IOWPA News, Fall 2020

I WPA News

Fall 2020 Quarterly publication of Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association

www.iowpa.org

Field Day 2020 — Camp Millhouse Should A Tank Be Pumped for An Inspection? You Betcha.

Where Are They Now? Dave Sweet Temporary Benchmarks

PLUS — IOWPA SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS • IOWPA WEBSITE LAUNCHED

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IOWPA News Fall 2020

IOWPA News is the official publication of the Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association, Inc. (IOWPA) and is published quarterly.

Indiana Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association 7915 S. Emerson Avenue, Suite 132 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Phone: 317-965-1859 • Fax: 317-204-8763 www.iowpa.org PUBLISHER Joan Brown, Interim Executive Director 317-965-1859 indianaonsitewastewater@gmail.com EDITOR AND AD SALES Mary Breidenbach, Cumulus Design 317-757-8634 • mary@ecumulus.com

In this issue . . .

6 Field Day 2020 — Camp Millhouse 8 Should A Tank Be Pumped for An Inspection?

You Betcha. plus Comments from IOWPA members 10 Where Are They Now? Dave Sweet 12 Temporary Benchmarks Plus More!

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President’s Message

Advertising Rates: Rate sheet available online at www.iowpa.org or by contacting Mary Breidenbach at 317-757-8634 • mary@ecumulus.com.

4

New IOWPA Website Launched

IOWPA 2020 Scholarship Recipients

Reprint Permission: Please email IOWPA to request permission to reprint. Direct your email to indianaonsitewastewater@gmail.com and include the title of the article and publication date.

UPDATE: IOWPA Conference 2021 Cancelled

Views expressed in articles or editorials do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the association or its directors, but are those of the writer. Trade names used in articles are for identification only. No discrimination is intended toward similar products and IOWPA does not endorse the use of the products mentioned.

Back Cover

Call for IOWPA Board Nominees

Calendar

p. 12: Temporary Benchmarks

Subscriptions: Subscription is included with IOWPA membership. Nonmembers: $20.00 per year (4 issues per year).

For questions regarding subscriptions, please call IOWPA at 317-965-1859.

On the cover:

Sam McAfee with L.A. Brown Inc., pumping a tank in northern Indiana. In this issue, Andrew McAfee shares his thoughts on the Pumper Magazine article, “Should a Tank Be Pumped for An Inspection? You Betcha.” that is reprinted on page 8.

Demo Day in Wells County Soil scientists, installers, county health officials, and other professionals shared wisdom and experience at the Site Prep Demo Day on August 14 while also experimenting with a variety of tools and techniques to prep for installation. More learning opportunities are being planned, including a Site Prep Demo Day in Greene County on October 23.

Details will be posted on the calendar at www.iowpa.org and in enewsletters.

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Dear IOWPA Members, This year continues to be a year full of change for IOWPA. Below are the most recent happenings since last issue.

• I’m happy to announce that our new website is completed and is up and running! Special thanks to Communications Chair Brian Payne for leading that effort. Be sure to check it out — www.iowpa.org.

Karl M. Glaze

• The IOWPA Field Day continues to move forward. Be sure to read the Field Day update from committee chair, Greg Inman on page 6, which includes an equipment donation list based on the approved plan for one of the sites.

• IOWPA has selected the recipients of the 2020 Ralph Reed Memorial Scholarships.

See page 4 for the official announcement.

• Unfortunately we had to make the decision to cancel the in person annual conference due to the pandemic. The Conference Committee along with the Certification Committee and the board, are working to ensure members will have opportunities to earn CEUs as well as some form of a virtual conference in 2021. See page 4 for details.

• I want to thank Joan Brown for continuing to help us sort things out as Interim Executive Director while we get ready to hire someone long-term to the position. With Joan’s help, we continue to move forward on having IOWPA ready for many more great years into the future.

If any of you are interested in being more involved with the operation of IOWPA, feel free to contact a committee member, Joan, or any of us on the board. The members are what make IOWPA the strong organization it is and who will continue to make it greater.

I am honored to be your President and will continue to work diligently with the Board and Committees to make this year a great one for IOWPA. Sincerely, Karl M. Glaze IOWPA 2020 President Daviess County Health Department karlglazeenvirospec@gmail.com

What’s so funny?

We know there are no stupid questions but there sure are some that make you chuckle — especially when you work with the general public!

