CEHA 2024

The Colorado Professionals in Onsite Wastewater (CPOW) has partnered with the National Association of Wastewater Technicians (NAWT) and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) to provide education for everyone in the industry. This talk will walk you through the many resources available to obtain education and training in the onsite wastewater treatment system industry. Whether you are looking of employee training or resources for the public to learn about onsite wastewater treatment systems we will point you in the right direction.

In 2006, North Carolina passed legislation establishing the NC Onsite Wastewater Contractor and Inspector Certification Board. I served as a member of the Board from 2006 to 2021. During those 15 years, we created the certification levels, the licensing requirements, the exams for the different levels, the continuing education requirements, the rules, the ethics, and a host of other needed elements. This presentation will take you through the process, the impacts, and how we had to respond to issues that arose.

Accessory dwelling units are increasing in popularity and local governments are adding rules regarding ADUs to their building codes. Colorado’s legislature just passed a bill to increase the number of ADUs in the state. Arapahoe County recently adopted new regulations in the land development code for Unincorporated Arapahoe County. In this session, we will explore OWTS designs accounting for the increased wastewater flows from ADU additions. We will also hear from other counties on their challenges and lessons learned from OWTS permitting for ADUs. Join us as we discuss design and regulation considerations for the ADU craze.

At this point in time, I plan on providing an update on the status of the proposed revisions to Regulation 43 (OWTS Regulations). However, as things progress and other hot topics arise, it may be more appropriate to determine the exact presentation content more towards the end of the summer.

The Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Program was established in 2020 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic to monitor COVID-19 levels across the state. Since its inception, the Wastewater Surveillance Program has expanded to cover approximately 65% of the state’s population in its monitoring, and it was designated as a National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) Center of Excellence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This program has evolved into a dynamic initiative with a vision for the future that prioritizes optimization of resources and partnerships between the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, local public health agencies, wastewater utilities, and academic partners.
The program is focused on sustainability and the incorporation of new targets to the surveillance schema. This includes the addition of enterovirus-D68 during the 2023 season. Additionally, a pilot project was conducted during the 2023-2024 respiratory virus season, focusing on influenza A and B, as well as RSV A and B. Moving forward, the program is considering the addition of antimicrobial-resistant gene and fungal targets, arboviruses, and bacterial targets.
Pertaining to the goal of program sustainability and following an evaluation, we are transitioning to a sentinel surveillance site model for wastewater surveillance. This system will enable us to incorporate new pathogen targets and implement long-term wastewater surveillance in Colorado. Complementary to this program, we have established the Emergency Wastewater Surveillance System. This framework encompasses a network of wastewater utilities, each serving more than 3,000 Coloradans. In the event of emerging pathogens necessitating rapid public health responses, these utilities will immediately provide wastewater samples to CDPHE for analysis. This system ensures swift monitoring of pathogen spread across the state, enabling effective and efficient public health interventions. As it continues to advance and foster collaborative partnerships, the Colorado Wastewater Surveillance Program stands poised to maintain its crucial role in safeguarding public health and informing proactive measures for pathogen detection and response in the state.

This presentation aims to increase attendees’ knowledge of NSF/ANSI 40 (onsite treatment), NSF/ANSI 245 (nitrogen reduction) and NSF/ANSI 350 (water reuse). The standards and certification process will be discussed, including performance testing details such as influent and effluent characteristics, dosing volume, and stress loading. Additionally, a significant update to NSF/ANSI 350 for commercial and multi-family systems that utilizes a risk-based approach incorporating pathogen log-reduction targets (LRTs) will be introduced.

Highlighting a malfunction case in Jefferson County and the journey navigating the enforcement process.

The operation and maintenance (O&M) of onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) is critical to ensure optimal performance, functionality, and system longevity. Having a service contract with a licensed professional trained in the O&M of onsite wastewater treatment technologies is a sound approach to achieving sustained care and utility of an OWTS as well as protect homeowners’ significant financial investments.

OWTS O&M service visits often result in the early detection of a problem that could lead to a system malfunction. The proactive nature of regular O&M inspections makes it possible to take corrective action before a system becomes a public health hazard, detriment to the environment, or a liability for the homeowner—making O&M visits the most effective risk mitigation tool to public health. As our communities continue to expand and experience movement toward rural living, the utilization of OWTS for wastewater disposal will persist for the foreseeable future. As such, the need for OWTS Professionals and Regulators to develop an oversight program has emerged.

Development of an O&M oversight program is no small feat and poses a variety of challenges: cost, data management, regulatory authority, licensure and certifications, amongst others. Despite the challenges, effective wastewater management is critical to protect public health, environmental health, and property value. An O&M oversight program is essential to ensure OWTS within a respective jurisdiction are receiving the proper care and attention to protect our groundwater resources.