May 2014

2014

May

PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE www.onsiteinstaller.com

The key to success:Tread lightly on soil Page 18

Kentucky system requires tight fitPage 20

Will you buy yournext tires online?Page 42

Virginia contractor Emmett Mitchell credits former boss and mentor Dewey Chaffin for building his skills and igniting a passion for onsite installation PAGE 12

TEACHER

STUDENTAND

PAGE 26

We ensure the water is clean outside the building.

PuraMaxMoving Bed Biological Reactor

The PuraMax moving bed biological

reactor (MBBR) is an attached growth process

designed to achieve a high quality effluent within a small

overall footprint. It employs thousands of recycled plastic

biocarriers to ensure stable and robust treatment. This

proven systemthe result of extensive research and

developmentis engineered especially for community

and commercial applications, including food service

establishments.

Our unique tools and solutions-oriented team make

designing a system easy!

Call: 336-547-9338 or visit: www.anua-us.com

Suitable for a broadrange of applicationsincluding:_____________________Commercial or community_____________________High strength waste orpretreatment including convenience stores or restaurants_____________________Retrofit existing systems_____________________Nitrogen sensitive areas

Recycled Plastic Biocarriers

4 | ONSITE INSTALLER May 2014

contents 2014May PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE www.onsiteinstaller.com The key to success:Tread lightly on soil Page 18 Kentucky system requires tight fitPage 20 Will you buy yournext tires online?Page 42 Virginia contractor Emmett Mitchell credits former boss and mentor Dewey Chaffin for building his skills and igniting a passion for onsite installation PAGE 12

TEACHER

STUDENTAND

PAGE 26

Call toll free 800-257-7222;

outside of U.S. or Canada call 715-546-33467:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Central time, Mon.-Fri.

Website: www.onsiteinstaller.com Email: [email protected] Fax: 715-546-3786

SUBSCRIPTIONSA one year (12 issue) subscription to Onsite Installer in the United States or Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any individual or company in the United States or Canada that partakes in the installation, design, maintenance, manufacture, treatment, consulting or sale of onsite wastewater treatment systems or supplies. Non-qualified subscriptions are available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year outside of the United States. To subscribe please visit onsiteinstaller.com or send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above. MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card information with your subscription order.

Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy is important to us. If you prefer not to be a part of these lists, please contact Nicole at [email protected].

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGMinimum rate of $25 for 20 words; $1 per each additional word. All classi-fied advertising must be paid in advance. DEADLINE: Classified ads must be received by the first of the month for insertion in the next months edition. PHONE-IN ADS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Fax to 715-546-3786 only if charging to MasterCard, VISA, Discover or AmEx. Include all credit card information and your phone number (with area code). Mail with check payable to COLE Publishing Inc. to the address above. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING APPEARS NATIONWIDE AND ON THE INTERNET. Not responsible for errors beyond first insertion.

DISPLAY ADVERTISINGContact Winnie May at 800-994-7990. Publisher reserves the right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair or incompatible with the character of the publication.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCESend to Editor, Onsite Installer, P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes, WI, 54562 or email [email protected].

REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUESVisit www.onsiteinstaller.com for options and pricing. To order reprints, call Jeff Lane at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected]. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected].

CIRCULATION Circulation averages 21,954 copies per month. This figure includes both U.S. and International distribution.

Copyright 2014 COLE Publishing Inc.No part may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

May 2014

12 Teacher and Student By Scottie Dayton ON THE COVER: Emmett Mitchell, of Chaffin Excavating in Bedford, Va., has carved a niche in the

onsite industry by specializing in steep slope installations and system repairs. He is shown during the excavation process for a system installation. (Photo by Jeff Reid)

8 Editors Notebook: Getting Your Hands Dirty In todays workforce, not enough young people want to roll up their sleeves and perform the manual labor that built this great land. I wish I knew why.

By Jim Kneiszel

10 @onsiteinstaller.com Be sure to check out our exclusive online content

18 Basic Training: Tread Lightly Less is more when were talking about disturbing the soil in and around an infiltrative area where a mound or at-grade system will be installed. By Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E.

20 System Profile: Window of Opportunity A Kentucky convenience stores onsite system replacement required a tight build-out schedule and utilized a small patch of ground. By David Steinkraus

24 Expo Product Spotlight: Polylok product allows safety screen to be installed in any 24-inch septic tank riser

By Craig Mandli

25 Rules and Regs: Delaware Creates New Septic System Inspector Licenses By Doug Day and Sharon Verbeten

26 BUYERS GUIDE

39 Product News

40 State of the State: On Top of Their Game Washington state wastewater pros rely on the state trade group for training updates and government lobbying on important issues. By Doug Day

42 Shop Talk: Gaining Traction Your next set of vehicle or equipment tires is only a few mouse clicks away. But are you ready to switch from the local tire shop to a virtual shopping experience? By Ed Wodalski

44 Product Focus: Drainfield Media and Design By Craig Mandli

46 Case Studies: Drainfield Media and Design By Craig Mandli

48 Associations List

49 Industry News

ISSUE FOCUS: Septic Tanks & Components- Basic Training: Should you install your own system?- System Profile: Installing at a Kentucky equestrian camp

cover story

Coming Next Month: June 2014

Winnie May

Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Showwww.pumpershow.com

Education Day: Feb. 23, 2015 Exhibits Open: Feb. 24 - 26, 2015Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd. PO Box 220Three Lakes, WI 54562

Published monthly by

Get Social with Onsite Installer

www.facebook.com/OnsiteInstallerwww.twitter.com/OnsiteInstaller

www.plus.google.comwww.youtube.com/OnsiteInstaller

www.linkedin.com/company/onsite-installer-magazine

contents 2014May PROMOTING WASTEWATER TREATMENT QUALITY AND PROFESSIONAL EXCELLENCE www.onsiteinstaller.com The key to success:Tread lightly on soil Page 18 Kentucky system requires tight fitPage 20 Will you buy yournext tires online?Page 42 Virginia contractor Emmett Mitchell credits former boss and mentor Dewey Chaffin for building his skills and igniting a passion for onsite installation PAGE 12

TEACHER

STUDENTAND

PAGE 26

Call toll free 800-257-7222;

outside of U.S. or Canada call 715-546-33467:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Central time, Mon.-Fri.

Website: www.onsiteinstaller.com Email: [email protected] Fax: 715-546-3786

SUBSCRIPTIONSA one year (12 issue) subscription to Onsite Installer in the United States or Canada is free to qualified subscribers. A qualified subscriber is any individual or company in the United States or Canada that partakes in the installation, design, maintenance, manufacture, treatment, consulting or sale of onsite wastewater treatment systems or supplies. Non-qualified subscriptions are available at a cost of $60 per year in the United States and $120 per year outside of the United States. To subscribe please visit onsiteinstaller.com or send company name, mailing address, phone number and check or money order (U.S. funds payable to COLE Publishing Inc.) to the address above. MasterCard, VISA and Discover are also accepted. Supply credit card information with your subscription order.

Our subscriber list is occasionally made available to carefully selected companies whose products or services may be of interest to you. Your privacy is important to us. If you prefer not to be a part of these lists, please contact Nicole at [email protected].

CLASSIFIED ADVERTISINGMinimum rate of $25 for 20 words; $1 per each additional word. All classi-fied advertising must be paid in advance. DEADLINE: Classified ads must be received by the first of the month for insertion in the next months edition. PHONE-IN ADS ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Fax to 715-546-3786 only if charging to MasterCard, VISA, Discover or AmEx. Include all credit card information and your phone number (with area code). Mail with check payable to COLE Publishing Inc. to the address above. CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING APPEARS NATIONWIDE AND ON THE INTERNET. Not responsible for errors beyond first insertion.