IOWPA News would love for you to share these funny questions and any back story that goes with it to share in upcoming issues.

Please send any funny/unusual questions you’ve received to IOWPA at indianaonsitewastewater@gmail.com.

Please type, “IOWPA News – Funny Questions” in the subject line or in the body of the email. Thank you!

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IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

2020 IOWPA Officers President Karl M. Glaze (2023) Daviess County Health Department 812-254-8674

karlglazeenvirospec@gmail.com

Treasurer Gary Steinhardt (2023) Purdue University, Dept. of Agronomy 765-494-8063 gsteinhardt@purdue.edu Vice President Jon Houseknecht (2022) Sunset Septic & Excavation, Inc 219-778-8100 sunsetseptic@yahoo.com Secretary Kyle Nix (2023) S&M Nix Enterprises, LLC 812-347-2920 kylenix2007@yahoo.com Interim Executive Director Joan Brown 7915 S. Emerson Ave., Suite 132 Indianapolis, IN 46237 317-965-1859; Fax: 317-204-8763 indianaonsitewastewater@gmail.com

Board of Directors

Looking to earn CEUs?

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If you’re looking for a convenient way to earn CEUs and increase your industry knowledge, check out NOWRA A to Z, a four-course series already approved for IOWPA members that offers 8 CEUs. You can find the course at nowra.org under the Online Education tab.

Will Banks (2022) Ike’s Sewer Service 765-448-1443 wbanks0610@gmail.com Greg Inman (2022) Infiltrator Water Technologies 800-896-9565 ginman@infiltratorwater.com Andrew McAfee (2022) L.A. Brown Company 260-824-5754 admmcafee@gmail.com Randy Staley (2021) Staley’s Soil Service, Inc. 812-939-2752 Alice Quinn (2023) Indiana State Dept. of Health 317-233-7179 alquinn@isdh.in.gov

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IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

3

New IOWPA Website Launched Brian Payne, Communications Committee Chair

Hello IOWPA members! I’m excited to announce that IOWPA has launched a new website! Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the IOWPA board, the members of the communications committee, and our website developer IT Indianapolis, our organization has launched a new “front page” to show the world.

We’ve incorporated several improvements into the new website: • A clean, modern layout that is mobile-ready for easy viewing on computers, smart phones, and everything in between • A single simple search for finding installers, inspectors, and IOWPA members • Online payment options for events, membership, and donations • Easier certification tracking with a CEU search • An up-to-date events calendar with online regestration www.iowpa.org: This is just a glimps of the homepage.

Visit www.iowpa.org for calendars, news, CEU tracking, and more.

Same address as before — www.iowpa.org

Update: IOWPA Conference 2021 2021 Conference Cancelled Due to COVID-19 Every year we look forward to being together as IOWPA members and industry professionals at the January conference. But given the continuing concern around COVID-19 and following the example of many similar organizations in our field, we’ve made the difficult decision to cancel our in-person conference for 2021.

This was a tough call to make. Rather than devote time and resources to an event that might present health risks to our members and exhibitors, or risk financial loss to the association if we had to cancel at the last minute, we decided to cancel the event. We’ll plan to gather again in 2022.

In place of the conference we are committed to finding new and creative ways for members to connect with members, earn CEUs, and learn about our exhibitors’ products and services during 2021. In the coming months we hope to share these with you, so please stay tuned.

For the most up-to-date opportunities, visit the Calendar and Upcoming Exams pages on IOWPA’s new website (http://www.iowpa.org).

4

IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

IOWPA 2020 Scholarship Recipients We’re pleased to announce the 2020 Ralph Reed Memorial Scholarship recipients. We congratulate our winners and wish all the applicants the very best in their educational pursuits. And thank you to all the IOWPA members, friends, and businesses who supported the 2020 Scholarship Auction. Your generosity makes these awards possible each year.

NEW! If you would like to make a monetary donation to the scholarship in the future, you can now donate online through the new IOWPA website. Simply go to www.iowpa.org/scholarship to make your secure donation.

We’ll send a receipt — IOWPA is a 501(c)3 organization and your contribution is tax deductible. Your generosity will help us continue to support the education goals of our members’ children.

Conner Hack, son of IOWPA member John Hack II, Hack Excavating.

Conner graduated from Lafayette Central Catholic High School and is continuing his education at Purdue, majoring in Education. Conner intends to teach in Indiana where he believes he can help meet the state’s need for excellent teachers.

