Developing a Mindset to Successfully Operate Onsite Pumping, and Operations & Maintenance Services 01/17/2014

With Mandatory Maintenance in place and Credentialing on the Horizon, our Mindsets and the way we USED to do business have to change. The property owner has THE CHOICE of who they want to service their system. This may be your competitor, it probably WILL be your competitor. EVERYONE has room for improvement. Adapt and Overcome the upcoming obstacles. Adapt & Overcome

01/17/2014 Not all Designers know what it takes to properly maintain a treatment system and therefore MAY specify inappropriate or even WRONG components. Designers Example: Specifying a Media Filter on a bakery without appropriate grease traps or appropriately sized tanks.

01/17/2014 As a designer you will now be under more scrutiny – Competitors, Installers and Other Operators are looking at YOUR permits! Remember, you may not be “The Chosen One”! Your competitor, the Installer, or another Operator may get the service agreement! Increase your documentation – To Scale Drawings!, To Scale “As Builts”, Details, Details, Details, Specify Equipment – don’t leave it “Up To” the installer or the Builder! Designers –UP YOUR GAME!

01/17/2014 Hold the higher standard – if it Differs from YOUR permit / specifications, hold the Installer and Builder to YOUR permit! Specify Control panels that have Elapsed Time Meters and Pump Cycle Counters – always TIME DOSE if at all possible. The excuse “We HAVE Always Done It This Way” is NO LONGER Applicable! With “Super Soaker Shower Suites” we now have to look at WHAT water fixtures are in a residence, not just how many bedrooms and maximum occupancy. You need to DESIGN for maintenance! Designers

01/17/2014 Is your design going to cost the builder more if you specify control panels and other equipment necessary for long term maintenance? - YES STOP! Don’t worry about it! This is “Up Front” costs to the treatment system! The Installer can bid on this FAIRLY with OTHER installers! Maintenance costs money! – Maintenance costs LESS money if the system is designed for LONG TERM maintenance at the start! Designers

01/17/2014 Not ALL Installers are familiar with how an advanced treatment system works and how it should be properly installed. Old School - “ I ’ ve been doing this for thirty some years !!! ” Installation needs to be performed with maintenance in mind! Installers – UP YOUR GAME!

01/17/2014 Installers As an installer you will now be under more scrutiny – Competitors, Designers and Other Operators are looking at YOUR installations! Remember, you may not be “The Chosen One”! Your competitor, the Designer, or another Operator may get the service agreement!

01/17/2014 READ the permit! … Question the permit! … Consult with the Designer! Any change orders, get them in writing (fax, , etc.) and submit those change orders WITH the completion statement! INSTALL for Maintenance. This means riser access on EVERYTHING! Quick Disconnects on EVERYTHING! Wiring in Conduit! Installers Time is MONEY replacing the blower on the left initally took 3 hours – with a Quick disconnect in place, it takes about 30 minutes!

01/17/2014 Install “Float Trees” alongside of pumps vs. tying float sensors to the force main! Install Nema 4X electrical splice boxes at grade for ease of electrical connections! Put ALL electrical wiring in appropriately sized Electrical Conduit! Installers

01/17/2014 You cannot install a treatment system for ease of maintenance on the cheap. It costs money! It will require a change in your mind$et, how you do bu$$ine$$, and how you charge for your $ervice$. Don’t worry about your competitor “Under Bidding” you if you spend the extra dollars to DO IT RIGHT! The designers, builders, and Other operators will eventually force them to DO IT Right also! Installers

01/17/2014 Watertight and structurally sound tanks Maintenance - What Do We Need?

01/17/2014 Every tank accessible! Designers, Installers, Operators

01/17/2014 Make plumbing, floats & pumps accessible and risers sealed properly and preferably a few inches above grade. Designers, Installers, Operators GoodNot Acceptable

01/17/2014 Site control panels so they are easily accessible and able to be monitored. EVERY System has a Control Panel Designers, Installers, Operators Not hardwired Too Low Next to Gutter NO PIGGY BACKS!

01/17/2014 Educate your builders and homeowners: Designers, Installers, Operators What is allowable? What is not allowable?

01/17/2014 A service provider works for the property owner, or end user of the treatment system. A service provider typically DOES NOT work for the engineer, the installer, or the treatment system manufacturer. A service provider works WITH the engineer, WITH the installer and WITH the manufacturer. Operators / Service Providers

01/17/2014 Inspect Everything !!! – Make an inspection tour of local tank manufacturers. Get to know their product. Not all tank manufacturers are equal. – Check installed plumbing. Is it properly glued or fused? Encourage use of colored primers and glue vs. clear. Make certain that it is the correct grade of plumbing and not DWV! – Know the electrical requirements of your control panels, pumps, and float sensors. Operators / Service Providers

01/17/2014 Don’t accept it if you can’t maintain it, or if it isn’t installed properly. Require the Designer or the Installer fix it. If you accept it, you are responsible for it. – You may have to fix that tank leak or leaking riser yourself in a few years. DON’T write a contract to accept what YOU believe to be sub-standard work. Operators / Service Providers

01/17/2014 One final thing – There is going to come the time when you are inspecting a system that was designed / installed by a competitor and what you thought you were thinking to yourself, you say out loud! Happens! … going to Happen … remember that it is going to happen TO YOU and it is going to happen BY YOU! Buy the guy a beer next time you see them and LET IT GO! He / She may owe you a beer next time you see them! Finally

01/17/2014 In the Beginning - Life Was Easy, You just had to have a position in Management!

01/14/2014 Thank You Coastal Plains Environmental Group, llc P.O. Box 236 New Kent, Virginia Office: Facsimile: Web: