Grease Trap Cleaning Hub

Grease Trap Cleaning Hub

Hi, my name is Zoyda. I'm a technical writer for an environmental news agency. We study grease trap cleaning, septic systems, septic tank cleaning, and inspection processes throughout North America.

Zoyda Boisvert — Admitted Student Frequently Asked Questions

Zoyda Boisvert — Admitted Student Frequently Asked Questions

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Admitted Student Frequently Asked Questions

Admissions decisions have been released and we have been receiving some great questions. While there are many events coming up for both admitted and prospective students, we wanted to share some of the most common questions answered by Liz Plascencia (MEM Candidate, 2022)…







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Zoyda Boisvert — Virtual Conference Highlights

Zoyda Boisvert — Virtual Conference Highlights

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Virtual Conference Highlights

Authored by Liz Plascencia (MEM Candidate, Class of 2022) As a first-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) candidate at the Yale School of Environment (YSE) in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic – it’s safe to say that this has…







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Zoyda Boisvert — Welcoming the newest YSE admissions ambassador,...

Zoyda Boisvert — Welcoming the newest YSE admissions ambassador,...

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Welcoming the newest YSE admissions ambassador, Liz Plascencia!

Hola! My name is Liz Plascencia (she/her/hers) and I am a first-year Master of Environmental Management (MEM) from Los Angeles, California. As a Queer, Latinx, First-Generation Mexican American – I am extremely interested in the intersectionality of environmental issues while…







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Zoyda Boisvert — Camper Catastrophes: Why You Should Never Empty RV...

Zoyda Boisvert — Camper Catastrophes: Why You Should Never Empty RV...

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Camper Catastrophes: Why You Should Never Empty RV Holding Tanks into Your Septic System

Even though RV holding tanks and home septic systems both handle “household” waste, there is one important distinction between them. An RV is designed only to transport the waste, while a septic system is designed to treat the waste…



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Zoyda Boisvert — Clearing the Clog: Which Plunger Should You Be...

Zoyda Boisvert — Clearing the Clog: Which Plunger Should You Be...

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Clearing the Clog: Which Plunger Should You Be Using?

Most people don’t realize different style plungers are intended for different uses. Do you know the differences between the most common plunger styles? This guide will help you know which plunger to reach for the next time you encounter a clog.



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Zoyda Boisvert — Chemical Grouting: A Solution to Infiltration

Zoyda Boisvert — Chemical Grouting: A Solution to Infiltration

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Chemical Grouting: A Solution to Infiltration

Editor’s Note: We want to thank Avanti International for permission to use their photo as Figure 1 in this post.



Infiltration is defined as an excess of unwanted water entering a sanitary wastewater system from groundwater or storm water. More specifically, infiltration occurs when groundwater enters the sanitary sewer through defects in pipes and manholes (Figure 1). This excess water can cause damage to the collection system when sewers are forced to transport more flow than they are designed to handle. Increased effluent also raises wastewater treatment costs because the facility must treat harmless storm water and groundwater with the sewage. This added flow increases wear on equipment, electrical cost, and overall operation and maintenance expenses. In addition, if the capacity of the collection system or treatment plant is exceeded, untreated wastewater may be discharged into the environment.









Figure 1. Potential Sources for Infiltration



As with most utility problems, there are many potential solutions. For infiltration where defects are localized, some of these solutions include mechanical point repair, injection methods, or rerounding. A discussion of the chemical grout injection option is given below.



The chemicals used for grouting have been available since the early 1960s. They are usually urethane based and when they come in contact with water react to form a polymer material that is a barrier to water flow. The conditions/steps required for grouting are:





A pipe or joint cannot be failing structurally


There must be a path for the grouting solution to flow out into the soil


The area must be free of debris such as roots, grease and other obstacles that may prevent proper application of the grout.


Application of the chemicals at a pressure higher than the water table of inflowing water.


Final testing of the repair (air pressure or visually).




A video providing an overview of this process using remotely operated equipment is given below.





Chemical grouting can also be applied manually and can stop the leak almost instantly. A video of manual grouting for a leak in sewer wall is shown below.







In summary, chemical grouting technology for stopping infiltration is attractive because the chemicals are non-toxic to the wastewater treatment plant and can be applied using remote controlled equipment or manually for small localized defects. Chemical grouting is a flexible low cost option for infiltration repairing of sewer mains in addition to sewer laterals.







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Zoyda Boisvert — Chemical Lawn Treatments & Your Septic System

Zoyda Boisvert — Chemical Lawn Treatments & Your Septic System

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Chemical Lawn Treatments & Your Septic System

We spread chemical lawn treatments – fertilizers, pesticides, and weed killers – to help our lawns remain healthy and robust throughout the summer and winter months. If you’re a septic owner, you may worry about how these chemicals affect your system



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Zoyda Boisvert — Preventing & Responding to Security Threats

Zoyda Boisvert — Preventing & Responding to Security Threats

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Preventing & Responding to Security Threats

Facility and infrastructural security are an important component of any emergency response plan. Whether the outcome can result in vandalism, theft, terrorism, or a threat to staff or community safety, suspicious activity should always be taken seriously. When the city of Woodland Hills was alerted of trespassing at their water storage tank, the utility promptly issued a boil order until they could confirm that their water was safe to drink. These actions prevented any potential harm due to contamination leaving community members safe and reassured that their utility was taking an active role in water security. Evaluating risk to malevolent acts will allow your system to initiate or upgrade preventive measures and develop an appropriate response plan to protect staff and the community.