Adriann Shepherd, daughter of IOWPA member Shannon Shepherd, Fulton County Health Department.

Adriann graduated from Rochester High School and is a student at Ball State in the Respiratory Therapy program. Her intention is to serve the health needs of her community by working with people who suffer with respiratory challenges.

Emma Stallings, daughter of IOWPA member Kim Stallings, Spencer County Health Department.

Emma is a student at Purdue in Animal Science with a PreVet concentration. She graduated from South Spencer High School. Emma is committed to returning to Spencer County to help the community’s families care for their animals and to be active in all aspects of community life.

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IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

5

Field Day Committee

Field Day 2020 — Camp Millhouse Greg Inman, Filed Day Committee Chair We’re pleased to announce that Camp Millhouse is almost through the permitting process, so the Field Day Committee still hopes to host a field day in 2020. Camp FIELD DAY LOCATION Millhouse will be a large project Camp Millhouse so we will need a lot of volunteers 25600 Kelly Road South Bend, IN 46614 and donations. We will need a few primary contractors to help with the installation, a pumping company to pump out the old septic tanks, a licensed electrician, and volunteers to help run the event. We have drafted a material list that is not all inclusive but covers a bulk of the items we will need for the on-site system.

Monetary donations will be key to bring this project together. Since this is an engineered commercial design, all materials must match the approved design.

As an example, there will be five tanks for this project and all must meet the design specification. Monetary contributions will pay for these tanks and many of the other crucial components to this system that cannot be donated. Drink and food donations will be appreciated as well.

Since this is such an ambitious project and we’ll have to work together to pull it off, we want to give real recognition to those who support the project. We’ll recognize all donors on our website and donors at the Bronze level and above will be recognized on the job site. Every contribution will bring this project closer to completion. It’s such a worthy cause and we’re privileged to be able to contribute our time and talent.

We’re hoping our vendors and suppliers can step up with product and with generous financial support. We’ll look to our onsite professionals to help get the job done.

Field Day Donor Categories: Gold: $2,000 Silver: $1,999 - $1,000 Bronze: $999 - $500 Friends of Field Day: up to $500 Note: All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law and will be recognized on the IOWPA website.

A big shout out to those who got us started and have already donated:

Bronze: Dingman and Sons Excavating The Baumgartners Silver: Don Schnoebelen, Schnoebelen Soil Consulting Tim Monaghan, Soil Solutions, Inc. Gold: Stuart Meade, Meade Septic Design, Inc. Jon and Cody Houseknecht, Sunset Septic & Excavating 6

IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

Camp Millhouse is doing great things for their community and anything that IOWPA can do to help them will not go unnoticed by their campers, families, employees, and the community. Learn more about Camp Millhouse by visiting www.campmillhouse.org.

If you would like to donate please email indianaonsitewastewater@ gmail.com or call or text Greg Inman at 317-452-5718. We would appreciate receiving donations by September 30. This will give the committee time to inventory what we have received and items we may still need. No donation is too small to make a difference.

Thank you from the Field Day Committee 2020 and Camp Millhouse.

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IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

7

Should A Tank Be Pumped for An from Inspection? You Betcha. plus Comments IOWPA Members

(on p.10)

By Jim Anderson, Pumper Magazine This article first appeared in the May 2020 issue of Pumper Magazine / COLE Publishing. It is reprinted with permission.

Frequently I am asked whether pumping is required during a septic tank inspection to determine if it is watertight, structurally sound, and operating properly. My answer to that question is always an emphatic YES! Many state and local governments struggle with this question for inspections conducted to determine system compliance or at the time of real estate transfer. The bottom-line discussion usually starts with a mention of the additional pumping cost to the homeowner and the insistence by some professionals that the watertightness and soundness of a tank can be determined by simply observing the contents and its operating level.

While these are two important conditions that should be evaluated during tank inspection, they do not tell the inspector or

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IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

permitting authority everything they need to know to be assured the tank is watertight and operating the way it should.

EXAMINE THE LAYERS The contents of the tank should be separated into three distinct layers: a sludge layer at the bottom of the tank, a clear liquid zone, and a floating scum layer. If these do not exist, the inspector must determine if there is a problem with the tank itself or with the homeowner’s usage of the system. The operating level of the tank should be at the invert of the outlet. If the water level is above the invert, there is likely a problem downstream; if it is below this level, the tank is probably leaking.

