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Hosted in partnership with the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA)

Part 1 | Onsite Wastewater Treatment: What is it and where can I go for information?

May 30, 1 pm ET

We will provide attendees with an overview of sewage disposal systems, also known as onsite wastewater treatment systems, and where they can go for additional information. The webinar will discuss the basic types of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal methods, showcase a new free homeowner’s education tool, and present additional resources and training opportunities for environmental health professionals who need to learn more about onsite wastewater. There will also be a discussion of who NOWRA is along with a preview of part two of the webinar series.

Key takeaways for attendees:

• Understanding the function of an onsite wastewater treatment system.
• Knowledge about various types of onsite wastewater treatment and dispersal methods.
• Education tools for homeowners.
• Where to go for additional resources and training.

Speakers

Tom Groves is the Executive Director of NOWRA, a position that he took over in January 2021. He currently oversees all NOWRA’s activities including conference, technical, and education programs. Prior to NOWRA, Tom served as the Director of Wastewater and Onsite Programs for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), a quasi-government non-profit agency. He served two terms on the NOWRA Board of Directors and was president of the association from 2008 – 2010.

Dr. Gary L. Hawkins works for the University of Georgia as the Water Resource Management Specialist in the Crop and Soil Science Department and is an Associate Professor. He is an Agricultural Engineer. He is responsible for extension programming in the areas of water quality, water quantity and water resources. His current extension and research programs are related to water resource issues in the areas of soil and water conservation, stormwater, well water protection and education, septic systems, water retention, nutrient movement, and small-scale irrigation. Gary is on the NOWRA Board of Directors and serves as the chair of NOWRA’s Education Committee.

Dr. Andrew Lazur is a Statewide Water Quality Specialist with the University of Maryland Extension focusing on drinking water quality, private wells, groundwater protection, septic systems, and pond management education. He has been involved in various aspects of water quality in Research and Extension for 35 years. His work is applied and collaborative in nature, working directly with varied stakeholders to identify and solve issues. Andy serves as the vice-chair of NOWRA’s Education Committee.

Part 2 | Sewage Disposal: A priority item you may be overlooking

June 11, 1 pm ET

Sewage disposal is a Priority Item discussed in Chapter 5 of the Food Code and found under the Physical Facilities section of the Food Establishment Inspection Report. The code itself calls for an approved sewage disposal system in 5-403.11 but is very vague on what to look for to verify the system is approved. This webinar will take a closer look at individual sewage disposal systems that serve many rural retail food and food service facilities. Additional resources and training opportunities for environmental health professionals will also be discussed.

Key takeaways for attendees:

• What it means to have these systems sized, constructed, maintained, and operated according to LAW as is called for in the Food Code.
• What government agencies may be able to help you make a proper evaluation.
• How to help facilities prevent or solve issues they may be having with their system.
• Where to go for additional resources and training.

Speakers

Allison Blodig, REHS has been in the onsite and decentralized wastewater treatment industry since 1997 and spent most of her career in the treatment system manufacturing industry. She is a retired biologist and wastewater treatment system professional, with a background in food service inspection and restaurant ownership. Allison is a Registered Environmental Health Specialist with the Ïã¸ÛÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏͼ and is the current President of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association – the largest organization in the United States dedicated to representing the onsite and decentralized wastewater industry.

Chris LeClair, REHS has been a regulator in the environmental health field since 1993. He began his career at Anoka County, where he learned the skillset required to be an effective regulator, all while finishing his B.S. in Natural Resources & Environmental Studies at the University of Minnesota. In 1996, Chris began his tenure as an Environmental Health Specialist in Washington County where he remained for 22 years. In 2002, as a health inspector and in 2002 was assigned to the septic system regulation program at Washington County.

In 2018, Chris moved north to Otter Tail County Minnesota, taking a position as the Director of the Land & Resource Management department, which regulates septic systems, wetland conservation and shoreland development. In 2024, Chris also began supervising the County’s environmental health specialists. Chris is Vice-President of the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association – the largest organization in the United States dedicated to representing the onsite and decentralized wastewater industry.