To prevent malevolent acts, start by taking an assessment of your facility’s vulnerabilities. Consider entry points, security code accessibility, chemical tanks, storage tanks, vehicles, utility equipment, hazardous chemicals, and infrastructure within the distribution or collection system. Infrastructure essential to operations and limited in redundancy or identified to be at greater risk to malevolent acts may require more meticulous security measures. To assess physical security threats, check out the Security Vulnerability Self-Assessment Guide for Small Drinking water Systems.



The goal in a vulnerability assessment is to determine where prevention measures can be implemented and develop a response plan to suspicious activity. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, many facilities increase security by locking entry points, using external lighting, posting warning signs, requesting law enforcement patrol, fencing in critical infrastructure, or installing motion sensors, alarm systems, and video cameras. Once all preventive measures have been taken, develop a response protocol for each potential threat. The Association of State Drinking Water Administrators has developed response guidelines for security violations. In each response scenario, utilities should plan for how they can maintain internal, interagency, and external communication.



Utilities should practice emergency response exercises regularly and keep track of necessary changes to response protocols. During these exercises reserve time to monitor which staff have access to key entry points at the utility. Successful security programs will also build and maintain a close relationship with local law enforcement. This relationship will allow utilities to respond swiftly and efficiently in coordination with law enforcement when suspicious activity does occur.



Remember that final goal of these measures is to prevent any interruption in services, damage to infrastructure, and safety threats to staff and the community. For more information on Malevolent Acts check out the EPA’s Baseline Information on Malevolent Acts for Community Water Systems.







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Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Infusing Innovation into the DNA...

Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Infusing Innovation into the DNA...

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Featured Video: Infusing Innovation into the DNA of Our Culture

There are many factors that drive the current utility model for wastewater operations. With traditional values in play, we have reached difficult economic and operational challenges. In order to address these challenges, we must adapt a new mindset and new utility model to push affordability for water customers, better equipment management, and increased compliancy.



Adapting a more innovative approach and mindset:

Our current utility practices suggest that our societal and business values coincide with “extraction, use, and waste disposal”. This creates a motivation that is, at bare minimum, driven by public engagement, capital investment, and operations & maintenance. As a result our current water resources are being utilized inefficiently and ultimately running low. We must instead adapt a Resource Recovery business model for a circular economy. Focus must be shifted from regulatory compliance, utility impact, and traditional utility models to pivot toward ecological uplift, collective impact, and a transformative entrepreneurial business model. This new business model should include focus on resource recovery and watershed health as well as pump, plant, and pipe health.



The start of a new, innovative, and effective approach might be slow but can grow exponentially. Water organizations must start with efficiency and work their way to optimization, which will lead into investments for bigger ideas and new intellectual property such as smart meters, efficient pumps, proper monitoring equipment, better facilities, and so forth. Collective cooperation and corresponding mindsets will keep the industry on the same track with the addition of new water personnel and management turnover.



In this week’s featured video by the Water Research Foundation, Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, Deputy General Manager at Clean Water Services, presents a case study for how her organization is improving utility functionality through a culture of innovation.









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Zoyda Boisvert — How to Find Free Webinars on WaterOperator.org

Zoyda Boisvert — How to Find Free Webinars on WaterOperator.org

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How to Find Free Webinars on WaterOperator.org

Our staff at WaterOperator.org work hard to make sure operators can easily find all potential training opportunities for their water or wastewater operator certification using our national training calendar. This calendar currently links to over 11,000 events each year, all of which are pre-approved for operator continuing education credits and many which are free. Whether it’s a training hosted by your primacy agency, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership, a subsection of the American Water Works Association, or another local training provider, we strive to list them all.



Given the increased demand for virtual training opportunities, we’ve recently created a tutorial to help you optimize your search for live, online training. We hope that this video will help you to more easily meet the training requirements under your certification.



Please note, that these opportunities all have a time and date associated with their registration. We do not list on-demand training in our calendar. If you require assistance searching for pre-approved, on-demand training opportunities, please email us at info@wateroperator.org.









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Zoyda Boisvert — Water Conservation Tips for Septic Owners

Zoyda Boisvert — Water Conservation Tips for Septic Owners

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Water Conservation Tips for Septic Owners

Most people do not give a lot of thought to their day-to-day water usage. These tips will help make you more mindful about your household’s water usage and offer some easy methods of conserving water throughout your day.



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Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Sewer Dye Testing

Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Sewer Dye Testing

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Featured Video: Sewer Dye Testing

A municipal sanitary sewer system is designed to collect and transport wastewater from homes, offices, businesses, restaurants and other sources to a municipal wastewater treatment plant for treatment and safe discharge into the environment. If other sources of water are allowed to enter the sewer system, the collection system and wastewater treatment plant can become over loaded allowing untreated water to be discharged. This is defined as sanitary sewer overflows, or SSO’s. One of the biggest sources of excess water is infiltration of storm water and groundwater into the sanitary sewers. A method to detect this infiltration is through dye testing.



Dye testing is a simple procedure where storm drains, yard drains, and the outside of the foundation walls of the house, or other areas are flooded with water to simulate a period of heavy rainfall. The colored water is pumped through the ground and storm water system and appears in the sanitary sewer collection system where leaks occur. This test is simple and complements smoke testing that may have been done previously.



The dye testing procedure can be accomplished in the following steps.





Isolating a section of the storm water network to test by plugging pipes at specific locations.


Then, bright-dyed water is pumped into the storm water network until it reaches capacity.


Remote CCTV cameras are deployed into the sanitary sewer system, where any points of storm water ingress are highlighted clearly by the dyed water.