DISPLAY ADVERTISINGContact Winnie May at 800-994-7990. Publisher reserves the right to reject advertising which in its opinion is misleading, unfair or incompatible with the character of the publication.

EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCESend to Editor, Onsite Installer, P.O. Box 220, Three Lakes, WI, 54562 or email [email protected].

REPRINTS AND BACK ISSUESVisit www.onsiteinstaller.com for options and pricing. To order reprints, call Jeff Lane at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected]. To order back issues, call Nicole at 800-257-7222 (715-546-3346) or email [email protected].

CIRCULATION Circulation averages 21,954 copies per month. This figure includes both U.S. and International distribution.

Copyright 2014 COLE Publishing Inc.No part may be reproduced without permission of the publisher.

May 2014

12 Teacher and Student By Scottie Dayton ON THE COVER: Emmett Mitchell, of Chaffin Excavating in Bedford, Va., has carved a niche in the

onsite industry by specializing in steep slope installations and system repairs. He is shown during the excavation process for a system installation. (Photo by Jeff Reid)

8 Editors Notebook: Getting Your Hands Dirty In todays workforce, not enough young people want to roll up their sleeves and perform the manual labor that built this great land. I wish I knew why.

By Jim Kneiszel

10 @onsiteinstaller.com Be sure to check out our exclusive online content

18 Basic Training: Tread Lightly Less is more when were talking about disturbing the soil in and around an infiltrative area where a mound or at-grade system will be installed. By Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E.

20 System Profile: Window of Opportunity A Kentucky convenience stores onsite system replacement required a tight build-out schedule and utilized a small patch of ground. By David Steinkraus

24 Expo Product Spotlight: Polylok product allows safety screen to be installed in any 24-inch septic tank riser

By Craig Mandli

25 Rules and Regs: Delaware Creates New Septic System Inspector Licenses By Doug Day and Sharon Verbeten

26 BUYERS GUIDE

39 Product News

40 State of the State: On Top of Their Game Washington state wastewater pros rely on the state trade group for training updates and government lobbying on important issues. By Doug Day

42 Shop Talk: Gaining Traction Your next set of vehicle or equipment tires is only a few mouse clicks away. But are you ready to switch from the local tire shop to a virtual shopping experience? By Ed Wodalski

44 Product Focus: Drainfield Media and Design By Craig Mandli

46 Case Studies: Drainfield Media and Design By Craig Mandli

48 Associations List

49 Industry News

ISSUE FOCUS: Septic Tanks & Components- Basic Training: Should you install your own system?- System Profile: Installing at a Kentucky equestrian camp

cover story

Coming Next Month: June 2014

Winnie May

Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport Showwww.pumpershow.com

Education Day: Feb. 23, 2015 Exhibits Open: Feb. 24 - 26, 2015Indiana Convention Center, Indianapolis, Indiana

1720 Maple Lake Dam Rd. PO Box 220Three Lakes, WI 54562

Published monthly by

Get Social with Onsite Installer

www.facebook.com/OnsiteInstallerwww.twitter.com/OnsiteInstaller

www.plus.google.comwww.youtube.com/OnsiteInstaller

www.linkedin.com/company/onsite-installer-magazine


Its dry at the top.

InviziQ offers Dry Well design, the fi rst and only PSS alternative delivering clean access to the system motor and other working parts of the unit.

InviziQTM is changing the way people view pressure sewer

systems. Our innovative engineering includes the industrys

fi rst and only Dry Well design, coupled with a reliable

solid-state level sensor and intuitive control system. We

developed our intelligent PSS with performance, reliability,

durability, control and value built into every unit.

Learn more at www.inviziq.com

advertiserindexAERO-TECH..................................................19

Alderon.Industries,.Inc...........................45

Alita.Industries,.Inc.................................46Anua....................................................................2Arcan.Enterprises,.Inc...........................50Axiall,.Inc./ACCU-TAB...............................5

Bio-Microbics,.Inc.....................................23

BrenLin.Company,.Inc.............................45Precast, Inc.

Crest.Precast,.Inc.......................................19

Dalmaray.Concrete.Products.Inc......50DekoRRa.Products.......................................9

Eljen.Corporation.......................................27

Hedstrom.Plastics.....................................43

Infiltrator.Systems,.Inc.............................3

InviziQ.................................................................7

Jet.Inc...............................................................29Liberty.Pumps.............................................51

Netafim.USA.................................................37

Pagoda.Vent..................................................50

Polylok.............................................................52Premier.Tech.Aqua...................................10

Presby.Environmental,.Inc.....................6

RotoSolutions,.Inc......................................50

Salcor,.Inc.......................................................15

See.Water.Inc...............................................22

Septic Services Inc.

Septic.Services,.Inc...................................33

Septronics,.Inc.............................................35

Sim/Tech.Filter.Inc.....................................9

Simple.Solutions.LLC...............................50

SJE-Rhombus...........................................31Snyder.Industries,.Inc.............................11

SPI.-.Septic.Products,.Inc.......................46

T&T.Tools,.Inc..............................................47

The.Dirty.Bird..............................................50The.Shaddix.Company,.Inc....................50

Tuf-Tite.Inc....................................................17Weber.Industries.......................................21

Wieser.Concrete.Products,.Inc............41

MAY.2014

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE

onsiteinstaller.com

Spectra Precision/Trimble NEEDS TO BE Trimble.-.Spectra.Precision.Division

May 2014 ONSITE INSTALLER | 7

Its dry at the top.

InviziQ offers Dry Well design, the fi rst and only PSS alternative delivering clean access to the system motor and other working parts of the unit.

InviziQTM is changing the way people view pressure sewer

systems. Our innovative engineering includes the industrys

fi rst and only Dry Well design, coupled with a reliable

solid-state level sensor and intuitive control system. We

developed our intelligent PSS with performance, reliability,

durability, control and value built into every unit.

Learn more at www.inviziq.com

advertiserindexAERO-TECH..................................................19

Alderon.Industries,.Inc...........................45

Alita.Industries,.Inc.................................46Anua....................................................................2Arcan.Enterprises,.Inc...........................50Axiall,.Inc./ACCU-TAB...............................5

Bio-Microbics,.Inc.....................................23

BrenLin.Company,.Inc.............................45Precast, Inc.

Crest.Precast,.Inc.......................................19

Dalmaray.Concrete.Products.Inc......50DekoRRa.Products.......................................9

Eljen.Corporation.......................................27

Hedstrom.Plastics.....................................43

Infiltrator.Systems,.Inc.............................3

InviziQ.................................................................7

Jet.Inc...............................................................29Liberty.Pumps.............................................51

Netafim.USA.................................................37

Pagoda.Vent..................................................50

Polylok.............................................................52Premier.Tech.Aqua...................................10

Presby.Environmental,.Inc.....................6

RotoSolutions,.Inc......................................50

Salcor,.Inc.......................................................15

See.Water.Inc...............................................22

Septic Services Inc.

Septic.Services,.Inc...................................33

Septronics,.Inc.............................................35

Sim/Tech.Filter.Inc.....................................9

Simple.Solutions.LLC...............................50

SJE-Rhombus...........................................31Snyder.Industries,.Inc.............................11

SPI.-.Septic.Products,.Inc.......................46

T&T.Tools,.Inc..............................................47

The.Dirty.Bird..............................................50The.Shaddix.Company,.Inc....................50

Tuf-Tite.Inc....................................................17Weber.Industries.......................................21

Wieser.Concrete.Products,.Inc............41

MAY.2014

COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE COMPANY PAGE

onsiteinstaller.com

Spectra Precision/Trimble NEEDS TO BE Trimble.-.Spectra.Precision.Division


friend and the owner-operator of a small excavating company and I were talking about his workload the other day. He has one helper in a successful two-person operation installing sewer laterals, doing prep

work for onsite systems and performing other miscellaneous digging work.As you might expect and can probably relate to, this fella works sunup

to sundown most days and hes hesitant to turn work away when new customers come calling. Yet he doesnt feel comfortable leaving his No. 2 to tackle any of the work alone. Consequently, he and his lovely wife/bookkeeper dont get time off for vacations, or even to take a few days to recharge the batteries.

