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Call today for our complete line of Onsite Wastewater products!1-800-221-5742Certified toANSI/NSFStandard 46The product(s) shown are covered by U.S. and Foreign patentsCall for a free ZABEL ZONE TM and Catalog • Or Order Online: www.zabel.com

Advertiser Index:ZEUS Drip Irrigation 4ZEUS Orifice Shield 6ZEUS Filtered Pump Vault 9AeroDiffuser TM 12ZEUS Access System 14Infiltrator 16ZEUS Pumps 19Geoflow 22Laser Specialist 22,26SJE Rhombus 26Zabel SmartFilter ® 27Zabel Filter Package 35Zabel Zone 36Career Opportunities 38ZEUS Gravity Distribution 41AeroCell TM 4305 Editor’s Corner By Jan Nurse08 Using New Tools... By Theo Terry10 Taming the Grease Monster By Shea Kent13 Service & Maintenance... By Bob Paulus15 Community Sewage Systems...By Pat Lacey30 The Pumper Phenomenon...By Bob Kendall33 Loyalty, The Name Of the GameBy Vanessa Cox35 Beauty is Not Just in the Eyeof the BeholderBy Theo Terry17 Effluent Quality...By Wes Combs20 The Adventures of Zabel Man21 Zabel: Everything you need for OnsiteBy Brian Borders23 Why Some Companies Prosper... By Dick Levin25 AeroCell Update By Wes Combs27 Rebel Corner By Harry Nurse37 Onsite Professionals...By Harry L. Nurse39 Zabel Comes to You40 Trade Show41 Tech Talk By Wes Combs42 Managing your BOD...By Richard Otis28 Zabel OutdoorsCardinal or redbird, common name for a NorthAmerican songbird of the family Fringillidae(New World finch family). In the eastern cardinal,Richmondena cardinalis, the male is brightscarlet with black throat and face; the femaleis brown with patches of red. Both sexes havecrests and red bills. Cup-shaped nests are builtby male and female, and the male helps rearthe young. Cardinals are essentiallymonogamous, and are not very gregarious.P.O.Box 1520Crestwood, Ky 400141-800-221-5742zabel@zabel.comEditorial PoliciesThe Zabel Zone TM is published in three editions each year and contains articles of interest to the Onsite Wastewater Community as well as information on Zabelproducts.The Onsite Wastewater Community does not exist in a vacuum, but is part of the larger culture. Articles may also appear of a general interest that do not directlyinvolve onsite wastewater issues. Articles by guest authors reflect only their opinions and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editor.Letters to the Editor will be published as space allows with the editor reserving the right to edit the letters for brevity and clarity. If you would like to contributean article, please contact the editor at : Voice 1-800-221-5742 - Fax 502-992-8201, or - Email Jnurse@zabel.comCopyright 2001, Zabel Industries International, Ltd. All rights reserved

NEW Product LineMADE IN USAIrrigationFREESHIPPINGOn all orders that include 1000feet or more of Drip Tubing!Problem Site?…GoDrip• Space efficient disposal field• Easily installed on steep slopes and uneven terrain• Shallow placement overcomes restrictive site and soil conditions• Distributes effluent over entire system area for uniform loading• Installed with minimal disturbance to the site4Zabel Environmental Technology TM • 1-800-221-5742

EditorsCornerThis issue, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of the authors whocontribute articles in each issue of the Zabel Zone, especially those not workingfor Zabel. I have no way to threaten them, so they are taking their time withoutexpecting anything in return.I especially hope you readers will check out the article from Bob Kendall(page 30). I can remember my first visit to the expo. I was in awe. In mypast life, I attended more than a few conventions and was amazed at howsmoothly things ran in Nashville, and how easy they made it appear.I know better though. It's a monumental undertaking. So, when I figuredout the timing of this issue in relation to that show I thought you might liketo read a little about its evolution.When I received the article, I was impressed by the history and growth, buttouched by the value placed on family. "What does your dad do?" "He's inthe healthcare industry." How true. How nice that they help children appreciatetheir parents' hard work. As the mother of teens past, present and future, Iknow they can be a tough crowd.For those of you fortunate enough to attend the 2001 expo, please stop bythe Zabel booth to talk to our folks and check out our product line. (It'simpressive, too.) Tell 'em, "Jan sent me."Anyway, I digress. Thanks again, authors. For those of you whom I've notcalled yet, watch out, you could be next.Jan M. Nurse, DMDZabel’s New AdditionCongratulationsYou can call Bill Rawlins “Grandpa”. Jan and Bill’s daughterJodie and husband Brian are the proud parents of Jacob WilliamReeves. Jake was born 12-04-00 and weighed in at 7lbs.-3oz.and 21 inches. Mom and Baby are doing well.5