Watertightness is the key to whether the tank is acceptable or not. If a tank is not watertight, there can be at least two types of problems. First, excess water can enter the tank and move to the drainfield, causing premature hydraulic failure. And untreated wastewater from a leaky tank presents a health risk to humans and can contribute to environmental problems such as phosphorus contributions to surface waters, causing algal blooms.

While operating at the proper level is an indicator that the tank is in good condition, pumping the tank will allow the inspector to visually evaluate tank walls, corners where walls and the lid meet, tank seams, openings, and the tank bottoms for signs of cracks and leakage.

An argument against pumping tanks during inspections in my part of the world deserves some discussion. Here’s how it goes: “It is common knowledge that a septic tank should not be pumped during the winter or just before winter because doing so removes the biological activity that generates heat, which keeps a tank from freezing.” Or, “Conversely, an empty tank is susceptible to cracking as the surrounding soil freezes and expands. … Thousands of seasonal lakeshore properties that are not occupied during the winter will be at risk.” And, “In areas with high water tables, an empty tank could pop

out of the ground due to frost heaving.”

ANAEROBIC DIGESTION Septic tanks are actually mini-anaerobic digesters, and pretreatment of the wastewater is through the processes of anaerobic digestion. Anaerobic digestion is a complex set of processes through which bacteria break down organic matter without oxygen. As the bacteria “work,” they generate biogas.

They do not generate heat in the process; in fact, for the process to be most efficient at breaking down the organic material, the temperature should be about 95o F. As an aside, the most common biogases produced are methane and carbon dioxide. This is why proper tank venting is so important; without venting, the gases can accumulate to toxic and explosive levels.

At temperatures less than 95o F, the process is less efficient and there will be additional solids accumulation. This is probably the reason we need to pump our tanks in colder northern climates more often as part of regular maintenance than in the South or West. We see less breakdown and more solids accumulation in Wisconsin and Minnesota, for example. The temperature of the tank in the winter is dependent on all use factors, including the temperature of the water put in, whether the tank is insulated and the extremes of our climate.

If the tank is not going to be used, there would be some concern about soil pressures due to freezing and thawing, as well as potential tank buoyancy problems. But these inspections are to be conducted on operating systems, so sewage will quickly be returned to the tank from the house and the risk would be no higher for these problems than pumping the tank in the middle of the summer.

This is an example where the lack of knowledge about the processes involved in wastewater treatment can result in bad regulatory decisions, such as deciding not to have tanks pumped during inspections.

Response from IOWPA Members — see page 10.

IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

9

Should a Tank Be Pumped for an Inspection?

Comments from IOWPA Members Andrew McAfee, L.A. Brown Co., Bluffton, Indiana Pumping during an inspection not only allows you to inspect the integrity of the tank but also how well the current owner has maintained cleaning their tank. In our area there are a lot of people that brag about not having their tank pumped in over 30 years and it’s working great. Reality is they do not know what issues that this causes down the line. Many of the properties here have only a tank that drains to a tile.

Most prospective buyers think this is how all systems are or do not know that this is considered an illegal discharging system. Educating the buyer that these old systems are in violation of current state law falls on “us” the professionals in the industry. Our company always recommends cleaning the tank during an inspection.

Jon Houseknecht, Sunset Septic & Excavating, Inc., LaPorte, Indiana We have found people often forget to have their tanks pumped regularly.

Frequently we hear, “never pumped for 20 years.” Pumping is part of normal maintenance for a tank. It is vital to get the sludge and any non-organic matter (q-tips, tampons, candy wrappers, baby wipes, etc.) out so they don’t get into the system. Basically pumping preserves the life of the septic system.

Pumping a tank for an inspection during a property transfer is beneficial to the buyer for many reasons. It helps: - Discover or confirm the capacity of the tank.

- Check the condition of the tank.

- Identify the construction and manufacturer of the tank and system.

(Frequently the current homeowner will not know these details.)

- Verify that all the components of the system are working and identify any problems, such as leaks.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

David Sweet Mary Breidenbach, IOWPA News Recently IOWPA visited with long-time member, Dave Sweet.

Dave was actively involved with IOWPA in its early days from 2004 until 2016 when he changed jobs and no longer worked in the onsite wastewater industry. Yet he stayed connected in a peripheral but vital way as he continued to manage the IOWPA website.

Dave Sweet

When we spoke with Dave he was driving home from Precast Solutions Inc., the company where he has worked since 2016 and is now vice president of operations and part owner.