Why cant you find someone to delegate some of that work to? I asked him the question even though I had a good idea what his response would be.

You just cant find employees who will treat each job as if they were the owner, my friend said. Good, loyal customers are hard enough to come by, he explained, so he has to make sure they are happy every time they hire his company. One slipshod job

or turning down a single time-sensitive project could lose a good customer for life, and small businesses cant afford to leave that revenue on the table.

WHICH CHALLENGE IS BIGGER?

Is the problem that few employees crave the added responsibility of supervising a project through to completion? Or is the issue that too few young people want to go into the trades as a career, as has been considered an emerging trend?

Its a little bit of both, my friend and I agreed.Clearly we have a job preparedness problem in the United States.Chambers of commerce and other advocates of construction,

infrastructure and agriculture business sectors have long argued American schools both high schools and universities arent graduating students with employment skills that are in greatest demand. Critics say students should be training as engineers, machinists, electricians and plumbers

rather than lawyers, artists and English teachers.As a writer and photographer, I would counter that a well-rounded

liberal arts education can be a valuable foundation for many careers. But I understand their point. Everywhere I look, I see a graying of the trades. Most contractors I know, including my friend the excavator, are over age 50, and a lot of them are knocking on the door of retirement. They sincerely enjoy framing houses, pulling electrical wire, installing furnaces and pumping septic tanks. But at the same time, theyre getting knees replaced and popping a few more pain relievers to get through the day.

CALLING ALL WORKERS

Changing the trend in job training is one thing. Were smart enough to know how to do that. Invest in our tech schools. Let kids know that its honorable to want to become a carpenter, plumber or electrician. We can make a compelling argument that working in the trades provides a good living and great job satisfaction. You are all a testament to that.

The other issue lets call it a lack of initiative among front-line workers is more troublesome. I hear this complaint often enough to know there is something to it. Installers tell me how tough it is to fill out a new crew. They say workers are often unreliable. If they show up for work on time, they have to be taught the most basic skills. They dont have the work ethic necessary to follow through with a good job every time.

Have we inadvertently taught young people that physical labor and working with their hands is beneath them? If so, how did that happen?

My late father, who would be nearly 100 years old today, did nothing but work hard and get dirty as a maintenance mechanic in a factory his whole career. He toiled with co-workers and they built great cogs literally giant gears to advance the American infrastructure in the 1950s and 60s. Growing up, he fixed the family cars, welded things when they broke. Why, hed sooner build a mailbox from scratch than buy one at Walmart. Saturday was spent in the basement using his brains and his hands rather than wandering the shopping mall or playing a $200 round of golf. And he loved every bit of it.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

The country was once full of guys like my dad. But not anymore, apparently. Look at the onsite industry, for example. Many contractors tell me they cant find workers who live for the daily challenges faced in this

FeedbackOnsite Installer welcomes your comments, ideas and suggestions on how we can serve you better. Call 800/257-7222; fax 715/546-3786; or email [email protected].

editorsnotebook

Getting Your Hands DirtyIn todays workforce, not enough young people want to roll up their sleeves and perform the manual labor that built this great land. I wish I knew why.By Jim Kneiszel

A

We can make a compelling argument that working in the trades provides a good living and great job satisfaction. You are all a testament to that.

industry. And its not just pulling strangers off the street. Often, installers own children dont show an interest in following in their parents footsteps.

I was talking about this phenomenon with my friend, the excavator. Its as if opportunity is knocking loud and clear, but the young people dont hear it. Rather than embrace high-demand, high-reward work and cultivate an entrepreneurial small-business spirit, students are pursuing something else, maybe a suit-and-tie corporate career.

Todays new workers dont see the wastewater industry or the trades the way I do. I feel the possibilities are limitless for workers who want to help restore an aging infrastructure and protect our water supplies. Think of the millions of onsite systems that need to be replaced, upgraded and maintained to meet the demand for a cleaner environment. There will always be wastewater to treat and process, and these aging systems have been ignored for a long time.

If you talk to random people on the street about popping the lid on a neglected septic tank, most will turn up their noses. But if you talk to someone whos been working in the industry for 30 years, theyll tell you they enjoy that smell of success. Our challenge is to convey a bright outlook for the industry to young people who could help move it forward.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

Oh, my friend and I never did figure out how to lighten his load enough so he could take a vacation. But he said that while theres always a lot of work to be done, hes going to enjoy getting up every morning and doing it. O

Check out NEW Exclusive Online Content & More!www.onsiteinstaller.com


gag-simtech.com888-999-3290

The Last Line of Defense for Pressurized Distribution Systems

NO VAULT PUMP FILTER

THE STF-100 SERIES PRESSURE FILTER WILL:

GRAVITY FLOW BRISTLE FILTERS FOR RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL SYSTEMS, SEPTIC TANKS, ONSITE SYSTEMS, OR EVEN YOUR POND!

The Original Orifice Protector Sturdy design for all appli-

cations Easy to position Will not fill with gravel in any

position

Large discharge area that does not clog

Large open area No moving parts to stick Will remain in place, even

without glue

Easy adjustments No tangled wires No float hang-ups No straps to break

No entering tank Easy pump repairs Very affordable

ORIFICE SHIELDS

FLOAT TREE ACCESSORIES

41% open area (139 square inches of open area on the 6" x 18" screen model)

Fits most turbine pumps (also known as deep well pumps)

Adds only 1/4" of height to pump making it easy to retrofit to existing systems

Has 3" sludge shield at the bottom of the filter

Disassembles for thorough cleaning if needed

Easy to clean surface Made of PVC plastic so will not

corrode Self adjusting seal Very light in weight so it does not

make pump insertion or removal difficult

Screen available from 18" to 42" long

Also available with 316L stainless steel screen

Lower total suspended solids (TSS)

Protect with low head-loss (.5002 ft)

Extend the life of the distribution field

Filter to .062", .024", .007", or .004"

Pass up to 83.8 gallons per minute @ 1PSI

Allow for easy installation and service

Protect from improper system maintenance

Protect from system abuse Satisfy your customers

Very effective at filtering tissue, hair, lint, and other solids common to waste water. And flexible enough to fit just about anywhere, most common appli-cations are standard tees and square concrete baffles as shown below.

Can be used in a manifold to handle almost any flow-rate

The 7" filter in a 5" square concrete baffle.

The 4" filter in a 4" Tee.

Sizes: 4" yellow 6" white 7" red 8" blue

US Patent# 5,885,452 CAN Patent# 2,237,751

Check Out Our Other Quality Solutions! Risers, Security Nets, Clean-Out Sweeps, etc.

Patent# 6,811,692

friend and the owner-operator of a small excavating company and I were talking about his workload the other day. He has one helper in a successful two-person operation installing sewer laterals, doing prep

work for onsite systems and performing other miscellaneous digging work.As you might expect and can probably relate to, this fella works sunup

to sundown most days and hes hesitant to turn work away when new customers come calling. Yet he doesnt feel comfortable leaving his No. 2 to tackle any of the work alone. Consequently, he and his lovely wife/bookkeeper dont get time off for vacations, or even to take a few days to recharge the batteries.

Why cant you find someone to delegate some of that work to? I asked him the question even though I had a good idea what his response would be.

