Course Descriptions

Operations & Maintenance Service Provider Introductory Course Summary:

The MOWPA Operations and Maintenance (O & M) Service Provider Introductory Coruse educates and trains practitioners in the use of best practices with onsite wastewater treatment systems. The approach developed in this program focuses on residential systems expanded to include shared facilities. The fundamental message of this training is that through proper maintenance and management, onsite technology and systems are a permanent and effective part of the nation’s wastewater infrastructure. This Course is based on CIDWT training materials and manual in conjunction with Maryland Department of the Environments Core Objectives to comply with the required O & M training per COMAR 26.04.02.07.

This 1-day program addresses all key aspects of O & M service procedures and gives participants the ability to evaluate each component of the onsite wastewater treatment system. Operational checklists are provided for all the technologies that could be a component of the treatment train. This process allows the service provider to pick and choose the operational checklists that apply to each system’s unique treatment train. Attendees receive the following materials:

  • Service Providers Manual
  • Operational Checklists
  • Study material and example problems
  • Certificates are issued based upon completion of the course and passing the examination with a score of 70% or higher.
  • Certification cards are issued and names placed on MOWPA and MDE’s Website
  • All participants receive continuing education units (CEU’s) that verify their level of achievement as a O & M professional.

Specific Topics Covered:

  • O&M service provider’s role
  • MDE reporting requirements
  • Safety requirements and business ethics
  • O&M site assessment
  • Pretreatment components – tanks, risers, calculating capacity, baffles, filters, etc.
  • Math review, practical problems
  • Pump tanks, pumps, dosing systems & controls, calculations
  • Pretreatment components, ATU’s media filters
  • MD BAT units
  • Sampling BAT units
  • Gravity distribution, LPD, drip dispersal, spray dispersal

Who should attend this course?

Any individual that would like to provide operations and maintenance on BAT systems.

Homeowners

  • The Code of Maryland Regulations (COMAR) does permit a homeowner to become certified to perform the required annual operations and maintenance (O+M) on the BAT unit at their home.
  • The homeowner must first:
    • (1st ) complete this course, then
    • (2nd ) receive technology specific training for the BAT unit type installed at their home. All tools required to properly perform the service must be purchased prior to or at the technology specific training.
  • If you have specific questions about the homeowner certification process, please contact Travis Sterner or Nathanial Woodrow at the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) before you sign up to attend this course.

Notes

  • **This is NOT a Septic Inspection Course**. Inspectors you will need to take the Inspection Practices and Procedures course.

OSDS Inspection – Practices & Procedures

This two-day course provides instructions on the purpose and importance of inspection procedures and how to conduct a proper inspection of an onsite sewage disposal system (OSDS) for property transfers.  The course will cover the various aspects of gravity septic system design, construction, and function, as well as science behind the soil treatment process.  Participants will learn how to evaluate system flows and identify problems. There will be limited discussion on pressurized systems and pre-treatment units. There will be significant time spent on the second day in the field for attendees to see first hand systems and put into use what was learned on day one.

This course has been approved by MDE to meet the requirements set forth in Maryland Annotated Code 9-217.1. The law stipulates that anyone conducting inspections of onsite sewage disposal systems for property conveyance must complete such a course of study.   Participants will receive a comprehensive manual and other related material.

Course Update Note 7/5/23: This course has been updated to meet all the new requirements from MDE.

MDE Note 12/7/21-The Maryland State Legislature has recently enacted legislation that requires Maryland Department of Environment to establish regulations requiring all onsite wastewater property transfer inspectors to be licensed.  In order to maintain the licenses, inspectors will be required to get CEU’s to maintain licensing for inspections.

Passing Score

Successful completion of the course requires that a participant pass the final exam. Previous to the rule change in 2023, the passing score was 80%. Currently, the passing score is 70%. If a participant failed the exam prior to the rule change that exam status does not change.

Who Should Attend this Course?

This course is intended for septic contractors, engineers, designers and regulators within the onsite wastewater industry.  It is also a valuable course for realtors and land developers who need information on the essential topics in the use and application of onsite systems.

This two-day hybrid course offers detailed instruction on the proper field methodology and test procedures for conducting onsite sewage disposal site evaluations and making decisions about site suitability.  Special emphasis will be given to understanding and describing soil properties and site conditions in the Piedmont region.  The course is based on the MDE Site Evaluation Training Manual, which serves as the course text and includes one day of classroom instruction and one day of field instruction at a variety of soil test pits.

At the completion of the course, students should be able to:

  • List and explain the major steps used to evaluate and determine site suitability for onsite sewage disposal, as per state regulations.
  • Describe generally how soil surveys are made and discuss the limitations in using soil surveys for on-site sewage disposal evaluations.
  • List and describe the necessary soil properties and proper procedures and methods for collecting information in the field.
  • Describe the cylinder infiltrometer percolation test procedure used in evaluating soil suitability for sand mound systems and conduct a proper test.
  • Explain how to use the available data and collected information to determine site suitability for onsite sewage disposal.

    Participants will receive handout material from the MDE Site Evaluation Training Manual during the classroom session.  We recommend that the Manual be downloaded from the MDE web site and reviewed prior to attendance.  Classroom quizzes and field soil descriptions must be completed and submitted during the course to receive CEUs.

    Who Should Attend this Course?

    This course is intended for sanitarians, engineers, designers and regulators within the onsite wastewater industry.  It may also be valuable to installers who wish to better understand site evaluation as it relates to the system design and limitations.

Current Class Information:

November 2023 Session

  • Monday, November 13, 2023: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM @ Howard County Bureau of Utilities (8250 Old Montgomery Rd, Columbia, MD 21045)- It will be the building on the left with the parking in the front of it.
  • Tuesday, November 14, 2023: 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM (Field – CMREC Headquarters- 11975-A Homewood Rd, Ellicott City, MD 21042)

More Information to come

More Information to come