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In fact, most manufacturers require tanks be relled to some level based on elevation of the water. This creates an interesting situation if you are servicing tanks to relieve pressure on the system during wet periods. The service provider needs to balance the potential for larger problems versus the customers desire to get rid of the water.
a driveway, the additional weight of the concrete or asphalt would provide additional counter force. We do not want to see tanks covered with concrete or asphalt, but there are times when this happens. Two important points to note: With shallower tank installations, the amount of backll over the top is usually about a foot, which is usually not adequate by itself to provide protection. And if the tank is too deep, the soil may exceed its structural capacity to withstand that depth of burial. This information is product-specic.
With shallower tank installations, the amount of backll over the top is usually about a foot, which is usually not adequate by itself to provide protection. And if the tank is too deep, the soil may exceed its structural capacity to withstand that depth of burial.
We reviewed our state rules regarding tank installation to see what they say about buoyancy. Here is the requirement from 7080.2000 Part I: Sewage tanks placed below the level of the periodically saturated soil must employ a method to protect against otation under periodic saturated soil conditions when the tank is empty. This is a performance-based code item, placing the burden on the designer/installer to determine if there is a potential problem and a method used to solve it. This means consulting with the product manufacturer and following their specications and requirements is extremely important. During installation, there are several ways to provide protection against a oating tank. The rst is the soil backll itself. Backll over the top of the tank provides a force to counter buoyant forces. If the tank is installed under
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stateofthestate
2012 law in Maryland has changed the entire landscape of the onsite wastewater industry in the state. The number of new septic systems will be cut in half and those that are installed must use the best available technology. There are strict requirements for operating and maintaining onsite systems and every person working on them will have to be certied by both the state and the system component manufacturer. It has been a busy year for the Maryland Onsite Wastewater Professionals Association. The Sustainable Growth and Agricultural Preservation Act of 2012 is just the latest effort in the 30-year ght to clean up the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the country covering 4,480 square miles through Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. Nobody has been immune from the efforts to reduce nutrients and pollution getting into the water; the onsite industry, agriculture, stormwater and municipal wastewater have all been affected. The states goal is to eliminate all new nitrogen sources from onsite systems and limit new systems to only one of four zoning tiers in the state. The Chesapeake Bay has been severely degraded, says Dave Duree, president of MOWPA and the owner of Advance Systems in Taneytown, Md. Nitrogen has fed the algae at the surface and that has cut off the sunlight from the plants below. So were losing our crabs, oysters, clams and the habitat for all the creatures in the bay. The new laws and regulations virtually eliminate all future nitrogen from onsite systems from entering the bay. Stormwater is likely the next big source to be addressed. Duree talked with Onsite Installer about the Maryland experience. Installer: There has been a lot of change in Maryland in the last year. What role has MOWPA played? Duree: MOWPA has provided the industry point of view to the legislature and other parties participating in the process. As a nonprot organization, we do not lobby. We are a resource to the Maryland Department of Environment, homebuilders associations, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. Were also providing forums and educational resources to help the industry meet the requirements of the new regulations, which includes installers and those manufacturing, operating and maintaining the systems. It is a big responsibility. MOWPA is working with MDE to train professionals in appropriate O&M practices based on the 270-page manual from the Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment. In our
rst three two-day classes in 2013, we had about 65 graduates. There were 25 registered for our March class; we were expecting about 20. So we cant project the total number of graduates this year. We dont know how many more classes well do, but were prepared to meet the demand. Installer: How has the onsite industry responded to the changes? Duree: There are those who are resigned to the inevitable and adjustContact Dave Duree at 443/398-6185 or ing, and others who are frustrated and dduree@earthlink.net. angry because the practices they are accustomed to will be radically altered. MOWPA will assist in adjusting to the changes. That is the most realistic and effective way to make a living in our business. Installer: What is the impact of the regulations restricting the use of onsite systems? Duree: It will result in a 50 percent reduction in the number of new systems each year; from around 10,000 a year to about 5,000 statewide. The installation side will clearly be smaller, but each installation will be a bigger job because of the requirement for best available technology. However, there will be more work in operating and maintenance because each system is required to be maintained in perpetuity, including regular pumping. MOWPA is training pumpers in the proper methods for pumping those complicated systems. Some have media lters so if you put the hose in the wrong place you can damage the media. Installer: What is next in the regulatory pipeline? Duree: The legislation requires the establishment of an offset program for any residual nitrogen. Most of the states in the Chesapeake Bay watershed are behind on meeting their TMDL goals. The challenge is that we have to continue to grow, which adds nutrients, while at the same time reducing nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorous. Those are conicting responsibilities. An offset program for wastewater systems, stormwater and agriculture
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ONSITE INSTALLER
August 2013
machinematters
Engine Oil
Which to use: conventional mineral, semi-synthetic or fully synthetic?
