Page 10 - 2017Program_FINAL

TOWA 25th Anniversary Conference
spEaKErs & sEssion oVErViEws

company and taught safety training classes until 1999. prEparing YoUrsElf for Dog
Jon also played professional golf after college and still EncoUnTErs
competes in a few yearly tournaments. He is proficient in
software design and programming and SAFE is used by aBsTracT: Whether you are an installer, maintenance
Health Departments, septic service, pumping, installation, provider, Designer or D.R., each of us needs to enter
and portable toilet rental companies. someone’s property to perform our job as a member of
the OSSF Industry. Hector’s presentation will be geared
wHEn To go BEYonD wHaT THE rUlEs towards utility workers and the special circumstances
we face as Onsite Professionals. Hector’s presentation
call for will teach members of the audience how to recognize
aBsTracT: Many states have septic system regulations that the tell tail signs for the presence of a dog before you
see one, and how to prepare for dog encounters or
differ from those in Texas. For example, Tennessee requires attacks. He demonstrates how “reading the dog’s
150 gal/BR. Washington goes fro beyond 1200 mg/BOD body language” can tell you the difference between a
requirement on restaurants and stringent monitoring harmless encounter and a potentially dangerous one,
requirements. This presentation will educate why potential and what to do about each situation. His speaking
customers may benefit from requirements that exceed technique will make you laugh, while also making you
current Texas regulations and how to increase system think seriously about dog behavior and how to stay safe
efficiency. in all kinds of dog encounters.

franK agUirrE, r.s., Septic Systems Express HEcTor HErnanDEZ, Dog Encounters.com
Frank Aguirre has served as President of TOWA, sat on Hector L. Hernandez is an Author, former law enforcement
the NOWRA board and has been a Registered Sanitarian officer, speaker, police K-9 instructor. He has 30 years of
since 1968. (Yes, that’s 49 years and he’s still working experience training police dogs that were not purchased
full-time in the on-site wastewater industry.) He’s a overseas or pre-trained, which, combined with testing
professional speaker, addressing both state and national and training all breeds of dogs aggressive or not, has
groups, and brings a lively and colorful approach to the made him well rounded and recognized as the foremost
world of septic system designing. authority in the United States for dog bite prevention. His
training programs have been accredited by the Michigan
waTEr rEsoUrcEs ManagEMEnT Commission on Law Enforcement Standards, and he is an

aBsTracT: Water resources management is the activity evaluator for the American Kennel Club’s ‘Canine Good
Citizen’ program. He served in the United States Marine
of planning, developing, distributing and managing the Corps, receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1994. Hector
optimum use of water resources. This is the definition works as a consultant to the USPS and has spoken with at
of water resources management and the word numerous OSSF conferences throughout the country.
“wastewater” does not appear…but it is there. Lakes,
rivers, oceans, aquifers, rain and even wastewater is all
“one water.” We can’t make water and we can’t get is YoUr sEpTic sYsTEM on DrUgs?
rid of water but we can absolutely manage water. This
presentation will explain how our water shortages are aBsTracT: Recently the U.S. Food and Drug Administration
not just in the western United States but from coast to announced a ban on certain over-the-counter consumer
coast. It will surprise many to find out just where most of antiseptic wash products that contain triclosan, the
our water comes from…and how the onsite wastewater active ingredient in most antibacterial soaps.
industry can be a solution to some of these challenges. Effective September 6, 2017, this ban also includes 18
other chemicals found in hand and body washes. The
ToM friTTs, Residential Sewage Treatment Company concern is two-fold: there is strong concern that the
Tom Fritts is vice-president of Residential Sewage Treatment overuse of antibiotics will generate new antibiotic-resistant
Company in Grandview, Missouri where they design, sell microorganisms, and there little understanding about
and service alternative onsite wastewater systems. Tom triclosan’s fate in wastewater treatment systems.
is past president of the Missouri Smallflows Organization, However, triclosan is not the only product of concern - if
the Kansas Small Flows Association and just finished his you are on a medication, so is your septic system. Oral
2-year term as President of the National Onsite Wastewater medications have to be digested before the active
Recycling Association (NOWRA), where he still serves ingredients can enter the bloodstream and be
on the executive board. He is an approved instructor transported within the body. For many medications,
by NOWRA, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior only 20% of the active ingredient provides a clinical
Services, the Missouri Smallflows Organization the benefit (clearing a sinus infection or providing pain
Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater relief) while the remainder is metabolized and excreted
Treatment and the Kansas Small Flows Association. from the body – mostly in the urine. This presentation
Tom was successful during the summer of 2016 working will focus on pharmaceuticals and personal care
with legislators to form a Decentralized Wastewater products that enter septic systems and investigate the
Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. difficulties of removing these compounds out of the water.
JoHn r. BUcHanan, pH.D., p. E., Associate Professor,
Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, The University of
Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture
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