NEW STATE SLOGANS FOR FLORIDAFlorida: Where your vote counts and counts and counts and counts . . . .Florida: This is why we need Bush's education plan.Don't blame me, I voted for Gore twice.If you can read this, you must be a Republican.If you don't like the way we count, take I-95 and visit the other 56 states.If you think we can't vote, wait till you see us drive.AND FINALLY:Florida: We don't just cheat at football.Found on the internet, author unknownWhat has 6slots and snapsonto yourpressuredistributionlines?Heres a clue!it shields your orifices...and Zabel ®has them.Patent PendingCall to order them by the truck load1-800-221-57426

Joe Mattingly,I just wanted to thank you for the donation of the A100 filter forour customer appreciation dinner. We had the biggest turn outever this year. Just under 200 people. Which compared to under50 just a few years ago is very good.The filter went to a local septic tank installer and he was verygrateful to have it.Our dinner was a great success and everyone enjoyed it.Again, Thank you for your donation.Branvulle G. HousePrecast of MaineDear Zabel,I greatly enjoyedmeeting each of youlast week. The classtime was veryimformative. I reallyfeel as though youoffered information andknowledge that I couldbring back to my fellowemployees. I lookforward to seeing eachof you again in Jekyll.Thankyou again.Todd Harper7

By Theo B. Terry, III, RSIs it possible that ithas been fifteen years sinceI started my onsitewastewater career? I canstill remember my first dayon the job. I had barelygotten out of my car in theHealth Department's parkinglot before a 'gentleman' metme. Figuring me for the newguy, he began telling me abouthis neighbor's 'effluent' runningover into his yard. He then'politely' asked me what Iintended to do about it.Truth be told, 'gentleman'is a stretch, 'effluent' wasn'tthe word he used and 'polite'is an out-and-out lie.Not knowing exactly what todo, we went to my office, gotcoffee and sat down to discussthe situation. I didn't know ifthis was something I wassupposed to handle, let alonehow to handle it, but I tookdown his information and toldhim I would call him back assoon as possible.My supervisor cheerfullyinformed me that effluentbeing where it's not supposedto be was indeed my problem,so the next day, Joey Purdom,a roving environmentalistwithin our district, came bythe office and off we went.We drove to the address inquestion, and sure enough,there was @#$% everywhere!(Sorry, I hadn't learned theterm "effluent" yet, either.)And so began my onsitetraining.I watched as Joey took along, metal rod out of theback of his truck, and beganpoking holes into the ground.Soon, he was telling me thathe'd found the septic tank,and some things called laterallines. He explained that itappeared the old drainfieldwas plugged, and would haveto be replaced. Problem was,the only area to move thelateral fields was uphill fromthe house, so he said a pumpwould have to be used. Hewas able to determine all thisinformation with one simplerock probe, and by simplylooking at the lay of the land.I learned so much that day,and in the days and weeksthat followed, that when acall came from the areahospital (the job I had reallywanted), I turned it down. Ihad found my niche--a careerwhere I could use my problemsolvingskills and learnsomething new every day.I learned there was nomagic in that metal rod butthat knowledge and skillTotal Liquid Depth 36”-43” 44”-47” 48”-51” 52”-55” 56”-63” 64”-67” 68”-71” 72”-75” 76”-79” 80”-83” 84”-87” 88”-9FPV-H34-A101 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H36-2 ✓ ✓FPV-I36-2 ✓ ✓FPV-H44-2 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H50-2 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H56-2 ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H62-2FPV-H68-2FPV-I40-SC ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H40-SC ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H48-SC ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓FPV-H54-SC ✓ ✓FPV-H60-SCFPV-H66-SCFPV-H72-SC8