You just cant find employees who will treat each job as if they were the owner, my friend said. Good, loyal customers are hard enough to come by, he explained, so he has to make sure they are happy every time they hire his company. One slipshod job

or turning down a single time-sensitive project could lose a good customer for life, and small businesses cant afford to leave that revenue on the table.

WHICH CHALLENGE IS BIGGER?

Is the problem that few employees crave the added responsibility of supervising a project through to completion? Or is the issue that too few young people want to go into the trades as a career, as has been considered an emerging trend?

Its a little bit of both, my friend and I agreed.Clearly we have a job preparedness problem in the United States.Chambers of commerce and other advocates of construction,

infrastructure and agriculture business sectors have long argued American schools both high schools and universities arent graduating students with employment skills that are in greatest demand. Critics say students should be training as engineers, machinists, electricians and plumbers

rather than lawyers, artists and English teachers.As a writer and photographer, I would counter that a well-rounded

liberal arts education can be a valuable foundation for many careers. But I understand their point. Everywhere I look, I see a graying of the trades. Most contractors I know, including my friend the excavator, are over age 50, and a lot of them are knocking on the door of retirement. They sincerely enjoy framing houses, pulling electrical wire, installing furnaces and pumping septic tanks. But at the same time, theyre getting knees replaced and popping a few more pain relievers to get through the day.

CALLING ALL WORKERS

Changing the trend in job training is one thing. Were smart enough to know how to do that. Invest in our tech schools. Let kids know that its honorable to want to become a carpenter, plumber or electrician. We can make a compelling argument that working in the trades provides a good living and great job satisfaction. You are all a testament to that.

The other issue lets call it a lack of initiative among front-line workers is more troublesome. I hear this complaint often enough to know there is something to it. Installers tell me how tough it is to fill out a new crew. They say workers are often unreliable. If they show up for work on time, they have to be taught the most basic skills. They dont have the work ethic necessary to follow through with a good job every time.

Have we inadvertently taught young people that physical labor and working with their hands is beneath them? If so, how did that happen?

My late father, who would be nearly 100 years old today, did nothing but work hard and get dirty as a maintenance mechanic in a factory his whole career. He toiled with co-workers and they built great cogs literally giant gears to advance the American infrastructure in the 1950s and 60s. Growing up, he fixed the family cars, welded things when they broke. Why, hed sooner build a mailbox from scratch than buy one at Walmart. Saturday was spent in the basement using his brains and his hands rather than wandering the shopping mall or playing a $200 round of golf. And he loved every bit of it.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

The country was once full of guys like my dad. But not anymore, apparently. Look at the onsite industry, for example. Many contractors tell me they cant find workers who live for the daily challenges faced in this

FeedbackOnsite Installer welcomes your comments, ideas and suggestions on how we can serve you better. Call 800/257-7222; fax 715/546-3786; or email [email protected].

editorsnotebook

Getting Your Hands DirtyIn todays workforce, not enough young people want to roll up their sleeves and perform the manual labor that built this great land. I wish I knew why.By Jim Kneiszel

A

We can make a compelling argument that working in the trades provides a good living and great job satisfaction. You are all a testament to that.

industry. And its not just pulling strangers off the street. Often, installers own children dont show an interest in following in their parents footsteps.

I was talking about this phenomenon with my friend, the excavator. Its as if opportunity is knocking loud and clear, but the young people dont hear it. Rather than embrace high-demand, high-reward work and cultivate an entrepreneurial small-business spirit, students are pursuing something else, maybe a suit-and-tie corporate career.

Todays new workers dont see the wastewater industry or the trades the way I do. I feel the possibilities are limitless for workers who want to help restore an aging infrastructure and protect our water supplies. Think of the millions of onsite systems that need to be replaced, upgraded and maintained to meet the demand for a cleaner environment. There will always be wastewater to treat and process, and these aging systems have been ignored for a long time.

If you talk to random people on the street about popping the lid on a neglected septic tank, most will turn up their noses. But if you talk to someone whos been working in the industry for 30 years, theyll tell you they enjoy that smell of success. Our challenge is to convey a bright outlook for the industry to young people who could help move it forward.

NO REST FOR THE WEARY

Oh, my friend and I never did figure out how to lighten his load enough so he could take a vacation. But he said that while theres always a lot of work to be done, hes going to enjoy getting up every morning and doing it. O

Check out NEW Exclusive Online Content & More!www.onsiteinstaller.com

DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE?

Conceal unsightly devices with ultra-realistic rock enclosures. New sizes and new colors now available.

Several models cover septic riserseven those with junction boxes

Heavy-duty commercial construction built to last

Smaller models cover cleanouts and vents

Manufactured by www.dekorraproducts.com - Toll-Free 888-635-8585

s

111 model rock

Septic Tank with three 24" access covers

112 model rock


The DominatorSnyders Newest Low Profile Design is One

Tough Septic Tank

Phone: 402-467-5221 Fax: 402-465-1220 Email: [email protected]

Another great idea from Snyder Industries...

ONE-PIECE CONSTRUCTION. No seams that might leak or structurally fail after installation.

Dominator is available in the following sizes: 750, 1000,1250, & 1500 Gallon. Available as single or double compartment tanks. Unique monolithic structural design provides superior top load strength. Proprietary manway isolation design keeps manholes from distorting during

backfillandpumpouts. Nospecialwaterfillingprocedureisrequiredduringbackfill. Can be used in both septic and pump tank applications. Dominatoristheonlylowprofiletankavailablewiththeteesandgaskets

pre-installed in the tank. Also available in 1200 and 1700 gallon water cisterns.

500LowProfile

300 & 500 Gallon Spheres

Also Available:

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Radial reinforcement bands and tie tubes provide superior radial strength.

Top male ribs provide added strength against top loading.

Stabilization & lifting lugs.

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OVERHEARD ONLINETires really perform more work than most people can imagine; theyre what really delivers driving performance. Top Safety Tips for Tireswww.onsiteinstaller.com/featured

MAJOR MELTWaterlogged Onsite SystemsDare I say the cringe polar vortex has passed? We hope so. But for those flood-prone areas hit with record-breaking snowfalls earlier this year, major thaw-

outs are sure to overwhelm onsite systems. Your phones are probably ringing off the hook right now from panicked customers with flooded systems! Expert Jim Anderson helps you determine how to effectively evaluate and remedy flooding issues. www.onsiteinstaller.com/featured

KNOW YOUR ROLERules & Regs Are you in compliance with all the regulations that impact your business? Do you even know

all the agencies that might regulate you? For onsite professionals, keeping up with changing regulation requirements can be a headache. Weve tackled the tough job of figuring out how you can manage regulatory compliance for your onsite business. www.onsiteinstaller.com/featured


ehind most successful people is a mentor, and Dewey Chaffin of Chaffin Excavating in Bedford, Va., was Emmett Mitchells trusted advisor.

In 1991, Mitchell was fresh out of high school and seeking a career that didnt involve his fathers logging business. Excavating, grading and installing conventional stone-and-pipe septic systems seemed the perfect fit for the young man who loved being outdoors and operating heavy equipment.

The two men became business partners before Chaffin retired and Mitchell took over the company in 2004. Building upon Chaffins lessons, Mitchell carved a niche in the onsite industry by specializing in steep slope installations and system repairs. As his expertise and reputation grew, design engineers, private alternative onsite system evaluators and general building contractors consulted him to help solve difficult problems.

Referrals from this group and homeowners generate all of Mitchells business. He shies from opportunities to expand, preferring to subcontract the work rather than spread himself too thin. Im a hands-on individual, he says. I want to keep the company small enough so I will always be the one holding the reins.

GLIMPSING THE FUTURE

The Blue Ridge Mountains and Parkway define the west boundary of Bedford County, with James River to the north and Smith Mountain Lake to

the south. The 764-square-mile west-central county has rolling to hilly terrain with elevations from 800 feet to 4,200 feet above sea level.