Once the testing is completed, the locations of these sources of infiltration makes the process of repairing these leaks far more straightforward facilitating effective piping and system repairs which keep infiltration to a minimum.



A video showing how dye testing can be carried out is shown below:









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Zoyda Boisvert — H2Ohio Funding for Failing Septic Systems

Zoyda Boisvert — H2Ohio Funding for Failing Septic Systems

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H2Ohio Funding for Failing Septic Systems

While the H2Ohio funds have specifically been earmarked for seven counties within the Maumee River Watershed and Lake Erie Tributaries, statewide assistance for tackling failing septic systems is also available through the Water Pollution Control Loan Fund (WPCLF).



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Zoyda Boisvert — A Year at YSE

Zoyda Boisvert — A Year at YSE

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A Year at YSE

Authored by Bipul Mayank (MEM Candidate, Class of 2021) It’s hard to believe that it was a year ago on July 26th when I left India to begin my journey at Yale School of the Environment. The memory of my…







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Zoyda Boisvert — Inspiring the Future of Women in Wastewater

Zoyda Boisvert — Inspiring the Future of Women in Wastewater

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Inspiring the Future of Women in Wastewater

Editor’s Note: We want to thank NYC Environmental Protection for permission to use this photo.



Despite such worthwhile career prospects, in 2018 women made up only 5.8% of water and wastewater operators according to statistics by the U.S. Census Bureau. As the water workforce ages and experienced operators retire, the water and wastewater industry can benefit by recruiting more women into the field. Mutually so, inquisitive women with interests in protecting public health and sustaining our environment have much to receive from the opportunities available within the industry.



In the field of wastewater treatment specifically, professionals can exercise their curiosity in the sciences while building technical and mechanical skills. The wastewater operator career not only offers extensive opportunity for growth and advancement, but starting positions often pay well, sustain job security, and will provide on-the-job training. The duties of an operator are an essential public service that require knowledge of wastewater safety, math, chemistry, microbiology, treatment processes, and utility operations and maintenance. Those with a penchant for problem solving and mechanical skills will fare well in the field. Other skills women can develop as a wastewater operator involve communication, presentation, collaboration, and eventually, management.



In the Empowering Women Podcast, Christen Wood, wastewater operations administrator of Summit County Department Sanitary Sewer Services and three time participant of WEFTEC’s operations challenge (with two of her teams making it all the way to nationals), describes the “happy accidents” that allowed her to stumble upon the field. She explains why she continues to hold such passion for her position noting that work as a wastewater operator is a career path, not a job. Listen to Christen’s interview to get a better idea about the type of tasks involved in the day to day work of an operator and the significance of those tasks in public and environmental health.



Still not convinced? NYC Water offers an excellent summary of the benefits a wastewater career will offer to women interested in the field. If you get anything out of this video, we hope its that you start to consider how you can fit into the wastewater industry! Find more information about the experience of women in the water industry at the Words on Water Podcast’s Inspiring Women in Water podcast series. The same podcast produced a separate interview with Mel Butcher, an engineering consultant at Arcadis. Her interview discusses how challenges that women do face as minorities in the industry can be overcome through honest conversation.



Workforce diversity leads to new ideas, innovation, and progress. Consider how you can bring your skills to wastewater treatment.









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Zoyda Boisvert — The Lowdown on Fabric Softener and Your Septic...

Zoyda Boisvert — The Lowdown on Fabric Softener and Your Septic...

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The Lowdown on Fabric Softener and Your Septic System

Many septic owners are extremely careful about what they flush into their systems, making sure to only flush items on the approved list. For many, one of the most surprising “banned” items is fabric softener. What’s not to love about fabric softener? It leaves your laundry cuddly soft, smelling fresh, and static-free. But when you consider that, like any other … Read More



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Zoyda Boisvert — AWWA & RCAP Release AWIA Small Systems E-Training

Zoyda Boisvert — AWWA & RCAP Release AWIA Small Systems E-Training

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AWWA & RCAP Release AWIA Small Systems E-Training

The America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) was signed into law in October 2018, requiring drinking water systems serving more than 3,300 people to develop or update risk and resilience assessments (RRA) and emergency response plans (ERP) within the deadlines determined by system size. With this Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed guidance documents to help systems comply with these new requirements. These resources include a qualitative RRA Checklist specifically designed for small systems as well as an ERP template. The purpose of these materials is to help systems achieve the minimum compliance under AWIA Section 2013.



To complement these small system resources, the American Water Works Association (AWWA) and Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP) have partnered to build a free e-learning program with funding from the U.S. EPA. The on-demand training condenses ANSI/AWWA standards for security, risk management, and resilience as well as the AWWA’s Risk and Resilience Certification Program to help systems comply with AWIA. This new AWIA Small Systems Certificate Program contains four courses:





Introduction to Resiliency and America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018 (EL272)


Operational Measures for Resiliency (EL273)


How to Develop a Risk and Resilience Assessment (EL274)


How to Develop a Small System Emergency Response Plan (EL275)


Bonus: Cybersecurity (Available late 2020)




Each course (See preview ½) features a series of video presentations with regular knowledge checks, a course evaluation, and a final assessment. The modules within the course (See preview 2 /2) are easy to follow and offer an excellent overview of AWIA knowledge requirements. At the end of the training, participants will receive a certificate of completion. CEU approval is available depending on your operator certification agency. See AWWA’s credit policy.



The training also includes a separate AWWA/RCAP worksheet that can be used in the field to conduct an RRA. While housed under the AWWA’s resources for small systems, free registration is available to both members and non-members of the AWWA. To access the course participants are required to create or use a (free) AWWA account. We’ve highlighted the steps to create an account as well as how to access the courses. Any of the following screenshots can be enlarged by simply clicking on them to open the image in a new tab.