enabled the discovery of theproblem with that failingsystem. By using the chartbelow to simplify yourselection of a Filtered PumpVault, I hope some of theknowledge I've gained overthe past 15 years can makeyour job easier.Fifteen years ago, when thatproblem drainfield was fixed,the design included anadditional pump tank with aneffluent pump set atop aconcrete block. Not only wasthis more expensive than theoptions available today, but itdid not protect thathomeowner from having thesystem fail again, due toexcessive solids getting intothe drainfield and pluggingthe soil.Today, Filtered Pump Vaults(FPVs) are available, allowingeffluent to be pumped directlyfrom the septic tank. Thiseliminates the added expenseof an additional tank, as wellas insuring that only filteredeffluent enters the drainfield.Now that's what I call trueonsite technology: designingproducts that deliver betterperformance for less money!How do you select from themultitude of FPVs that Zabelhas available? You can do themath or save time by usingthis chart. Here's how: Thehorizontal row of numbers atthe top of the chart refers tothe liquid depths of various96”-99” 100”-107” 108”-111” 112”-115” 115”-120”septic tanks. The verticalcolumns represent each of theFPVs available from Zabel.Following the horizontal rowat the top, locate the cell forthe liquid depth of the tankyou are going to use. Thenfollow that column downward,and you will find a check markfor each of the FPVs that meetthe requirements you need.For example: let's say wehave a septic tank with aliquid depth of 60 inches.Moving horizontally across thetop, you'll find a cell that islabeled "56 - 63 inches". Byfollowing this columndownward, you'll see that fourdifferent models have beenchecked, three of which havebeen highlighted. All four ofthese models will place theinlet to the FPV into the clearzone (defined to be a zonethat is 25% to 40% below thenormal water line) of theseptic tank. The threehighlighted models place theinlet to the FPV at the optimallevel (defined to be 33% belowthe normal water line of theseptic tank) within the clearzone. You could choose anyof these four models, but thethree highlighted ones reachthe optimal levels.Quite simple really. I hopethis chart takes some of thework, and some confusion, outof choosing Filtered PumpVaults from Zabel. Of course,you can always call one of ourfriendly account managerswho'll be morethan happy to helpyou make the rightselection.A Betterway toPumpA Zabel Filtered Pump Vault preventslarge solids from entering anddamaging your pump. It alsoeliminates the need for a pump tank.MADE IN USA✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓Zabel Environmental Technology TM1-800-221-57429

