Field Training/Workshops
Workshops run from:
8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Training will take place regardless of weather.
Space is limited to 20 people so save your spot now.
Site and Soils Evaluation Field Days
Site and Soils Evaluation Field Days will be held for those interested in learning more about performing detailed site visits and designing systems for difficult situations and soils. This training workshop will provide information on assessing soil structure and texture, assessing site conditions and constraints, logging information and applying that knowledge to the design of onsite systems.
March 4, 2012 - (9:30am-3pm) Please note that if you are a BC Convention Delegate there is no charge for this training. Please contact our office or use the downloadable form to register.
Advanced Soils Training Session
Problem Soils in Your Backyard and How to Spot Them – From Classifications to Descriptions to Wastewater Implications.
From the literature and conversations with professionals the understanding of soil is the critical component in onsite wastewater management. The trend is that many believe knowing less rather than more about soils is sufficient for their work. This workshop presents the opposite view. A ROWP or an Engineer planning onsite systems needs to know as much about soils and the relationships between the classification of soils, soil forming factors, soil development processes, the description of soils in the field and their interconnected relationships and their implications in wastewater management as possible. Knowing what you don’t know is the corner stone to avoiding costly problems and/or legal setbacks.
How soils develop, factors of soil formation and processes are introduced to set the stage for soil classification. A brief over-view of the World Reference Base, US Soil Taxonomy and the Canadian System of Soil Classification will be presented. The ten Canadian soil orders will be covered with specific attention to limiting horizons and their relationship to wastewater manage-ment. Classifications systems developed as soils were described in the field. “When mapping soils, we can record individual properties at each observation point. We soon discover, however, that sets of properties co-vary, and that we can recognize classes of soils.” (http://www.itc.nl/~rossiter/research/rsrch_ss_class.html). From soil descriptions elements such as horizon designations, depths, textures, structure, colours, consistence, to name a few, is collected. Some of these variables are criti-cal in planning onsite systems. These variables will be described in detail and where possible related back to orders, for-mation and processes. Participant exercises will be included to enhance the presented concepts and assist in determining loading rates using the SPM tables.
Water movement in soils is a critical factor in system design. Some jurisdictions use percolation tests and texture alone in an attempt to determine a hydraulic loading rate. Others use percolation tests, texture, structure and consistence. Other juris-dictions do not use percolation or permeameter testing at all since from literature reviews it is the least accurate variable in the equation regarding loading rates. The research Kent has gathered regarding the pro and cons of percolation and perme-ameter testing will be presented. It is then anticipated that an open discussion will take place in the afternoon portion of the workshop.
At the end of the workshop it is anticipated that one will see that a more in depth understanding of soil, rather than less, will prompt one to learn more, specifically to understand the big picture in their own area regarding the soils they work with daily.
The more one knows the easier the task of describing soils becomes and the more confidence one would have in their work. Knowledge is power: limit your liability.
March 1, 2012 – Kelowna (9am-3pm) Please note that if you are a BC Convention Delegate the charge for this course is only $125 plus taxes. Please contact our office or use the downloadable form to register.
SOP Update Class
The Standard of Practice update is required for all PSDS ticket holders who completed their training prior to December 31, 2009 who wish to maintain their ticket.
Dates to be Announced
Treatment Field Installation Field Day
Participants in this field day will review the design for a pressure distributed field and then apply that design in a field situation. The training takes place on a live site for a residence that is having a replacement field installed. Participants will excavate the field, set the pump, build and test the pressure distribution system, install the chamber system and complete the system to complete cover and commissioning.
Dates to be Announced
Mound Installation Demo
Mound Installation Field Days provide instruction for those interested in learning more about designing and installing mounds. Registrants participating in this training session will focus on the following outcomes:
- Understand the basic principles of how mounds work – treatment in sand layer and dispersal horizontally. Apply soil evaluation information. Understand ground water mounding.
- Learn mound design configurations and materials; sand layer, fill, gravel, chambers.
- Basic knowledge of utilizing topography of installation site.
- Know factors in locating the mound – slope vs. level, clearance separations, vertical separations, fill materials for raised bed.
- Ability to design pressure distribution laterals for mound, orientation of orifices, spacing, preferred vs. cost.
- Knowledge of and ability to apply requirements of Standard of Practice:
– Ability to interpret mound design worksheet
– Ability to complete mound design worksheet
- Ability to describe construction practices.
- Ability to perform clarity test on sand.
- Identify typical mound failure.
- Ability to apply soil characteristics at site to mound design, identify key material requirements and calculate mound size.
Please note this workshop runs 8:00 am to 5:00 pm
Dates to be Announced
Pumps and Controls Workshops
Pumps and Controls workshops provide training in how to size pumps for onsite wastewater design and installation. Students will learn how to read pump curves, calculate friction loss and pressure head.
Dates to be Announced
Pressure Distribution Workshops
Pressure Distribution workshops provide instruction on how to plan a pressure distribution system. Students will learn how different sizes and types of pipes and pumps affect the pressure distribution system, how to calculate friction loss and pressure head and how to plan a system that takes into account the loading constraints of the site it will be installed on.
Dates to be Announced
Upon receipt of your completed registration form, you will be sent the information on the location of the training site along with any other information required.
Association members – please login and visit the members registration page for your member rate.