“I remember my first IOWPA conference where I met Scott Rexroth. It was in 2004 and the event was held at a hotel in Lebanon. Back then I was working for a manufacturer of septic tanks as a general manager.”

From that first conference, Dave went on to become an active member of IOWPA, serving on the IOWPA board as Treasurer for three terms and as President for two terms (2012-2015).

During his time as president a lot happened, too. The new rule was passed and IOWPA’s membership began to grow fast due to the acceptance of IOWPA certification by county health departments.

“While the passing of the new rule happened during my term as president, I would never take credit for it. The passing of the new rule involved the effort of everyone — regulators, contractors, and manufacturers a like. We all worked to get it through. What is great about the new rule is that it helped define things much better and didn’t allow for just anyone to interpret the rules.”

And in terms of the growth of the membership, “I had a great group of presidents before me which made my two terms much easier. I also got to work with Donna Sheets who was IOWPA’s executive director at the time. She was great at her job and made sure we on the board wanted for nothing. She and her staff really handled IOWPA’s growth very well. Her documents were meticulous and everything was spot on. She was a major part of the IOWPA family and of our successful growth.”

Another big contribution by Dave during his time as an active member was creating an official website for IOWPA in 2008 and managing the site until this summer. A Purdue professor started to create a website around 2005-2006 but it was Dave who created a full site and managed it voluntarily for years until Donna made a suggestion that he get paid for his efforts.

“Building websites was a side interest of mine that grew into a small business. Today I manage just a couple of sites — my wife’s business and my own business.”

Given Dave’s length of time in the industry, we couldn’t help but ask what were some of the big changes he’d seen. Without hesitation Dave said, “The growth of Infiltrator.” He further explained, “When I started, rock and pipe was the business standard and was used around 90% of the time. The remaining 10% was alternative systems. By 2016 when I left the industry, about 65% was alternative systems and rock and pipe made up 35%. I attribute this change to the easier installation and handling and increased quality that alternative systems provide.

During my time, I also observed Indiana increasing their use of newer technologies (not to the extent of Ohio) and industry-wide there is a lot more use of plastic as opposed to concrete.”

So what is the biggest thing Dave has missed about IOWPA? “The biggest thing I miss is the camaraderie — like-minded individuals working toward a common goal. It’s the same thing I feel about my time in the military.” Dave added, “We always had fun and were able to joke around. It was something I looked forward to.”

Thinking of the future of IOWPA Dave said, “It’s nice to see some new blood getting involved.

Hopefully the group can keep moving forward based on the foundation that we laid in place.”

And finally when asked what advice he would give people entering the field, Dave said, “Stay with it. The field is not going anywhere. Learn as much as you can and enjoy the work.”

10

IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

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IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

11

Temporary Benchmarks Lisa Zeiner, Environmental Health Specialist, Preparedness Coordinator, Putnam County Health Department What is a temporary benchmark? Why are they used on septic plans?

Does the temporary benchmark matter during septic installation?

A temporary benchmark, often referred as the TBM, is a fixed point with a known elevation used for level control. The location of the benchmark should be a point that will not or cannot move, like a building corner. This isn’t always easy for new construction on vacant lot. In which case a wooden lath marking the proposed location of the septic tank or if the dwelling location is staked at the site, one of the building corners could be used as the TBM. What’s most important is that the location of a benchmark should always be on the site and applies to a marked point as an elevation reference.

Why are TBM used on septic plans? A TBM helps installers know the installation depth of the pipes. If reviewing an engineered designed system, the benchmark elevation is typically 100 feet. A TBM also helps the Local Health Department during the plan approval and inspection processes.

Does the location of the TBM matter during installation? The simple answer is, yes. Prior to the installation of the septic system, the septic installer needs to:

TBM.

1. Set up a transit in an area where all components of the system are visible, if possible.

2. Locate the benchmark at the site. If the TBM elevation on the plan is 100 feet and the benchmark rod shot reads 2.92 (2 ft. 11 in.), for example, the instrument height is 2.92 + 100 = 102.92. The outlet of the house elevation on the plan is 96.58, then the rod reading for the invert (bottom) of the pipe out of the house would be 102.92 - 96.58 = 6.34 (6 ft. 4 in.). During the installation, the invert of the pipe out of the dwelling needs to be at a rod reading of 6.34 (6 ft. 4 in.).