By Eric Brothers
ngine lubricating oil comes in many viscosities (weights) and a variety of base oils. While you should always follow the engine manufacturers recommendations for specication category (such as API CJ-4 or Caterpillar ECF-3), that still leaves a wide choice of oils across a range of prices. One of the decisions to be made is whether to use a conventional mineral oil or upgrade to a more expensive semi-synthetic blend or fully synthetic oil. What exactly is a synthetic oil? A fully synthetic oil is nothing more than a mineral oil that youve taken apart and put back together in a controlled way, explains Jami Melani, the eld engineering/heavy-duty technical services manager for BP/Castrol (BP Lubricants USA). Melani said hydrocarbon molecules as they come out of the ground are imperfect. There are empty spaces on the carbon atoms where ideally theres a hydrogen atom attached. An empty space creates a place for oxygen to attach to the molecule, and oxidation is not what you want; well address that in greater detail later. In a synthetic oil, each carbon atom has as many hydrogen atoms as there are spaces, so oxygen doesnt attach easily to the molecule, Melani notes.
Synthetic and synthetic blend oils are compatible with mineral-based oils, so machine owners can switch to a synthetic type without damaging the engine. (Photo courtesy of Shell Lubricants)
Synthetic and synthetic blend motor oils can be of benet in extremely cold as well as extremely hot environments. For construction equipment operating in cold weather, synthetics will ease starting and reduce wear at start-up because synthetics have superior cold cranking and cold ow characteristics.
Shawn Ewing
Some oils are identied as semi-synthetic. Shawn Ewing, technical coordinator, commercial products for Phillips 66, says, Synthetic blend or semi-synthetic engine oils are a combination of mineral-base oil and synthetic oil, blended to achieve a balance of performance characteristics close to those of a full synthetic, but with a price point that remains closer to a mineral formulation. Whether they are mineral, semi- or full-synthetic, the base oils are then blended with additives to create products for specic types of applications,
such as engine oil, compressor oil, gear oil or hydraulic oil. Synthetic engine oils are multi-viscosity, a characteristic achieved with polymers. Think of them like noodles as the oil gets hotter, the polymers get longer and thicker, Melani said. When its cold, the oil is 15-weight, but as the oil heats up to operating temperature, the polymers make it ow like its 40-weight. So you get a thinner oil at cold temperatures to ow better and lubricate the surfaces, and when it gets hotter, the oil is thicker to offer the lm strength and protection. Thats just the opposite of what occurs naturally: oil is thick when cold and thin when hot. Since synthetic base oils cost more, what are the benets of using them in work trucks and earth-moving machinery? There are several reasons to choose a semi-synthetic or full-synthetic oil. Synthetic and synthetic blend motor oils can be of benet in extremely cold as well as extremely hot environments, notes Ewing. For construction equipment operating in cold weather, synthetics will ease starting and reduce wear at start-up because synthetics have superior cold cranking and cold ow characteristics. Synthetic oils generally have a lower cold viscosity rating, 5W-40 or 10W40, compared to the common 15W-40 mineral oil, says Stede Granger, OEM technical services manager for Shell Lubricants. Shell also has introduced a full-synthetic heavy-duty diesel engine oil with viscosity rating 0W-40 for extreme cold conditions in Canada and Alaska.
