interested tank manufacturer. Dan has
been trying to find out what is under consideration nationally with regard to a
precast septic tank standard, thinking that if something was being done nationally,
we might be able to benefit from that effort.
Dan also passed out some information he has done in
testing a product called KrytonKim HS, a concrete additive that basically
creates a concrete tank that “heals itself”.
Over time, the additive reacts to leaks and forms a seal. The use of the product would add an
estimated $30 to $50 to the cost of a concrete tank.
NEW
BUSINESS
Revision of
Guidance Document for Cluster Systems --- This document was made obsolete by the
recent Court of Appeals decision, and has been removed from the MOWRA
website. DEQ has had some internal
meetings on this subject, but has not come to any decision in the matter.
TAC Recommendations
for Septic Tank Effluent Filters --- Dan Wagner brought up a request by Washtenaw County
Health Department for the TAC to issue recommendations on effluent
filters. This points to another area of
need, but it is also another area of product approval that the TAC does not
have the means to address at the current time.
Training
Center ---
Ted brought up a need to have the facilities at the Training Center repaired
and updated. This generated significant
discussion on the need for training of new employees at County Health
Departments.
Australian
International Wastewater Conference --- Ted recently attended an International
Conference on Wastewater Treatment in Australia. He reported some of the interesting technology he observed. The proceedings will be available on
CD.
Next Meeting –
April 28, 2004
Location ---
MSU, Turfgrass Research Center
FUTURE
MEETING DATES
Future Meeting
Dates:
_________________________________
Larry
D. Stephens, P.E., Sec.