Creating a Free Account:





    At the top right-hand corner of the AWWA website is a link that says Login. Click this link to create a free account.


    Turn your attention toward the ‘Create New Account’ section of the new webpage. Read the Privacy Policy and select ‘I Agree – Create Account’.







    Enter your email address in the next page.

    Note: During this step the AWWA will check to see if you’ve already created an existing account with this email. If your account already exists and you’ve forgotten your password, you can perform a password reset.


    To continue creating a new account you will want to fill out each field to the best of your abilities. For the address type, you can select Home, Delivery, or Office/USmail.

    If you choose to use your utility address, keep the address type as office/USmail. Enter every field and select ‘Find Company’.



      If your utility is already in the database, select the utility name and then Continue.


      If your utility is not listed in the results, you will have to manually enter your address by selecting ‘None of the Above’ and Continue.






    More fields will appear after entering the address. Entering a phone number is optional, but you will have to choose a secure password. Be sure it is something you will remember or keep it written in a safe place.


    Check the agreement box to agree to the Consent Capture statement. This statement grants AWWA permission to collect and store your personal information to maintain your account. Your page should now look close to this:







    Select Next.


    Now your account is active! You can tell that you’re logged in because your name will appear at the very top, right-hand corner of any AWWA webpage.




Accessing the Courses:





    Information about the AWIA Small Systems Certificate e-training can be found at the Small Systems webpage. To find this page using the AWWA navigation bar, hover over ‘Professional Development’ and select ‘Small Systems’. Lots of great small system training and resources can be found here!







    From this page, scroll down to ‘Safe Drinking Water Act Compliance Training’ heading. Select the tab ‘AWIA Small Systems Certificate Program’. This tab includes the redemption code ‘SMSYS20’ that will be required in the following steps to provide account access to the courses.







    Now make sure you’re logged into the AWWA site and select your name in the top, right-hand corner of the webpage. If your name does not appear in the top navigation then you are not logged in.


    A page called ‘My Account’ should be loaded. Now select ‘My Courses’ in the left-hand menu. This will bring you to the AWWA eLearning platform. You might want to bookmark this link for easy course access in the future!







    In this page under 'Small System Course Access’, enter the code ‘SMSYS20’ and select Redeem.


    Now all free courses available to small systems will be placed in your enrollments. A temporary menu will pop up where you can look through these courses.

    If you close this menu you will be returned to the eLearning home page. By scrolling down you can find the same small system enrollments. These enrollments include the individual courses that make up each small system certificate program. Since this list is not sorted by certificate program, you’ll want to search for each course by the names listed at the beginning of this blog. Start with EL272 and work toward EL275.









Returning to the Course:





    Sign in to the AWWA site with your existing account by selecting ‘Login’ in the top, right-hand corner of any AWWA webpage. The username is your email.


    Once logged in, select your name in the top, right-hand corner of the page where it used to say Login.


    A webpage called ‘My Account’ should be loaded. Now select ‘My Courses’ in the left-hand menu. This will bring you to the AWWA eLearning platform. You might want to bookmark this link for quicker access next time.


    Scroll down on the e-learning homepage to access your courses.




We recommend systems check out both the EPA tools as well as the new e-training to decide what worksheets and strategies are best for your utility. Remember that RCAP’s technical assistance providers are available throughout the country to help you achieve AWIA compliance, work through these courses, and even facilitate tabletop exercises for emergency preparedness. For a deeper understanding of AWIA compliance and these small system resources, operators can view the June 10, 2020 webinar recording: Small Systems Guidance for America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2018.







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Zoyda Boisvert — Ponds & Toxic Algae Blooms: Is Your Septic System...

Zoyda Boisvert — Ponds & Toxic Algae Blooms: Is Your Septic System...

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Ponds & Toxic Algae Blooms: Is Your Septic System to Blame?

While some algae growth can be a good thing, harmful algae blooms can be toxic – even deadly. Did you know one of the biggest contributors to pond algae growth are improperly maintained or failing septic systems?



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Zoyda Boisvert — Promoting Equality and Equity: Resources for the...

Zoyda Boisvert — Promoting Equality and Equity: Resources for the...

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Promoting Equality and Equity: Resources for the Water Industry

Editor’s Note: We want to thank NYC Environmental Protection for permission to use their photo in this post.



Our team at WaterOperator.org was pleased to see organizations such as the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), Water Environment Federation (WEF), and the American Water Works Association (AWWA), make public statements in support of the racial justice movement. Our program is committed to promoting and upholding the principles of inclusion in everything we do.



Racial injustice affects all of us — at home, at work, and in our daily societal interactions. Times like these define who we are, shed light on our world view, and, most importantly, are an opportunity to affect change. We all play an important role in developing and maintaining equitable places to work and live. Here are just a few resources that might be helpful as your organization navigates this call to action:



A Water Utility Manager’s Guide to Community StewardshipHighlighted by David LaFrance, CEO of the American Water Works Association, in his message to the water industry from a Water Online commentary, this manual features a chapter on human resources identifying how to promote welcoming cultures and increase diversity in the workplace.

Host: American Water Works Association



Could This Be What Employees Experience in Your Workplace?On page 26 of the February 2018 edition of the APWA Reporter, author and operations manager for St. Paul Public Works Department, Beverly Ann Farraher, highlights how public works employee Antione Posey faced racial discrimination in the workplace. The objective of this article is to invigorate readers to consider how they can take positive action to support diversity and inclusivity.