The Smith Mountain Lake area sits on shale rock, requiring shallow installations. In 2002, Shrader Engineering & Land Surveying hired the partners to install their first MicroFAST advanced treatment system with drip disposal at a lake home. Chaffin and Mitchell received on-the-job training from Mike Burch, a Bio-Microbics distributor.

Virginia contractor Emmett Mitchell credits former boss and mentor Dewey Chaffin for building his skills and igniting a passion for onsite installation

By Scottie Dayton

installerprofile

B Chaffin Excavating, Bedford, Va.OWNER: Emmett MitchellYEARS IN BUSINESS: 13EMPLOYEES: 3MARKET AREA: 50-mile radiusANNUAL REVENUE: $500,000SPECIALTY: Onsite installation and repairAFFILIATIONS: Virginia Onsite Wastewater Association

H

TEACHER

STUDENTAND

It was an epiphany, says Mitchell, 40. The system would solve many of the areas installation and repair problems. We could see lots of changes coming and the need to learn the technology. Dewey left it up to me because I was the younger buck.

Other contractors were equally proficient at installing ATUs on fairly level ground, but balked at working on lots with slopes averaging 35 percent. (State code prohibits installations on grades steeper than 40 percent.) Chaffin, who came from mountainous southwest Virginia, taught Mitchell the fine art of working safely on scarps.

Those installation qualities attracted the attention of engineers, soil evaluators and county health department members who discussed difficult repair jobs with Mitchell. He occasionally visited sites to ensure that he could do the job as they envisioned it. When designers specified new treatment products, Mitchell became a certified installer for Advantex (Orenco), MultiFlo (Consolidated Treatment Systems), Puraflo (Anua), and Ecoflo (Premier Tech Aqua) systems.

Mitchell joined the Virginia Onsite Wastewater Association to earn continuing education credits, and received his alternative onsite sewage system installer license and Class A contractor license from the state Department of Health. The Class A rating enables him to bid on any size job. Hes also a certified land disturber to meet the states requirement of having one person responsible for controlling on-site erosion.

BUILDING A TEAMA partnership between the men, formed in 2001, lasted three years until

Chaffin retired. During that time, he taught Mitchell how to run the business. He was an incredible teacher, but he couldnt teach me how to handle the stress of being 100 percent responsible for the company and employees, says Mitchell. That was one of my biggest challenges.

In 2005, Mitchell married Lisa Daubenspeck. Besides running the home office, she provided critical support and advice. When I first took over, I had lofty plans that included bigger, better toys and more of them, says

LEFT: Chaffin Excavating owner Emmett Mitchell works on a lakeside property with his Caterpillar 279C compact track loader. RIGHT: Equipment operator Danial Johnson works the excavator, while Michael Parks holds a Johnson Level & Tool Acculine Pro self-leveling laser level during a drainfield replacement job in tight residential location. (Photos by Jeff Reid)

Im a hands-on individual. I want to keep the company small enough so I will always be the one holding the reins.Emmett Mitchell

department even waives the repair application fee to expedite matters.

Systems occasionally fail because tanks were never pumped, but the main reason is homeowners planting trees in the wrong places. During a recent repair, Mitchell found a giant maple tree in the center of the absorption bed. It took the whole drainfield, he says. The trunk was so massive that we kept trimming it with the backhoe to get it into the dump truck. Mitchell blames lack of homeowner education for most system failures.

While some lots have space for replacement drainfields, most go in the original location using an excavate-and-drag technique for deep repairs. Mitchell or Johnson first use a Caterpillar 420E backhoe to reach virgin soil, then create a space for the drag box, which has a mechanism to feed 100-foot rolls of 4-inch corrugated pipe.

Trenches are often 7 to 11 feet deep, says Mitchell. I dont put anyone in them because it isnt safe. While Johnson uses a Caterpillar 279C compact track loader to fill the box with stone and keep it full, Mitchell excavates and pulls the unit forward. The box lays 4 inches of stone followed by the pipe and 3 inches of cover, while a banksman shoots grades and prevents the corrugated pipe from kinking as it unrolls. The men then cover the stone with hand-shaken straw or hay to avoid entering the trench.

The soil from digging the first trench goes topside. Then the soil excavated from the second trench covers the first line. Material from the original drainfield becomes backfill.

COMMERCIAL SCALE

In 2011, Dan Early, P.E., and Scott Easter, P.E., of

Emmett Mitchell, of Chaffin Excavating, learned early in life that one person can only do so much before jeopardizing the quality and integrity of his work. When Virginia passed a law requiring maintenance on alternative systems, he considered becoming a provider. Technicians draw annual effluent samples and submit them to their health department as proof that theyre maintaining the systems, he says.

Mitchell also contemplated going into pumping, and lately, hes had requests to do onsite inspections for real estate transactions. Hes turned his back on all of them, passing the leads to Hubert Ayers of Septic System Services in Vinton, Va. When Hubert opened his pumping business, I didnt want to compete with him, says Mitchell. All the contractors in Bedford County work well together, so I use him for pumpouts, alternative system startups, maintenance and inspections. That frees my hands to do what I do best, installations and excavations.

Balancing act

It takes only one bad job to jeopardize a companys reputation, and my reputation is all I have.Emmett Mitchell

Mitchell. Lisa balanced my enthusiasm with common sense. She doesnt often voice her opinion, but when she does, I listen.

Mitchell hired a full-time employee to replace Chaffin, then added two more. It probably was ignorance, but at that age I was ready for the challenge, he says. Within a short time, however, Mitchell found himself running from one site to the next instead of operating machinery and supervising work. I pulled back, he says. It takes only one bad job to jeopardize a companys reputation, and my reputation is all I have.

From 2004 to 2009, Mitchell had three employees. By 2006, they were installing 80 systems per year, with 70 percent pump-backs setting the tanks on the lake side and pumping back to the drainfield. After 2009, installations fell to 20 or 30 per year, forcing Mitchell to release one employee. His right-hand man is Danial Johnson, who joined the company in 2006. He brought an extensive onsite background and a conventional installers license.

Danial was soon playing such a major role that now hes my project manager, says Mitchell. Because of him, Lisa and I can take vacations and never worry while hes in charge.

Today, installing pump-back and gravity systems are 50 percent of their work, and advanced systems comprise the remainder. General excavating generates 30 percent of annual revenue. The crew clears lots, installs driveways, excavates basements, backfills, final grades and seeds with straw. Many general building contractors like dealing with one subcontractor, he says. As far as dirt work, were a turnkey operation.

YOU DID WHAT?

Referrals bring in many homeowners with sewage backing up or ponding in the yard. For repairs, Mitchell contacts the county health department and calls Hubert Ayers of Septic System Services in Vinton, Va., to pump the 1,000-gallon septic tanks. Local health departments understand that customers need the work done pronto, he says.

Mitchells crew meets a representative on-site, then they dig test holes and the official tells them where to install the new drainfield, how many lines to lay and how deep. We often complete the repair that day, says Mitchell. The health

LEFT: Health inspector Todd Fowler checks a drainfield repair job performed by Chaffin Excavating. Four new lines use Infiltrator Quick4 chambers in the updated onsite system. ABOVE: Equipment operator Danial Johnson removes dirt with a Caterpillar 304 excavator for a new drainfield system.


department even waives the repair application fee to expedite matters.

Systems occasionally fail because tanks were never pumped, but the main reason is homeowners planting trees in the wrong places. During a recent repair, Mitchell found a giant maple tree in the center of the absorption bed. It took the whole drainfield, he says. The trunk was so massive that we kept trimming it with the backhoe to get it into the dump truck. Mitchell blames lack of homeowner education for most system failures.

