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TOWA 25th Anniversary Conference
SPEAKERS & SESSION OVERVIEWS

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION: PAST, PRESENT AND non-saturated flow conditions. There are four guiding
FUTURE OF WASTEWATER IN TEXAS principles in the design of a subsurface drip dispersal
system. The first principle is to understand the strength and
ABSTRACT: Presentation will describe the evolution of the properties of the effluent being applied and provide the
OSSF program in Texas. The regulations provide a solid appropriate pretreatment. Second, the hydraulic properties
foundation for effective wastewater treatment. Periodically, of the soil must be investigated and understood. The third
the rules are revised to address the next issue facing Texas; is that the system must be designed for ease of maintenance.
waste disposal, water treatment, operation and maintenance. Only after these first three design principles have been
Water reuse is an issue growing within the State. satisfied can the designer begin to consider the forth
principle – the hydraulics of a drip dispersal system. This
DR. BRUCE LESIKAR, P.E., Baker Corp - Director of Engineering presentation will focus on the application of these four
Dr. Bruce Lesikar is the current Director of Engineering of principles and work through an example design.
Baker Corp in San Marcos, TX and oversees Wastewater JOHN R. BUCHANAN, PH.D., P. E., Associate Professor,
Systems. He is past VP of Engineering for Kaselco, as well Biosystems Engineering & Soil Science, The University of
as the Department Head and Professor for Texas AgriLife Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture
Extension Service in College Station. In 2010, he received John Buchanan is a Registered Professional Engineer,
the ASBE Blue Ribbon award for his “Analyzing Wastewater State of Tennessee, and specializes in the design of Drip
Treatment Systems Manual”. In 2009, he received both Distribution of treated effluent. He is a former President of
the Regents Fellow Service Award from Texas AgriLife the Tennessee Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation
Extension Service, and the Texas A&M Excellence in Society, a member of Tennessee Onsite Wastewater
Extension Education Award. He has authored and co- Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling
authored over 20 publications. He received his PhD from Association. When John is not teaching class at the
the University of Illinois, and his BS and MS from Texas A&M, University, he is involved nationally in the advancement
College Station. He currently lives in San Marcos with his of adult education in the Onsite Wastewater community.
family and helps instruct several of the TOWA training
courses.
RESPONDING TO ELECTRICAL POWER OUTAGES
INSTALLATION AND INSPECTION OF AND FLOODS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS ABSTRACT: Presentation will describe the evolution of the
OSSF program in Texas. The regulations provide a solid
ABSTRACT: Raymond will use his 19 years of experience foundation for effective wastewater treatment. Periodically,
in the field to discuss how to properly install systems for the rules are revised to address the next issue facing Texas;
maximum performance, longevity, and ease of inspection, waste disposal, water treatment, operation and maintenance.
and cover topics ranging from digging to inspection. Water reuse is an issue growing within the State.

RAYMOND SCOTT, Myrtle Springs Aerobic Septic, LLC DR. BRUCE LESIKAR, P.E., Baker Corp - Director of Engineering
Dr. Bruce Lesikar is the current Director of Engineering of
Raymond has a B. A. Mathematics/minor in Business Baker Corp in San Marcos, TX and oversees Wastewater
Administration from the University of North Texas, a Master’s Systems. He is past VP of Engineering for Kaselco, as well
Degree - Chemistry, Geology, Astronomy- ETSU now A&M as the Department Head and Professor for Texas AgriLife
and a Master’s Degree - Physics/minor Math from Perdue Extension Service in College Station. In 2010, he received
University. He holds Texas licenses for Septic Installer II, the ASBE Blue Ribbon award for his “Analyzing Wastewater
Site Evaluator, Maintenance Provider. Raymond was a Treatment Systems Manual”. In 2009, he received both
teacher of High School, at TCJC and Eastfield College in the Regents Fellow Service Award from Texas AgriLife
math and sciences. In addition, he has been a Farmer/ Extension Service, and the Texas A&M Excellence in
Rancher, 40+ yrs.’, cattle, cutting horses, hay and grain Extension Education Award. He has authored and co-
and Home builder & General Contractor. 19 yrs.’ Started authored over 20 publications. He received his PhD from
in the Septic business (1998), has 10 employees. the University of Illinois, and his BS and MS from Texas A&M,
College Station. He currently lives in San Marcos with his
DRIP SYSTEM DESIGN PRINCIPLES family and helps instruct several of the TOWA training
courses.
ABSTRACT: The soil is a powerful wastewater treatment
system. As onsite wastewater treatment system designers,
our goal is to provide a hydraulic network that applies ONSITE WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM
effluent to the soil such that the maximum amount of DRAINFIELD MALFUNCTION: CAUSES,
treatment takes place. This ensures that wastewater INVESTIGATION, PREVENTION, & CORRECTION
becomes water. Subsurface drip dispersal is our best
application method. Historically, drip irrigation is the ABSTRACT: The lifespan of an onsite wastewater treatment
most efficient means of providing water to a crop; water system drainfield is influenced by numerous factors,
is applied where it is needed and the application rate including siting, vertical separation distance, maintenance,
matches the soil’s infiltration rate – thus minimizing runoff. wastewater flow volume, septic tank volume, as well as
For these same reasons, subsurface drip dispersal is an other factors. The presentation will review methodologies
idea method of applying effluent to soils that are limited to diagnose problem site systems. The intention is to have
in depth or area. Drip distribution allows the soil to emulate the presentation serve as a learning tool on the potential
a media filter; effluent is applied to the entire soil area under
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