Host: American Public Works Association



U.S. Businesses Must Take Meaningful Action Against RacismFeatured in a recent WEF Smart Brief, this article outlines ways that industry leaders can support minority employees to feel physically and psychologically safe in their workplace during such difficult times of racial injustice.

Host: Harvard Business Review



Water Equity ClearinghouseThis online database showcases organizations and the practices they implement to make water and wastewater service accessibility more equitable and inclusive.

Host: U.S. Water Alliance



Working Toward the Utility of the Future by Understanding and Addressing BiasPresented at a 2016 conference hosted by the Pacific Northwest Section AWWA, these slides teach readers how the brain processes information to form subconscious biases. Water industry professionals will learn how to negate these biases to produce and foster a more innovative and diverse workforce.

Host: Pacific Northwest Section American Water Works Association



Echoed by RCAP CEO Nathan Ohle in his statement on the death of George Floyd, there is more diversity found in rural and tribal communities than most people realize. This diversity is one of the many things that make them so extraordinary. We encourage all systems and the communities that they serve to examine how they can promote diversity and remove any barriers that hinder its livelihood both inside and outside of the workplace. With that, we will leave you with a quote taken from a Workforce Diversity article by Rachel Gilbert included in the AWWA Journal:



The concept of Diversity & Inclusion needs to be regarded as a value — not just a program or priority. Priorities change — values don’t.”







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Zoyda Boisvert — A Message from Nathan Ohle, RCAP CEO

Zoyda Boisvert — A Message from Nathan Ohle, RCAP CEO

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A Message from Nathan Ohle, RCAP CEO

Editor’s Note: WaterOperator.org is proudly funded through a partnership with the Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP). In this blog post we have highlighted a recent statement by RCAP CEO Nathan Ohle in response to the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed.



Throughout the past few weeks, we have witnessed yet another systemic injustice with the death of George Floyd and the protests that followed. Over four decades, the RCAP Network has always stood for the common good, including a fair and just society that fosters healthy conversations, true collaboration and equitable partnerships. We strive to celebrate and lift the incredibly diverse make up of rural and tribal communities that we see every day through our work.



We do not have all the answers to address the inequity taking place across the country, or yet know what role the RCAP Network can play in this conversation. However, it is clear that we need to create a space for those conversations to take shape, and to elevate the voices of the rural communities that are working collaboratively with people from all walks of life. We work on regionalization and regional collaboration projects across the country, helping to facilitate tough conversations and bridge differences between and among communities. Those tough conversations are critical to ensuring that we create equitable opportunity for all communities.



What we see happening today in America is not just happening in big cities, it lives in communities of all sizes. Everyone wants to feel safe, secure, and valued, but too many people in this country do not.



Rural communities are much more diverse than most people realize. It is the diversity that exists in rural communities that makes them so special. Ensuring that everyone has affordable access to safe drinking water and sanitary wastewater disposal was the founding principal of RCAP, with a specific focus on the most vulnerable populations across the country. As we consider where we can play a role, we are always here to listen, learn and to support important conversations in whatever form they should take. RCAP will continue to focus on creating and lifting up positive stories, encouraging continued collaboration, providing venues for fruitful conversations, and ensuring that rural communities of color have an equitable opportunity.







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Zoyda Boisvert — Pathogens & Your Septic System: Is Your...

Zoyda Boisvert — Pathogens & Your Septic System: Is Your...

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Pathogens & Your Septic System: Is Your Groundwater Safe?

The Ohio Department of Health estimates there are more than a million households in Ohio that depend on septic systems to treat wastewater. In 2015, the ODH estimated that 31% of them were failing to some degree. Regulations to further protect Ohioans from septic failure have gone into effect since 2015, but many homeowners still wonder what pathogens may be … Read More



The post Pathogens & Your Septic System: Is Your Groundwater Safe? appeared first on Supeck Septic Services.



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Zoyda Boisvert — ELCM specialization changed to ‘Ecosystems...

Zoyda Boisvert — ELCM specialization changed to ‘Ecosystems...

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ELCM specialization changed to ‘Ecosystems Conservation and Management’

Authored by Viola Taubmann (MEM Candidate, 2021) With the longest title among all MEM specializations, the name Ecosystems and Land Conservation and Management (ELCM) continued to raise confusion among students and employers alike (is it EMLC? ECML? What exactly does…







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Zoyda Boisvert — The Lytton Tribe Manages Government to Government...

Zoyda Boisvert — The Lytton Tribe Manages Government to Government...

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The Lytton Tribe Manages Government to Government Wastewater Agreements

Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in the June 2020 edition of our Tribal Utility Newsletter. You can subscribe to this newsletter or find past editions here.



In 1961 federal recognition of the Lytton Band of Pomo Indians was unlawfully terminated. While this recognition was restored in 1991, the Tribe was only granted federal recognition of a reservation in December of last year. During this time the Lytton Tribe built its success by establishing a San Pablo casino. Funds from the casino were used to purchase 500 acres of land near Windsor, California. Since then the Tribe has been working with Sonoma County to develop 147 housing units as well as a resort and winery.



Now that this ongoing development can be performed on land officially held in trust by the U.S. federal government, the Tribe is no longer subject to local land use restrictions. As such, the Lytton Tribe must assess all potential options to best meet future wastewater needs. Collaboration with their Windsor neighbors as well as an environmental assessment identified two primary options:





Onsite construction of a private wastewater treatment facility with management overseen by a private firm.