While some lots have space for replacement drainfields, most go in the original location using an excavate-and-drag technique for deep repairs. Mitchell or Johnson first use a Caterpillar 420E backhoe to reach virgin soil, then create a space for the drag box, which has a mechanism to feed 100-foot rolls of 4-inch corrugated pipe.

Trenches are often 7 to 11 feet deep, says Mitchell. I dont put anyone in them because it isnt safe. While Johnson uses a Caterpillar 279C compact track loader to fill the box with stone and keep it full, Mitchell excavates and pulls the unit forward. The box lays 4 inches of stone followed by the pipe and 3 inches of cover, while a banksman shoots grades and prevents the corrugated pipe from kinking as it unrolls. The men then cover the stone with hand-shaken straw or hay to avoid entering the trench.

The soil from digging the first trench goes topside. Then the soil excavated from the second trench covers the first line. Material from the original drainfield becomes backfill.

COMMERCIAL SCALE

In 2011, Dan Early, P.E., and Scott Easter, P.E., of

Emmett Mitchell, of Chaffin Excavating, learned early in life that one person can only do so much before jeopardizing the quality and integrity of his work. When Virginia passed a law requiring maintenance on alternative systems, he considered becoming a provider. Technicians draw annual effluent samples and submit them to their health department as proof that theyre maintaining the systems, he says.

Mitchell also contemplated going into pumping, and lately, hes had requests to do onsite inspections for real estate transactions. Hes turned his back on all of them, passing the leads to Hubert Ayers of Septic System Services in Vinton, Va. When Hubert opened his pumping business, I didnt want to compete with him, says Mitchell. All the contractors in Bedford County work well together, so I use him for pumpouts, alternative system startups, maintenance and inspections. That frees my hands to do what I do best, installations and excavations.

Balancing act

It takes only one bad job to jeopardize a companys reputation, and my reputation is all I have.Emmett Mitchell

Mitchell. Lisa balanced my enthusiasm with common sense. She doesnt often voice her opinion, but when she does, I listen.

Mitchell hired a full-time employee to replace Chaffin, then added two more. It probably was ignorance, but at that age I was ready for the challenge, he says. Within a short time, however, Mitchell found himself running from one site to the next instead of operating machinery and supervising work. I pulled back, he says. It takes only one bad job to jeopardize a companys reputation, and my reputation is all I have.

From 2004 to 2009, Mitchell had three employees. By 2006, they were installing 80 systems per year, with 70 percent pump-backs setting the tanks on the lake side and pumping back to the drainfield. After 2009, installations fell to 20 or 30 per year, forcing Mitchell to release one employee. His right-hand man is Danial Johnson, who joined the company in 2006. He brought an extensive onsite background and a conventional installers license.

Danial was soon playing such a major role that now hes my project manager, says Mitchell. Because of him, Lisa and I can take vacations and never worry while hes in charge.

Today, installing pump-back and gravity systems are 50 percent of their work, and advanced systems comprise the remainder. General excavating generates 30 percent of annual revenue. The crew clears lots, installs driveways, excavates basements, backfills, final grades and seeds with straw. Many general building contractors like dealing with one subcontractor, he says. As far as dirt work, were a turnkey operation.

YOU DID WHAT?

Referrals bring in many homeowners with sewage backing up or ponding in the yard. For repairs, Mitchell contacts the county health department and calls Hubert Ayers of Septic System Services in Vinton, Va., to pump the 1,000-gallon septic tanks. Local health departments understand that customers need the work done pronto, he says.

Mitchells crew meets a representative on-site, then they dig test holes and the official tells them where to install the new drainfield, how many lines to lay and how deep. We often complete the repair that day, says Mitchell. The health

LEFT: Health inspector Todd Fowler checks a drainfield repair job performed by Chaffin Excavating. Four new lines use Infiltrator Quick4 chambers in the updated onsite system. ABOVE: Equipment operator Danial Johnson removes dirt with a Caterpillar 304 excavator for a new drainfield system.

Salcor Inc. 760.731.0745 F: 760.731.2405 [email protected] Why Our Salcor 3G Leads Water Recovery UV Disinfection Sales!

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n Reliable Operation (Continual Dual Performance Monitors)

n Minimal Annual Maintenance - Teflon Film Resists Fouling

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Risers IPEX PVC Ribbed Pipe Corrugated Pipe

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For a Complete Catalog and Pricing

Call 1-800-382-7009

Tuf-Tite, Inc. 1200 Flex Court, Lake Zurich, IL 60047

www.tuf-tite.com | 800-382-7009 2013 Tuf-Tite, Inc. All rights reserved.

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One-piece effluent filter fits in 4 Sanitary Tee.

Injection molded PolyPro Simple to install - Easy to clean

Injection molded T-Baffle.

Injection molded T-Baffle Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe Simple to install May also be used as Inlet &

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4 Effluent Filter and 4 T-Baffle

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Gas/Solids Deflector

One-piece effluent filter fits in 6 T-Baffle. Injection molded PolyPro Simple to install Easy to clean


Injection molded Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe Simple to install May also be used as Outlet Tee

with Solids Deflector



6 Sanitary T-Baffle




4 Sch. 40 & SDR-35

TB-6 Housing

EF-6 Combo Includes Filter, Housing and Bushing


Secured by 6 Vertical and 4 Horizontal Safety Screws. Screws Included.

Foamed-in Permanent Polyurethane Gasket.

Holds up to 70 lbs of Concrete for Added Safety.

Concrete Keepers Tuf-Tite Riser

Vertical and Horizontal Safety

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Water-TITE Joint

Increases time between filter cleaning.

ACS Design in Roanoke, Va., hired Chaffin Excavating to install a 10,000 gpd Magellan packaged wastewater treatment plant (Contech Engineered Solutions) at an industrial facility with high-strength waste exceeding the states Department of Environmental Quality discharge limits to the sewer. Wed worked with Dan and Scott installing residential advanced treatment systems, but this was our first commercial installation with advanced treatment, says Mitchell.

The plant came in three 8-foot-diameter by 45-foot-long DuroMaxx steel-reinforced polyethylene vessels (Contech Engineered Solutions). The first two had compartments for primary treatment, the moving bed bioreactor and clarification; the last was a 7,000-gallon flow equalization tank for a total capacity of 18,000 gallons. This was a well-established industrial park with only one place for the tanks exactly where we hit a 30- by 40-foot-long 2-foot-deep rock layer, says Mitchell.

He rented a hoe ram hydraulic demolition hammer for the excavator to hammer out the rock, then hired a crane to set the tanks. It was the same work we do every day, only on a larger scale, so it took more time, says Mitchell.

HAVE EXCAVATOR, WILL TRAVELACS Designs then hired Mitchell to lay sewer and water pipes for 112

campsites built on terraces overlooking Smith Mountain Lake.The crew set 12 concrete septic tanks varying from 1,000 to 1,500

gallons, and an 8,500-gallon PumpMaxx HE packaged pump station (AppTech Solutions) in an 8-foot-diameter by 40-foot-long reinforced poly vessel. A pressure-sensing transducer signals the programmable logic controller to activate two 5 hp alternating pumps in the wet well. They send effluent 3,000 feet through a 3-inch force main to the sewer. Valves, instrumentation and controls are in an equipment room at the front of the vessel. The rack-mounted control panel includes a main breaker, pump electrical controls and pump station level control.

To work on scarps, Mitchell or Johnson use the track loader to build a road to the first trench, then they level or bench the trench area. Returning with the 420E backhoe, they excavate to the required depth, placing the soil where theyll dig the next trench on 11-foot centers. This soil is then compacted to form the bench for digging the next trench.

