Caribbean Onsite Wastewater Management Training Agenda
Puerto Rico and St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands
March 27 – April 2, 2008
Training Project Overview
Onsite Wastewater Management Training -- Conducted onsite wastewater management training in the US Virgin Islands and in Puerto Rico. The training addressed: conventional and advanced treatment technologies, effective operations and maintenance, and management programs as profiled in the EPA "Voluntary National Guidelines for Management of Onsite and Clustered (Decentralized) Wastewater Treatment Systems." The training incorporated a focus on local issues, conditions and regulatory requirements, based on knowledge gained through site visits and meetings with territorial and commonwealth agencies and other interested stakeholders. Approximately 135 individuals attended the two training sessions, representing: territorial/commonwealth agencies, municipalities, installation and O&M contractors, in-house maintenance personnel, professional engineers and agronomists, and other interested parties.
Classroom Training Agenda
Thursday, March 27, 2008 -- Classroom Training Day One – Puerto Rico
8:30 a.m.
Introductions and Welcome
8:45 a.m.
Course Overview
Presented by Dr. Rafael Davila-Lopez, University of Puerto Rico, and Jeffrey Potent, US EPA/Rutgers University
- The government agency/university partnership
- Onsite wastewater challenges facing Puerto Rico
- Training objectives
9:00 a.m.
Presentation1: Evolution of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment and Available Resources
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service
10:30 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m.
Presentation 2: Introduction to Soils for Onsite Wastewater Treatment
Presented by George Loomis, University of Rhode Island
12:00 noon
Lunch Break
1:15 p.m.
Presentation 3: Conventional Septic Tanks
Presented by David Kalen, URI
- Septic tank functions
- Low cost enhancements
- Wastewater flow
- Gravity distribution
Presentation 4: Basic inspection procedures for conventional systems
Presented by George Loomis, URI
2:30 p.m.
Break
3:00 p.m.
Presentation 5: Advanced Treatment Technologies
Presented by George Loomis and David Kalen, URI
- Overview of technology option
- System features, management requirements and limitations
- Addressing special needs
4:30 p.m.
Adjourn
Friday, March 28, 2008 -- Classroom Training Day Two
8:30 a.m.
Presentation 6: Diagnosing Onsite Wastewater System Upsets/Problems
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service
9:45 a.m.
Presentation 7: Water Quality Impacts
Jeffrey Potent, US EPA Region 2 / Rutgers University
10:15 a.m.
Break
10:30 a.m.
Presentation 8: Analyzing Puerto Rico’s Wastewater Challenges
Presented by Bruce Lesikar Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and George Loomis and David Kalen, URI
12:00 noon
Lunch Break
1:00 p.m.
Presentation 9: Management Programs
Presented by George Loomis and Bruce Lesikar
2:45 p.m.
Break
3:00 p.m.
Presentation 10: Operation and Management Needs and Resources
Presented by Bruce Lesikar
3:30 p.m.
Demonstration Projects in Puerto Rico
4:15 p.m.
Open Forum on Existing and Emerging Onsite Wastewater Issues in Puerto Rico
Presented by Jeffrey Potent, US EPA/Rutgers University and Rafael Davila-Lopez, UPR
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
5:15 p.m.
Training Team Debriefing and Travel to St. Thomas, U.S. VI
Tuesday, April 1, 2008 -- Classroom Training Day One – St. Thomas, U.S. VI
8:30 a.m.
Introductions and Welcome – Presented by Stafford Crossman, University of the Virgin Islands, and Jeffrey Potent, US EPA/Rutgers University
8:45 a.m.
Course Overview -- Presented by Jim Casey, US EPA Caribbean Environmental Protection Division, and Jeffrey Potent
- The government agency/university partnership
- Virgin Islands Environmental Stewardship Initiative
- Onsite wastewater challenges facing the US Virgin Islands
- Training objectives
9:00 a.m.
Presentation 1: Evolution of Decentralized Wastewater Treatment and Available Resources
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service
10:30 a.m.
Break
11:00 a.m.
Presentation 2: Wastewater Treatment in Soils
Presented by George Loomis, University of Rhode Island
12:00 noon
Lunch Break
1:15 p.m.
Presentation 3: Conventional Septic Tanks
Presented by David Kalen, URI
- Septic tank functions
- Low cost enhancements
- Wastewater flow
- Gravity distribution
Presentation 4: Basic inspection procedures for conventional systems
Presented by George Loomis, URI
2:30 p.m.
Break
3:00 p.m.
Presentation 5: Advanced Treatment Technologies
Presented by George Loomis and David Kalen, URI
- Overview of technology option
- System features, management requirements and limitations
- Addressing special needs
4:30 p.m.
Adjourn
Wednesday, April 2, 2008 -- Classroom Training Day Two
8:30 a.m.
Presentation 6a: An Introduction to Residential High Strength Wastewater Treatment
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Presentation 6b: Designing a Sustainable Commercial Treatment System
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service
9:30 a.m.
Presentation 7: Water Quality Impacts
Jeffrey Potent, US EPA Region 2 / Rutgers University
10:00 a.m.
Break
10:15 a.m.
Presentation 8: Key Issues in Effectively Designing and Adjusting Commercial Onsite Wastewater Systems for Sustainable Operation
Presented by Bill Stuth, Aqua Test, Inc.
12:00 noon
Lunch Break
1:00 p.m.
Presentation 9: Analyzing US Virgin Islands’ Wastewater Challenges
Presented by Bruce Lesikar, Texas AgriLife Extension Service, and George Loomis and David Kalen, URI
1:45 p.m.
Presentation 10: Management Programs
Presented by George Loomis and Bruce Lesikar
2:45 p.m.
Break
3:00 p.m.
Presentation 11: Operation and Management Needs and Resources
Presented by Bruce Lesikar
3:30 p.m.
Presentation 12: Overview of Onsite Wastewater Management Regulations in the US Virgin Islands
Anita Nibbs, Virgin Islands Department of Planning and Natural Resources
4:15 p.m.
Open Forum on Existing and Emerging Onsite Wastewater Issues in the US Virgin Islands
Presented by Jeffrey Potent, US EPA/Rutgers University and Jim Casey, US EPA
5:00 p.m.
Adjourn
5:15 p.m.
Training Team Debriefing
Additional Resources
- EPA Region 2 Office – Caribbean Environmental Protection Division
- Consortium of Institutes for Decentralized Wastewater Treatment (CIDWT)
- National Environmental Services Center (NESC)
