reaches the public sewer main. At this point the offending debris becomes the sewer agency’s problem. What’s the Problem? Ultimately, we as an industry need to specifically identify what products are causing the ragging problem and to identify those products that are labeled or advertised as being but are causing the problems. Some of this research has already been done by the “flushable” Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), but more is needed. To determine the extent of the problem of nondispersible products in the sewer, a survey questionnaire was developed in 2009 by the Southern California Alliance for POTWs (SCAP). SCAP sent the survey to public sewer agencies throughout requesting documentation of maintenance problems associated with disposing nondispersible products in the sewer system. Agencies were also asked to provide any cost information that they may have been associated with addressing the pump ragging and deragging problem. The results are being tabulated. The Future Here are some possible courses of action agencies might take to mitigate or minimize the problem: Agencies and associations can send letters to product manufacturers explaining the problem and requesting that they conduct more aggressive advertising campaigns that emphasize proper disposal options. Development of a public outreach program for educating your customers about what items they should not flush down the toilet. Writing articles, editorials or essays on blogs, for news papers or public service announcements. Dialogue with state legislators leading to possible new disposal standards for these products. Depending on the of staffing and funding available, SCAP has proposed that the investigation and documentation be a combined effort among several professional organizations and public agencies. Funding for such research has not been secured thus far, however possible sources of funding could include: Federal/state grants National research institutes and policy tanks Federal and state wastewater organizations and networking groups and regional wastewater agencies Product manufacturers/associations Environmental groups Arkansas Environmental Training Academy January - May 2011 Water Training Schedule 2011 Training Schedule Date Course Location Instructor Register online at Internet classes also available! Arkansas Environmental Training Academy
reaches the public sewer main. At this point the offending debris becomes the sewer agency’s problem. What’s the Problem? Ultimately, we as an industry need to specifically identify what products are causing the ragging problem and to identify those products that are labeled or advertised as being “flushable” but are causing the problems. Some of this research has already been done by the Water Environment Research Foundation (WERF), but more is needed. To determine the extent of the problem of nondispersible products in the sewer, a survey questionnaire was developed in 2009 by the Southern California Alliance for POTWs (SCAP). SCAP sent the survey to public sewer agencies throughout requesting documentation of maintenance problems associated with disposing nondispersible products in the sewer system. Agencies were also asked to provide any cost information that they may have been associated with addressing the pump ragging and deragging problem. The results are being tabulated. The Future Here are some possible courses of action agencies might take to mitigate or minimize the problem: Agencies and associations can send letters to product manufacturers explaining the problem and requesting that they conduct more aggressive advertising campaigns that emphasize proper disposal options. Development of a public outreach program for educating your customers about what items they should not flush down the toilet. Writing articles, editorials or essays on blogs, for news papers or public service announcements. Dialogue with state legislators leading to possible new disposal standards for these products. Depending on the of staffing and funding available, SCAP has proposed that the investigation and documentation be a combined effort among several professional organizations and public agencies. Funding for such research has not been secured thus far, however possible sources of funding could include: Federal/state grants National research institutes and policy tanks Federal and state wastewater organizations and networking groups and regional wastewater agencies Product manufacturers/associations Environmental groups Arkansas Environmental Training Academy January - May 2011 Water Training Schedule 2011 Training Schedule Date Course Location Instructor Register online at Internet classes also available! Arkansas Environmental Training Academy
digester_january_2011.docx