The process is slower than working on flatter ground, says Mitchell, who has a perfect safety record. Thats why other contractors wont take these jobs. They believe working faster makes more money.

Except for a 970 John Deere compact tractor, Mitchell buys his equipment from Caterpillar. When not in the field, he parks them in a 24- by 60-foot building next to his 60- by 70-foot shop with two service bays on 91 acres. Mitchell used to replace equipment every two or three years, but now theyre lasting longer working fewer hours. I have small payments left on two machines, and I wont have to update anything for three or four years, he says.

After holding the reins of Chaffin Excavating for 10 years, Mitchell is content to continue the status quo. Hes not interested in owning a website or launching marketing campaigns to grow the company. Im blessed, he says. When customers ask officials to recommend a contractor, Chaffin Excavating pops out of their mouths. O

MORE INFO:Anua800/787-2356www.anua-us.com(See ad page 2)

AppTech Solutions540/562-2345www.apptech-solutions.com

Bio-Microbics, Inc.800/753-3278www.biomicrobics.com(See ad page 23)

Caterpillar, Inc.309/675-1000www.cat.com

Consolidated Treatment Systems, Inc.800/503-0163www.consolidatedtreatment.com

Contech Engineered Solutions, LLC800/338-1122www.conteches.com

Godwin Manufacturing 910/892-7402www.godwinmfg.com

Infiltrator Systems, Inc. 800/221-4436www.infiltratorsystems.com(See ad page 3)

John Deere800/503-3373www.johndeere.com

Johnson Level & Tool Mfg. Co., Inc. 262/242-1161www.johnsonlevel.com

Orenco Systems, Inc.800/348-9843www.orenco.com

Premier Tech Aqua800/632-6356www.premiertechaqua.com(See ad page 10)

Emmett Mitchell is shown with his Chaffin Excavating dump truck, a 1998 Interna-tional 4900 with a 9-yard dump body and barn door from Godwin Manufacturing.

FREE FREIGHT on Full Cartons!

LID MAY BE USED WITH OR WITHOUT CONCRETE CENTER

24 HEAVY DUTY MULTI-PURPOSEFLAT RISER LIDFits most commercially available:

Risers IPEX PVC Ribbed Pipe Corrugated Pipe

Safety Screws4 Horizontal

Vertical Safety Screws

For a Complete Catalog and Pricing

Call 1-800-382-7009

Tuf-Tite, Inc. 1200 Flex Court, Lake Zurich, IL 60047

www.tuf-tite.com | 800-382-7009 2013 Tuf-Tite, Inc. All rights reserved.

1814

One-piece effluent filter fits in 4 Sanitary Tee.

Injection molded PolyPro Simple to install - Easy to clean


Injection molded T-Baffle Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe Simple to install May also be used as Inlet &

Outlet Tee



4 Sanitary Inlet/Outlet T-Baffle





4 Sch. 40 & SDR-35

SD-4

TB-4 Housing 18/carton

TB-4-18 Housing 12/carton

EF-4 Combo Includes Filter, Housing and

EF-4 Combo 18Increases time between filter cleaning.


One-piece effluent filter fits in 6 T-Baffle. Injection molded PolyPro Simple to install Easy to clean


Injection molded Fits 4 Sch. 40 and SDR-35 pipe Simple to install May also be used as Outlet Tee

with Solids Deflector



6 Sanitary T-Baffle




4 Sch. 40 & SDR-35

TB-6 Housing

EF-6 Combo Includes Filter, Housing and Bushing


Secured by 6 Vertical and 4 Horizontal Safety Screws. Screws Included.

Foamed-in Permanent Polyurethane Gasket.

Holds up to 70 lbs of Concrete for Added Safety.

Concrete Keepers Tuf-Tite Riser

Vertical and Horizontal Safety

Screws

Water-TITE Joint

Increases time between filter cleaning.

ACS Design in Roanoke, Va., hired Chaffin Excavating to install a 10,000 gpd Magellan packaged wastewater treatment plant (Contech Engineered Solutions) at an industrial facility with high-strength waste exceeding the states Department of Environmental Quality discharge limits to the sewer. Wed worked with Dan and Scott installing residential advanced treatment systems, but this was our first commercial installation with advanced treatment, says Mitchell.

The plant came in three 8-foot-diameter by 45-foot-long DuroMaxx steel-reinforced polyethylene vessels (Contech Engineered Solutions). The first two had compartments for primary treatment, the moving bed bioreactor and clarification; the last was a 7,000-gallon flow equalization tank for a total capacity of 18,000 gallons. This was a well-established industrial park with only one place for the tanks exactly where we hit a 30- by 40-foot-long 2-foot-deep rock layer, says Mitchell.

He rented a hoe ram hydraulic demolition hammer for the excavator to hammer out the rock, then hired a crane to set the tanks. It was the same work we do every day, only on a larger scale, so it took more time, says Mitchell.

HAVE EXCAVATOR, WILL TRAVELACS Designs then hired Mitchell to lay sewer and water pipes for 112

campsites built on terraces overlooking Smith Mountain Lake.The crew set 12 concrete septic tanks varying from 1,000 to 1,500

gallons, and an 8,500-gallon PumpMaxx HE packaged pump station (AppTech Solutions) in an 8-foot-diameter by 40-foot-long reinforced poly vessel. A pressure-sensing transducer signals the programmable logic controller to activate two 5 hp alternating pumps in the wet well. They send effluent 3,000 feet through a 3-inch force main to the sewer. Valves, instrumentation and controls are in an equipment room at the front of the vessel. The rack-mounted control panel includes a main breaker, pump electrical controls and pump station level control.

To work on scarps, Mitchell or Johnson use the track loader to build a road to the first trench, then they level or bench the trench area. Returning with the 420E backhoe, they excavate to the required depth, placing the soil where theyll dig the next trench on 11-foot centers. This soil is then compacted to form the bench for digging the next trench.

The process is slower than working on flatter ground, says Mitchell, who has a perfect safety record. Thats why other contractors wont take these jobs. They believe working faster makes more money.

Except for a 970 John Deere compact tractor, Mitchell buys his equipment from Caterpillar. When not in the field, he parks them in a 24- by 60-foot building next to his 60- by 70-foot shop with two service bays on 91 acres. Mitchell used to replace equipment every two or three years, but now theyre lasting longer working fewer hours. I have small payments left on two machines, and I wont have to update anything for three or four years, he says.

After holding the reins of Chaffin Excavating for 10 years, Mitchell is content to continue the status quo. Hes not interested in owning a website or launching marketing campaigns to grow the company. Im blessed, he says. When customers ask officials to recommend a contractor, Chaffin Excavating pops out of their mouths. O

MORE INFO:Anua800/787-2356www.anua-us.com(See ad page 2)

AppTech Solutions540/562-2345www.apptech-solutions.com

Bio-Microbics, Inc.800/753-3278www.biomicrobics.com(See ad page 23)

Caterpillar, Inc.309/675-1000www.cat.com

Consolidated Treatment Systems, Inc.800/503-0163www.consolidatedtreatment.com

Contech Engineered Solutions, LLC800/338-1122www.conteches.com

Godwin Manufacturing 910/892-7402www.godwinmfg.com

Infiltrator Systems, Inc. 800/221-4436www.infiltratorsystems.com(See ad page 3)

John Deere800/503-3373www.johndeere.com

Johnson Level & Tool Mfg. Co., Inc. 262/242-1161www.johnsonlevel.com

Orenco Systems, Inc.800/348-9843www.orenco.com

Premier Tech Aqua800/632-6356www.premiertechaqua.com(See ad page 10)

Emmett Mitchell is shown with his Chaffin Excavating dump truck, a 1998 Interna-tional 4900 with a 9-yard dump body and barn door from Godwin Manufacturing.


basictraining Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E., are connected with the University of Minnesota onsite wastewater treatment education program. Dave is Extension Onsite Sewage Treatment Educator. Jim is former director of the universitys Water Resources Center and is now an emeritus professor, as well as education program coordinator for the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. Readers are welcome to submit questions or article suggestions to Jim and Dave. Write to [email protected].

ince the 1970s in Minnesota we have been using mound treatment systems to overcome soil limitations and provide separation for treatment of septic tank effluent. Since the 1990s we have been using

at-grade systems where the soils permit. With both of these above-ground systems, the installation process begins with the original soil and the vegetation over the soil.