Joining the Windsor wastewater treatment plant to meet residential needs with construction of a smaller treatment plant for commercial wastewater.




Construction of a separate wastewater facility drew concerns for the town of Windsor. Effluent discharge would flow into gravel pits near the town’s well field and a local watershed. Windsor residents were also concerned about potential treatment odors. If the Tribe connected to the existing treatment plant, they would benefit from the plant’s existing efficiencies and reuse opportunities while leaving land available for future Tribal housing.



After accessing the capacity of the Windsor plant, the Tribe and town agreed to connect to the existing facility for a $20 million connection fee. Approximately $3.5 million of this will go toward aeration basin improvements to increase capacity for the Tribe’s future development projects. Costs to connect services will be funded by the Tribe. Agreements such of these can often be tedious, however the town and the Lytton Tribe are working well to overcome disagreements, maintain transparency, and find a solution that mutually benefits both parties. The next steps in this project involve drafting a Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement over the wastewater services.



Through this work, the Lytton Tribe demonstrates how to traverse the formation of complex government to government agreements.To assist tribes with future water or wastewater system agreements and partnerships take advantage of the U.S. EPA’s Water System Partnerships Handbook, the Rural Community Assistance Partnership’s Resiliency Through Water and Wastewater System Partnerships, and the Water Research Foundation’s Water Utility Partnerships Resource Guide and Toolbox.







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Zoyda Boisvert — Covid & Commencement: A Virtual F&ES Graduation...

Zoyda Boisvert — Covid & Commencement: A Virtual F&ES Graduation...

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Covid & Commencement: A Virtual F&ES Graduation Ceremony

Authored by Sundara Bhandaram (MEM Graduate, Class of 2020) I can definitively say that when I arrived at FES in Fall 2018, I did not imagine that my graduation would take place on a virtual landscape courtesy of a YouTube live…







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Zoyda Boisvert — Preparing for Your Septic Tank Pumping

Zoyda Boisvert — Preparing for Your Septic Tank Pumping

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Preparing for Your Septic Tank Pumping

Depending on the size of a home and the number of occupants, a septic tank should be pumped every 1-3 years. Several factors contribute to requiring more frequent cleanings, such as having a garbage disposal (which we adamantly advise against), the age and design of the septic system, and the type and amount of solids being flushed into the system. … Read More



The post Preparing for Your Septic Tank Pumping appeared first on Supeck Septic Services.



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Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Sewer Cleaning in Los Angeles...

Zoyda Boisvert — Featured Video: Sewer Cleaning in Los Angeles...

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Featured Video: Sewer Cleaning in Los Angeles California with Kent Carlson

For roughly 30 years Kent Carlson worked for the City of Los Angeles to bring innovation and new technology to the Department of Public Works’ Bureau of Sanitation. When the Bureau observed that new technology was falling behind on their collections side, Kent was brought over to assist with tool development and the standardization of sewer cleaning procedures. Under the mission to reduce sewer overflows and recognize increasing drought in southern California, one of his favorite inventions featured a sewer nozzle designed to reduce water use and save time during cleaning.



In his article with CWEA Water News he offers his predictions on the future of the sewer profession asserting, “I think it’s an exciting future – technology is exploding in this sector – CCTV, GIS, computers on the trucks. Sewer workers of the future will be much better with technology. Rather than using rudimentary brute force for cleaning we’ll get smarter, more strategic and more efficient at what we do.”



Kent’s enthusiasm for tool development is demonstrated in this week’s featured video. The 5-minute video highlights the history of sewer cleaning in Los Angeles as well as a demonstration of how his team tests and develops their sewer cleaning tools. Back in the day, sewer cleaning featured manual removal of clogged pipes and sewer mains. Today, his team takes advantage of high-pressure tools and robotics. Kent says the best tools for sewer cleaning are designed or personally modified by the facility staff. These tools ultimately help the Bureau of Sanitation affordably maintain approximately 6,500 miles of pipe, some of which was originally installed as far back as 1883. We hope this week’s featured video inspires your system to find new and innovative ways to help your utility operate more efficiently.









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Zoyda Boisvert — Septic System Mapping – From Your Toilet to Your...

Zoyda Boisvert — Septic System Mapping – From Your Toilet to Your...

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Septic System Mapping – From Your Toilet to Your Leach Fields

Welcome to our latest post on septic systems. In this article we’ll be diving into how the system actually processes waste from toilet to drain field. The process of collecting solid waste in the tank to properly processing the effluent on site is a much simpler process than one would think.





In poor soil areas that lack proper perk rates, or high water tables are in play, the design and process of installing the entire septic system, but especially the leaching or drain field section, is usually much more complicated and therefore more expensive to install.



How Septic Systems Work









If you’re having a new septic system installed at your home or business, you may find it interesting to know that the basic components of a septic system are fairly simple. This basic septic system design has worked for many properties for decades, primarily using gravity to safely remove e-coli bacteria and wastewater back to the ground.





Septic systems are used to treat household wastes when a connection to a municipal city sewage system is not available. These systems are on site because they are intended to treat wastewater where it is actually generated. Anything that goes down the drain, every drop from your shower, and every flush of your toilet flows out to your onsite wastewater system.



Septic System Bacteria and Microorganisms









Typically a septic system consists of a storage tank a network of pipes and billions of microorganisms inside the tank that help process your waste. Most rural homes have what’s defined under their local building and health department regulations as a class for septic system that is a septic tank along with a leaching bed or a filtering drain bed, all buried beneath the ground.