Temporary Benchmark identified in the septic plan above as “TBM” includes a description of the fixed point as well as its location. Red color added only to highlight for publication.

When the TBM is not located prior to installation, problems installing the system could occur. These problems could be anything from the trenches being off contour, to the septic tank being too deep or not deep enough. Establishing a new benchmark during an installation is not the best practice. Many installers, who don’t use the TBM from the plans, find that the trenches appear to be off contour when they are not. Understanding the proper way to use ABOUT THE AUTHOR the TBM makes installations smoother by Lisa Zeiner is the Environmental Health Specialists (EHS) for the Putnam eliminating possible errors.

County Health. She has been with the Health Department since February of The TBM is just as important as all the other components of the system. It is the starting point. Not using the same TBM as the designer will lead to an improper installation.

2014. As the EHS, Lisa developed Standard Operating Procedures for septic system plan review and inspection, food inspections, pool inspections, complaint investigations, and meth lab investigations. Lisa also drafted ordinances for septic systems, food protection, pools and meth labs which were all passed by the County Commissioners. In the fall of 2015, Lisa was presented with the Indiana Environmental Health Association’s Rookie of the Year award. As of July 2016, Lisa has taken over the septic program with the health department doing all plan reviews and installation inspections. Lisa was also asked by the Indiana State Department of Health to assist in drafting a Septic Systems Troubleshooting document.

In September, Lisa starts a new position as the Putnam County Plan Director. While she will no longer be working for the health department, she plans to keep her IOWPA certification current and to continue to be an IOWPA member.

12

IOWPA.org • Ph: 317-965-1859

IOWPA NEWS • FALL 2020

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INDIANA ONSITE WASTEWATER PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION 7915 S. Emerson Avenue, Suite 132 Indianapolis, IN 46237 Phone: 317-965-1859 • Fax: 317-204-8763 www.iowpa.org

CALENDAR October 23, 2020

Site Prep Demo Day in Greene County

Save the date! More information to come via the enewsletter and website. http://www.iowpa.org/

November 16-19 , 2020

2020 Onsite Wastewater Mega-Conference

All-virtual format. Note new dates may be posted soon. Learn more at http://www.nowra.org/

January 19-20, 2021

IOWPA Conference & Trade Show CANCELLED / See article on page 4.

February 22-25, 2021

WWETT Show 2021

Indianapolis, IN Conference: February 22-24 Marketplace: February 23-25 https://www.wwettshow.com

Due to COVID-19 all dates and information listed may change.

It’s always best to check the event sponsor’s website for the most current information.

PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID INDIANAPOLIS IN PERMIT 5677

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

Call for IOWPA Board Nominees Each fall, the IOWPA board begins to consider nominations for new directors to join the IOWPA Board. We invite you to give some thought as to who you would like to represent the membership on the board for the next three years.

Joining any nonprofit board is a great way to contribute to a community, a cause, or an industry. It’s a chance to bring your expertise and experience into work with others who share the same interests and concerns. Joining the IOWPA board is an opportunity to help guide the work of the organization and improve our service to members.

Here’s what IOWPA board members can expect: • Board members are elected by the membership and begin their service in January, serving for three-year terms. Board members must be IOWPA members in good standing.

• The IOWPA board meets at least quarterly. Currently, we’re meeting more often and remotely. Board members are expected to come prepared to discuss issues on the agenda and to actively participate.

• Board members also serve on at least one committee. At this time, board committees include Certification, Conference Planning, Scholarship/Awards, Field Day, and Communications. In the new year, we hope to form a Finance Committee as well.

Committees meet remotely as needed to carry out their responsibilities.

• In an organization with just one paid staff, board members regularly help with the work of the organization through actively helping at conferences and field days, assisting with the content of publications and the web site, and providing advice and feedback for the executive director.

• Board members are required to put the interests of the organization ahead of their own agendas or personal interests. Conflicts of interest are disclosed as part of board service.

• Board members actively seek out feedback from the membership in order to represent all of IOWPA’s constituents well.

Board leadership is a serious commitment, but also a meaningful opportunity to help direct the future of IOWPA. If you are interested in serving or would like to nominate another member, we’d like to hear from you.

Nominations will be accepted through October 31 and can be made by calling the IOWPA office at 317-965-1859 or send an email to indianaonsitewastewater@gmail.com.

We’ll follow up quickly and look forward to talking with you.