If this part of the installation process is not done correctly no matter how good a job the installer does on the other components of the system it is bound to fail. After all this experience and time, we still get numerous questions and hear erroneous statements about what should or should not be done. So here, for another time, we tackle how the original soil should be treated and prepared if an at-grade or mound system will be installed.

We had a county regulator in a state that will remain nameless write us a note that said he regularly recommended and designed mounds where the upper 6 inches of topsoil is stripped away and stockpiled to be used as the final cover over the mound. Since he has been to a number of our classes in the past, this is very disconcerting because it violates rule No. 1 of how to treat the soil for mound installation.

A GOOD BOND IS KEY

The surface of the soil should remain as intact and undisturbed as possible. The only thing that should be done to the soil surface is that it should be scarified or plowed so the original soil will make a good bond at the infiltrative surface when the clean sand distribution material is applied. Minnesota regulations specify the soil cannot be moved more than 6 inches from the original location. This allows for scarification and plowing to

turn the upper 6 inches of the soil over to create that infiltrative surface.Another point to always remember is that the Keep it Dry D___ (KIDD)

principle needs to be followed. Soil cannot be worked when the moisture content exceeds its plastic limit. The soil is too wet to work with if you can take a handful from the surface and role it in the palm of your hands into a 1/8-inch-diameter ribbon. Scarifying or plowing the soil will result in smearing and compaction, reducing its ability to accept wastewater.

The other question or comment we received recently was: The slope that we intend to install a mound on is covered with brush, so should we just bulldoze that out of the way? From the discussion above, it should be obvious our answer would be no.

Any brush or trees in the area to be covered by the mound or at-grade should be cut off as close to the surface as possible; roots left intact and the soil scarified by use of backhoe teeth to provide the infiltrative surface. This obviously means there is some handwork involved to cut off and remove the brush without driving over or otherwise impacting the surface of the soil. If possible, brush should be hauled off the site in multiple directions to avoid making any potential pathway for water to follow out of the toe of the system.

S

Tread LightlyLess is more when were talking about disturbing the soil in and around an infiltrative area where a mound or at-grade system will be installedBy Jim Anderson and David Gustafson

One way to quickly have problems in a sloping, forested site is to try to remove stumps and roots. Leave it all intact after the trees or brush are cut.

An excavator bucket is used to scarify the soil during surface preparation for a mound system.

CUT TREES AT SURFACEThe story is the same for larger trees. They should be cut off at the

ground surface and left intact. The surface area of remaining stumps is not that large, and much more damage will be done to the infiltrative area by trying to remove them. The soil should be scarified and turned over near the tree stumps. It is important they be cut off at the surface. Use caution when removing the logs. Equipment should not be brought in to skid or haul out the logs. This probably means some additional sawing so logs can be removed without heavy equipment.

A note here: Some design manuals say stumps should be removed. This is absolutely not to be done. We have a lot of forested area in Minnesota and leaving the stumps intact is a practice born of more than 40 years experience. One way to quickly have problems in a sloping, forested site is to try to remove stumps and roots. Leave it all intact after the trees or brush are cut.

Other things to remember about surface preparation: If the site has native grass vegetation, the vegetation should be clipped to within two inches of the surface of the soil. Rake and remove vegetation from the site. The remaining grass should be turned over or, as we like to say, green side down, when the surface is plowed or scarified. Grass should not be left on the surface. It will decay and create a slime that effluent will run across, potentially leading to leakage out the toe of the dike.

Remember in terms of scarifying the surface, the most tried-and-true methods are chisel-plowing or using backhoe teeth to turn the soil over. The backhoe should be moved around the perimeter of the mound or at-grade, staying off the area that will serve as the infiltrative surface. Under no circumstances should a rototiller or similar equipment be used to prepare the infiltrative surface. This equipment pulverizes the soil structure and when several tons of sand are put on top of the area, the soil becomes compacted, leading to reduced acceptance of effluent. O


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basictraining Jim Anderson, Ph.D., and David Gustafson, P.E., are connected with the University of Minnesota onsite wastewater treatment education program. Dave is Extension Onsite Sewage Treatment Educator. Jim is former director of the universitys Water Resources Center and is now an emeritus professor, as well as education program coordinator for the National Association of Wastewater Technicians. Readers are welcome to submit questions or article suggestions to Jim and Dave. Write to [email protected].

ince the 1970s in Minnesota we have been using mound treatment systems to overcome soil limitations and provide separation for treatment of septic tank effluent. Since the 1990s we have been using

at-grade systems where the soils permit. With both of these above-ground systems, the installation process begins with the original soil and the vegetation over the soil.

If this part of the installation process is not done correctly no matter how good a job the installer does on the other components of the system it is bound to fail. After all this experience and time, we still get numerous questions and hear erroneous statements about what should or should not be done. So here, for another time, we tackle how the original soil should be treated and prepared if an at-grade or mound system will be installed.

We had a county regulator in a state that will remain nameless write us a note that said he regularly recommended and designed mounds where the upper 6 inches of topsoil is stripped away and stockpiled to be used as the final cover over the mound. Since he has been to a number of our classes in the past, this is very disconcerting because it violates rule No. 1 of how to treat the soil for mound installation.

A GOOD BOND IS KEY

The surface of the soil should remain as intact and undisturbed as possible. The only thing that should be done to the soil surface is that it should be scarified or plowed so the original soil will make a good bond at the infiltrative surface when the clean sand distribution material is applied. Minnesota regulations specify the soil cannot be moved more than 6 inches from the original location. This allows for scarification and plowing to

turn the upper 6 inches of the soil over to create that infiltrative surface.Another point to always remember is that the Keep it Dry D___ (KIDD)

principle needs to be followed. Soil cannot be worked when the moisture content exceeds its plastic limit. The soil is too wet to work with if you can take a handful from the surface and role it in the palm of your hands into a 1/8-inch-diameter ribbon. Scarifying or plowing the soil will result in smearing and compaction, reducing its ability to accept wastewater.

The other question or comment we received recently was: The slope that we intend to install a mound on is covered with brush, so should we just bulldoze that out of the way? From the discussion above, it should be obvious our answer would be no.

Any brush or trees in the area to be covered by the mound or at-grade should be cut off as close to the surface as possible; roots left intact and the soil scarified by use of backhoe teeth to provide the infiltrative surface. This obviously means there is some handwork involved to cut off and remove the brush without driving over or otherwise impacting the surface of the soil. If possible, brush should be hauled off the site in multiple directions to avoid making any potential pathway for water to follow out of the toe of the system.

S

Tread LightlyLess is more when were talking about disturbing the soil in and around an infiltrative area where a mound or at-grade system will be installedBy Jim Anderson and David Gustafson

One way to quickly have problems in a sloping, forested site is to try to remove stumps and roots. Leave it all intact after the trees or brush are cut.

An excavator bucket is used to scarify the soil during surface preparation for a mound system.

CUT TREES AT SURFACEThe story is the same for larger trees. They should be cut off at the

ground surface and left intact. The surface area of remaining stumps is not that large, and much more damage will be done to the infiltrative area by trying to remove them. The soil s

May 2014

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