Basically the idea is to treat the wastewater, first of all, typically through a septic tank. The septic tank will settle some of the solids out from the effluent and provide a little bit of the pre-treatment phase. After that the effluent is sent to some kind of soil absorption system, sometimes called a leaching bed, where you would further treat the effluent. Finally the effluent will trickle into the end of the drain field trenches. The waste flows to the first compartment of the septic tank where the heavy solids settled and the lighter materials, fat, oils and greases, float to the top as scum.





Baffles and screens keep this scum layer from flowing out to the leaching fields. The scum is removed when the tank is pumped out during regular septic service maintenance. A small amount of fine organic particles may settle in the second compartment of the tank where almost all of what’s left breaks down. In onsite wastewater sewage systems built or upgraded after 2005, an effluent filter is required to trap and help decompose any remaining particles before they get to the leaching area.



The leaching bed is made up of a network of perforated polyvinyl chloride drain pipes. These PVC pipes disperse the effluent allowing the filtered liquid to seep into the ground where the bacteria and other organisms continue to break it down and where it is further filtered by washed crushed stone and septic approved sand that surround these pipes and the soil below.



Septic System Components – From House to Drain Fields









Septic systems are only as effective as the sum of their parts. In order to have a properly functioning septic system, you need the right size tank and a healthy drain field, just to name a few. If your drain field is deteriorating from age, is damaged, or needs to be replaced for whatever reason you should contact a septic system inspection technician and or your local health sanitarian for professional advice and to determine how extensive the repairs on your system my need to be, or if an entire renovation of your leaching fields is in order.



Read more on septic systems and the processing of effluent and solid waste by clicking on this hyperlink. https://www.pdffiller.com/5645639-fillable-glenwild-design-guidelines-form Here’s an in-depth report in PDF form written by Olivia Jimenez, B.A. on the long-term affects of septic systems when installed in close proximity to lakes, bodies of water and reservoirs in Central Texas.



Check out more great technical information on everything you want to know about septic systems on our blog.





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Zoyda Boisvert — Opinion: Challenges Quantifying COVID-19 Cases...

Zoyda Boisvert — Opinion: Challenges Quantifying COVID-19 Cases...

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Opinion: Challenges Quantifying COVID-19 Cases Using Wastewater

Editor’s Note: The views expressed in this post are the sole opinion of the author and not those of WaterOperator.org, our sponsors, or the University of Illinois.

In the May 5, 2020 edition of the WaterOperator.org newsletter, we highlighted ongoing research that uses wastewater-based epidemiology to monitor the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Especially in locations where no confirmed cases have been identified, any samples positive for SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA implies that there are people infected in that community excreting it. For that purpose, wastewater monitoring shows real promise as an approach to early detection. By monitoring wastewater influent, scientists hope we can develop an advanced warning system for outbreaks.



There has been significant buzz about using wastewater to quantify the actual number of people infected within a given service area, but there are some issues with quantifying cases I want to discuss. In our newsletter we highlighted MIT research aiming to quantify the number of infected from a large area in Massachusetts. In that article, the researchers point to concerns about meeting the litmus test of sound science.



The wastewater system they studied had 450 confirmed cases at the time of sampling. Results from this monitoring suggested the number of people infected could be much higher. They estimated somewhere between 2,300 and 115,000 infected people. A range this wide does little to help planners or health officials prepare for what might be coming during a pandemic.



Quantifying the number of people infected with COVID-19 using wastewater samples requires a much more comprehensive data set that we cannot gather today in any cost effective way. Here are a few of the problems I see in quantifying the positive COVID-19 population within a given wastewater system:







Not everyone excretes the viral RNA:

A recent study published March 30 in the American Journal of Gastroenterology found that some COVID-19 patients exhibit gastrointestinal symptoms, with those patients more likely to produce a positive stool test. In other words, COVID-19 positive patients may not have ANY viral RNA in their stool. How do we identify those people?




Wastewater varies throughout the day and throughout the week:The influent coming through a plant varies based on the discharges from the users. A lot of variables can affect wastewater characteristics at the specific time a sample is collected. The time of day, time of week, and even the time of year can affect the flow into a plant depending on the types of users in the system.




Every system has a variety of sources for their wastewater:

What percentage of the wastewater is residential? Are there commercial or industrial facilities that are discharging to the community system? If so, how much, and what types of businesses? In some communities, commercial and industrial users could make up a significant portion of the wastewater treated. In a rural area, the regional hospital may be in a smaller community making it a significant source and contributor. Other communities could be almost completely residential.




Sampling time and frequency can skew the results:

Sampling time matters, as do the number of samples collected. How do we decide what is representative? Once an hour? Once a day? Sampling may need to be continuous to really understand the variability.




Wastewater collection systems leak:

Leaking can occur both ways. Some wastewater leaks into the environment through the collection system while, at other times, a high groundwater table may be leaking groundwater into the collection system. I looked at approximately 50 smaller systems in Illinois to compare the amount of wastewater discharge to the amount of groundwater they withdraw from drinking water wells. (You would expect the amount withdrawn from wells to be more than that treated at the wastewater plant because of consumptive use.) In many cases systems were treating more wastewater than the raw water being used for their community supply and, in some cases, it was 2-3 times a much. This would be significant factor when using any volumetric approach to evaluating COVID-19 sampling results.




We have no benchmark to compare results:

Without having data for a number of communities where the total number of residents with active COVID-19 infection is known, there is no way to validate assumptions and calibrate estimates built into the method. This would not be possible without a consensus understanding about the rate of asymptomatic cases.




If researchers must accept such a high degree of uncertainty, how can this method ever be accurate or useful? Many factors would have to be considered to quantify the number of positive cases for a given community and these would be unique to the individual system. That said, these are not likely new considerations for the talented researchers working on this effort.



