Abstract:  This paper examines the types of alternative onsite wastewater systems permitted in Maricopa County since 1959.  The relative popularity of the different types of alternative systems is also analyzed, as well as the effect of regulatory and technological changes on these trends.  Recent changes and current policies in the County Onsite Wastewater Program permitting and inspection processes for alternative systems are presented.  Current challenges in design, permitting, inspection, and operation of alternative systems in Maricopa County are also discussed.

Biography: Bill Baggenstoss has held various engineering positions with Maricopa County since 2002.  For the last two years, he has been in the Onsite Wastewater Program of the Environmental Services Department, performing plan reviews and inspections of alternative and conventional onsite systems.  During this time, Mr. Baggenstoss helped develop the county’s annual inspection program for alternative onsite systems.  He is currently the Onsite Program PE holding the title of Senior Civil Engineer. Prior to working for Maricopa County, Mr. Baggenstoss was a project engineer in the Aerospace industry working on communications systems, spacecraft, and military and civilian aircraft.  He holds BS, MSME, and MBA degrees and is a Registered Professional Engineer in Arizona and California.

Eric Evans, RS  MANAGING ONSITE SYSTEMS FROM CRADLE TO GRAVE

Abstract:  All over the world, septic system installations have been subjected to a “set-it-and-forget-it” approach.  Studies have shown that, in the U.S., unmanaged onsite systems fail at rates of up to 25%, causing adverse public health effects and costing communities millions of dollars in watershed clean-up.  Yet regulators run into political opposition, logistical problems, and fiscal barriers when they try to implement sustainable management programs.  And even if they succeed, onsite professionals then have to cope with differing management guidelines and logistics, from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.  This presentation describes how to overcome these barriers.  It also describes models of successful programs that — through private-public partnerships — have reduced failure rates of decentralized wastewater inventories below 2%.

Biography:  Eric Evans, RS – Program Manager, OnlineRME, LLC  Eric has been dedicated to the Onsite Industry for over a decade, working in Public Health since 1996, currently serving as the Kitsap County Health District Monitoring & Maintenance Coordinator.  He is also the Program Manager for OnlineRME, LLC and the President of eOnsite, LLC.  Eric speaks around N. America about the value of onsite management and has served as the 2008 WOSSA Regulatory Representative.