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ONSITE INSTALLER
August 2013
rulesandregs
Extreme heat and high operating temperatures can accelerate oil oxidation. Oil exposed to air and heat combines with oxygen to form acids, insoluble sludge, and varnish, Phillips 66s Ewing explains. The oxidation process leads to a vicious circle of increasing the viscosity of the oil which increases uid friction and heat which accelerates the rate of oxidation. Synthetic oils have better oxidation protection and better resistance to thermal breakdown at higher temperatures, Shells Granger notes. If you are expecting higher than normal operating temperatures, a synthetic oil is desirable. Another benet of using synthetic base oils is the possibility of extending the drain interval. As Ewing explains, Since oxidation byproducts and contaminants are the most common reasons for an oil to reach its condemning limit upon oil analysis, the superior oxidation resistance of synthetic and synthetic blend engine oils is a key factor in their ability to extend service life. Lowering maintenance costs overall is the main benet of extended drain intervals, according to BP/Castrols Melani. Although the synthetics cost more per gallon, you gain from running the oil longer between drains. Side benets include more uptime, less oil to handle, less clerical ordering, less downstream waste, fewer lters and fewer technician labor hours. Opinions vary about how much longer drain intervals can be extended by using synthetic oils. Synthetics can offer longer lubricant life in most situations, says Ewing. The number of hours or miles increased depends on the type of service and application. However, Ewing warns, Not all situations allow an oil drain extension just because of a switch to synthetic oil. He cites as an example extremely dusty environments where if air ltration is compromised, dirt can enter the crankcase and cause engine wear. In this case, synthetic uids become just as dirty as conventional motor oils. One of the reasons you drain engine oil is because of contamination from the combustion process, says Shells Granger. In a diesel, one of those contaminants is fuel soot. At some point, you get so much soot, no matter how good the oil is, you have to drain it. Nevertheless, in some circumstances, the run time between drains can be extended 50 percent or more by using a semi- or full-synthetic oil. We encourage customers to be responsible, step up the interval in increments, and rely on used oil analysis to verify that they are extending drains safely and responsibly without any damage to the equipment, says Melani. Is it okay to mix mineral and synthetic-base oils, or should the previous type be ushed out of the crankcase? The experts agree there should be no compatibility issues if the engine has been operating properly with no mechanical problems. Synthetic and synthetic blend engine oils are blended to be compatible with conventional engine oils as well as being compatible with seals and gaskets, says Ewing. The quest for better fuel economy for on-highway vehicles will likely carry over to off-road equipment, says Granger. The trend is for engine manufacturers to allow lower viscosity oil to help save fuel. Going from 15W-40 mineral oil to a 10W-30 semi-synthetic, you pick up a little better fuel economy from thinner oil, Melani notes. Its hard to measure, but intuitively, you know it takes less power to pump thinner oil through the engine. Full-synthetic oil is more expensive, so Melani says to consider: What conditions does the oil have to address? Which oil will do the best job in that situation? Can I use a less expensive mineral oil and change it more often? Granger advises, The choice is what really ts for the customer, what the equipment is, how old it is and in what environment it operates. O
bout 1,000 people in Muscatine County can expect to hear from zoning ofcials this year because they are not having their septic systems that discharge into state waterways sampled or inspected as required. Only about 20 homeowners are in compliance with state rules that are being adopted at the county level. A free class is available for homeowners to become certied to take their own samples, or they can pay someone who is certied. The county is looking at various ways to increase compliance.
Illinois
The suburban Chicago village of Richmond is turning to septic haulers to help pay off a $7 million loan from the states Environmental Protection Agency. The village budget for scal 2013, which began on May 1, included expenditures to install equipment for a septage receiving station at its new, under-used wastewater treatment plant.
Indiana
A sellers disclosure form to be used when selling a home with a septic system will remain voluntary for at least the rest of 2013 in Allen County. Developed in 2012, the form was intended to inform homebuyers of the existence of a septic system and recommends an inspection before closing on the purchase. But in a 12-month period that included 282 sales of such homes, only 20 inspections were done. The Department of Health will reconsider the decision next year and discuss if the disclosure should be mandatory.
Hawaii
A bill to assess fees to homeowners with cesspools and septic tanks was killed before it could reach the oor of the Hawaii legislature. The money raised from the fee would have funded Health Department programs to make sure that water quality wasnt being impaired by cesspools and septic tanks. Some lawmakers saw it as unworkable for many of the rural areas of the states islands that have no access to public sewers; there are 59,000 cesspools and septic systems on Hawaii Island alone. The bill was stopped when a dozen lawmakers voted to put a hold on the bill, which kills it for this session, according to The Maui News. O
Rules and Regs is a monthly feature in Onsite Installer. We welcome information about state or local regulations of potential broad interest to onsite contractors. Send ideas to editor@onsiteinstaller.com.
ONSITE INSTALLER |
August 2013
27
casestudies
Sequencing batch reactor system allows for expansion of Indiana meeting facility
Problem: Located near Batesville, Ind., Walhill Farm offers facilities for parties and business functions in a country setting. The 141-acre working farm includes a banquet facility in a renovated horse barn that seats 800 people, a restaurant and a butcher shop. The conversion came in 2012, and the butcher shop was added, requiring a new onsite wastewater treatment system. Solution: Kevin Chaffee, P.E. of Earthtek Environmental was hired to design the system. Since the wastewater strength from the butcher shop was expected to exceed domestic concentrations, it had to be treated prior to soil disposal. A package sequencing batch reactor called the Sabre (Sequencing Activated sludge Batch Reactor) was used to pretreat the wastewater. It is designed to be installed in a conventional septic tank, and can be adapted for almost any application. The system consists of ne-bubble aeration, simplex or duplex decant pumps installed in the tank clear zone, and a digital control panel with integral air pump. Result: The system reduced BOD concentrations from a design level of 800 mg/L to 15.6 mg/L, TSS from 400 mg/L to 11.7 mg/L, and efuent ammonia to 0.078 mg/L. 812/528-8784; www.packageplants.com.
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ONSITE INSTALLER
August 2013
August 2013
35
associationnews
By Scottie Dayton
Onsite Installer invites your state association to post notices and news items in this column. Send contributions to editor@onsiteinstaller.com.
MISSOURI
Paul Ganey, Michael Bowers, and Rick Helms were elected to the Missouri Smallows Organization board of directors at the groups annual conference. Ofcers are Nancy Leighton, president; Sean Bauer, vice-president; Seth Coggin, P.E., secretary; and Rick Helms, treasurer.
Oct. 2-3 NAWT Operation and Maintenance Level 1, Napa Oct. 17 System Controls, Sonora Call Kit Roseeld at 530/513-6658 or visit www.cowa.org.
NOWRA
The agenda for the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association annual conference is shaping up. We have conrmation that Britton Dotson, director of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, will introduce the states newly revised onsite regulations, says NOWRA executive director Eric Casey. That is signicant, because the conference is one of the rst places where [the regulations] will be discussed. Members will meet Nov. 17-20 at the Millennium Maxwell House Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. As part of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Decentralized Partnership, NOWRA is contributing to a paper focusing on the onsite industrys role in job creation and economic development in local communities. For example, Dauphin Equipment in Mobile, Ala., works with the state and other groups to install large commercial cluster systems in communities with poor sanitation. Once they had proper wastewater treatment, businesses began relocating to these locations. All over southern Alabama, decentralized systems have revitalized communities, says Casey. The contribution our industry makes to the economy is an important message to take to local and national policymakers when looking for additional funding and support. Too few realize that our industry represents a quarter of the nations infrastructure.
The Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association has these courses: Sept. 17 Operation and Maintenance, Ainsworth Oct. 9 Basic System Design and Installation, Charles City Contact Alice Vinsand at 515/225-1051, execdir@iowwa.com, or visit www.iowwa.com.
Iowa
The University of Minnesota Onsite Sewage Treatment Program has these classes: Sept. 5 Sampling Onsite Systems, Waterville Sept. 12 Soils Continuing Education, Bemidji Oct. 3 Soils Continuing Education, Brainerd Oct. 22-25 Intermediate Onsite System Design and Inspection, Brainerd Call Nick Haig at 800/322-8642 (612/625-9797) or visit http://septic. umn.edu.
Minnesota
Missouri
The Missouri Smallows Organization has these CEU courses: Sept. 18-19 Operations & Maintenance, Cape Girardeau Sept. 24 Aerated Treatment Units, Springeld Sept. 25 Selling Systems, Springeld Oct. 9-10 High-Strength Waste, Maryland Heights Oct. 30 Earthen Structures, Camdenton Oct. 31 Hydraulics, Camdenton Call Tammy Trantham at 417/739-4100 or visit www.mosmallows.org.
Alabama
The University of Arizona Onsite Wastewater Education Program has a Soil and Site Evaluation for Onsite Wastewater Systems class Oct. 28-29 at Camp Verde. Contact Kitt Farrell-Poe at 520/621-7221, kittfp@ag.arizona. edu, or http://ag.arizona.edu/waterquality/onsite.
Arizona
The New England Onsite Wastewater Training Center at the University of Rhode Island in Kingston has these courses: Sept. 5 Conventional Onsite Wastewater Treatment Basics for Installers Sept. 12 Functional Inspections Sept. 19 Innovative and Alternative Technologies Sept. 26 Conventional Onsite Wastewater System Inspection Sept. 27 Conventional Onsite Wastewater System Inspection Field Training Oct. 1 Technology Vendor Field Demo Oct. 3 Bottomless Sand Filter Design and Installation Oct. 31 Rhode Island Designer Examination Prep Call 401/874-5950 or visit www.uri.edu/ce/wq. For soil courses, call Mark Stolt at 401/874-2915 or e-mail mstolt@uri.edu.
New England
North Carolina
California
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The North Carolina Septic Tank Association has these classes: Sept. 9 Installer/Inspector, Swansboro Oct. 14 Installer/Inspector, Mooresville