In the future I hope an approach to accurately quantify an infected population using wastewater-based epidemiology becomes a reality. It would be a tremendous asset. In the meantime, however, I believe our focus should be on evaluating the pitfalls mentioned above and working toward technologies/protocols needed within a wastewater plant to reduce uncertainty and move us closer to our common goal of protecting public health.







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Grease Trap Cleaning Near Me Grease Trap Cleaning Hub Medium

Grease Trap Cleaning Near Me Grease Trap Cleaning Hub Mediumhttps://medium.com/@greasetrapcleaninghub/grease-trap-cleaning-near-me-c0830ca88512?source=rss-51a1e178f1d4------2 Grease Trap Cleaning Near Me Grease trap cleaning near me is the processing and disposal of fats oil and grease from your restaurant or fine dining establishments greasetrap Fat oils and grease (FOG) are a waste product category virtually every commercial fast food outlet or restaurant has to deal with. Unfortunately unlike water-based dirt they cant be simply flushed down the drain. When fats cool they undergo acidogenic fermentation creating a structural change transforming into a semi-solid viscous fluid that can clog up conventional drainage systems and cause serious environmental damage. Thats why you need grease traps installed as a catch-all-separator in your commercial kitchen. Grease Trap Pumping NearMe Grease traps are special filters designed to intercept all the fat oil and grease coming from your facility before they ever get to the central drainage system. In addition to trapping grease they also shore off other solid wastes allowing only debris-free greaseless waterthrough. Overtime and as you would expect grease and debris accumulate in the grease trap clogging up the normal fluid flow pathway. If youre intent on preserving the efficiency and structural integrity of your grease trap then theres a need to evacuate and clean it routinely. If youre wondering how to go about that fret not weve got youcovered. First things first find out where your grease trap islocated Commercial size grease traps are typically found just outside your building usually close to the basement walls or concrete foundation of your kitchen. They are easy to spot too most have a cover that looks very much like your typical septic tank or utility hole lidcover. The Size of GreaseTraps If you dont find yours there another place to check would be your buildings basement just below your kitchen floor. Medium sized grease traps are commonly placed here because its closer to the dishwashing area of your kitchen (where most FOG will originate from) and also to protect them from freezing and other harsh weather conditions. For smaller grease traps the best place to look would be under the sink where youre likely to find it encased in a protective box. Note however that for grease tanks with a carrying capacity that exceeds 500 gallons youre better off hiring a professional grease trap cleaning company. The sheer extent and difficulty of the job might be too tough to handle for someone not experienced in the business of grease trap emptying and the processing of greywater from thetrap. Grease Trap and Biofilter Designed to Collect and Separate Greywater Gather all the tools youllneed If your grease trap is small enough and you feel hiring a grease trap pumping service is surplus to requirements heres a list of the tools you will need for thejob. Implement the Use of Special RubberGloves Grease is nasty smelly and messythe kind of stuff you dont want on your skin. Get a pair of nitrile gloves to protect your hands from the caustic fat oil andgrease. Wear Overalls or a UnionSuit You certainly dont want to do your restaurant grease trap cleaning in your favorite clothes. Again the job can get messy so like gloves for your hand overalls protect your entirebody A crowbar a wrench and a scraperYoull need a crowbar or a wrench depending on the design of your grease trap to open up its trap lid. Once youve gained access a scraper comes in handy to help evacuate all thesludge. Utilize a wet-dry industrial grade vacuumcleaner Professional grease trap cleaning services use heavy duty vacuum cleaners to evacuate the leftover greasy waste and liquids. A small shop vacuum should however cover for all your grease trap pumping needs.Once youve got all the equipment you need in place its on to the actual cleaning process of grease trap waste and the transesterification of the lipid fraction through the introduction ofethanol. Cleaning your grease trap can be summarily achieved in five basic steps Allow the water and FOG mixture in the grease tank to cool off. This is important because it allows FOG which solidifies a bit on cooling to separate from and then float on water making for a much easier scoop out of the greasetrap Next using your crowbar or wrench detach the grease trap lid from its main assembly. Youll want to do this gently since most grease traps come with some expensive-to-replace gaskets underneath thelid. Once youve gained access to the main grease tank you should find most of the FOG settled at the top. Now using your vacuum pump suck out the contents of the container starting from the oil located at the top before working your way down to the debris and sludge at thebottom. For the final disposal of (FOG) a.ka.defogging task use your scraper to remove any adhering FOG waste from all parts of the grease trap making sure not to miss its lid and baffles. Rerun a vacuum cleaner through the now scrapped grease trap for added cleaningeffect. Proceed to reassemble all individual parts of the grease trap. Once youre done with this Congratulations! Youve successfully cleaned your greasetrap. If any of this however sounds too scruffy and greasy to handle remember you can always enlist the help of professional grease trap emptying services. They unlike you are experienced in the grease trap cleaning process. They know where to dispose of waste gotten from the grease trap pumping and possess the additional tools needed to surmount complications that might arise in a restaurant grease trap cleaningroutine. They are also budget-friendly with some grease trap services costing as low as $125. Thats $125 to take the greasy business of cleaning your grease trap out of your busy work schedule. Definitely worth consideration. We would like to thank you for visiting our Medium Story blog and for reading a related blog post on Grease Trap Cleaning Hub Zoyda B;-) via Stories by Grease Trap Cleaning Hub on Medium https://medium.com/@greasetrapcleaninghub?source=rss-51a1e178f1d4------2