TAMING THEBy Shea KentTaming the grease monster with twoZabel A300 filtersAn onsite regulator faces his/hertoughest test when confronted withissues that affect both the environmentaland economic health of the communitythey serve. This was the dilemma facedby Mike Melancon, Director of theJefferson County (Texas) EnvironmentalControl.Jefferson County, located in SoutheastTexas is comprised of severalcommunities including Beaumont andPort Arthur. This coastal communityrests upon soils that Melancon describesas marginal at best with regard to theirability to support conventional onsitesystems. These gumbo-clay soils, whichrest above a very shallow water table,dictate that advanced onsite systemssuch as aerobic treatment must be used.In the fall/winter of 1999 and the earlydays of 2000, Melancon's office wasforced to deal with a complicatedproblem. Three local restaurants, (ThePine Tree Lodge, Esther's Seafood &Oyster Bar, and Mae's Fish Camp)whose old conventional systems hadbeen replaced by aerobic treatmentunits, were having ongoing problemswith their onsite systems and weregenerating numerous complaints frompatrons, neighbors and the restaurantowners themselves.Mike Melancon explained, "When theowner of a system calls my office andcomplains about his system, you knowyou really have a problem. Thesebusinesses were struggling to maintaintheir customer base in light of the odorsand frequent system back-ups. They10had each spent thousandsof dollars on systems thatin effect were jeopardizingtheir livelihoods."The culprit that wascausing these problems(and threatening to causeMelancon's office to shutdown the restaurants) wasGREASE. Aerobictreatment in onsite systemsis proven technology inthe State of Texas, buthigh strength restaurantwaste containing large volumes of greasecan cripple even the best system. Eachunit had components that were cakedin grease, and one unit had it's aerationunit completely disabled, with a layerof grease several inches thick floatingabove untreated sewage in a tank thatshould have held odorless, treatedeffluent if working properly.The three restaurants all specialize incooking fresh seafood and serve largevolumes of local delicacies like friedcatfish and gulf shrimp. The amountof grease they utilize is immense andwas quickly destroying their aerobictreatment systems. The grease wasclogging their aeration devices, disablingthe effluent pump and clogging sprinklerheads in the spray irrigation fields.These factors all combined to createfailing systems that had to be servicedon a continuous basis to keep themoperating even marginally.Close to giving up hope on finding aneasy solution, Melancon happened toattend a Zabel ® Certification course inBeaumont, TX, at the invitation ofMKM Sales, which operates as a ZabelMarketing Associate. During thedaylong event, instructor Bill Rawlinsof Zabel touched on the effectivenessof Zabel Effluent Filters in handlinggrease, and the many experiences thathe had in battling what he termed'The Grease Monster'. This piquedMelancon's interest and he quickly hadBill Rawlins and Shea Kent of MKMlooking at the sites.It was determined that several factorswere leading to the grease problems,but the two most pressing wereretention time in the grease traps andthe cleaning practices in the kitchens.Two had severely undersized grease trapswhich lead to grease exiting the trapsat a rapid rate and entering the aerobictreatment unit (ATU), while the othersystem was being victimized by a kitchenstaff using large amounts of degreasersand super-hot water which kept thegrease emulsified through the greasetrap and again sent it straight to theATU. With the problem now veryevident to Mike Melancon (because ofhis new training) and Bill Rawlins andShea Kent (because of their pastexperience with similar systems), thethree set out to devise a plan.The solution that was conceived wasthreefold. The first action was toeducate the owners and their staff onthe proper way to handle and disposeof grease in the kitchen, before it everenters the system. The concepts ofscraping plates, using a cold rinse ondishes before they went into thedishwasher, and a reduction in use ofdegreasers were introduced and had animmediate impact on the amount ofgrease entering the grease trap.The second effort was to increase thecapacity of the existing grease traps onthe two undersized units. With materialdonated by Hydro-Action and MKM,these modifications were partiallysubsidized and have been treated asdemonstration sites for those interestedin handling such high strength waste.

MONSTERUnder the supervision of Obie Burrowand Jay Wallace of Hydro-Action, andwith the labor of Alcode, Inc., newtanks were added between the existinggrease traps and the aerobic treatmentunit at Mae's Fish Camp. In addition,a Zeus TMBasin System provided byZabel was added to the system atEsther's. In each location, the addedcapacity was designed to provide morecooling and retention time. Thisincrease in retention time allows formore coagulation of the grease andamplifies the effectiveness of the ZabelA300 SmartFilters TM , which were addedto the outlets of the last grease trapcompartment in each system as thefinal step in the solution to Melancon'sproblem.The Zabel A300 Filter is designed tohandle high strength effluent incommercial applications when installedin a properly designed system. MKMmade sure each unit utilized the SmartFilter option to warn the restaurantowner when the filter is maturing andthe system needs to be pumped.Zabel ® A300Esther’s Seafood & Oyster Barthe SmartFilter so that the restaurantwill know a few days in advance thatit is time to have their grease trappumped. Without the A300 SmartFilter, they never know that their trapis full and sending grease straight intotheir system until it is too late, andwe begin getting complaints of thesystem backing up and smelling ofgrease and sewage."Implemented in March of 2000, theeffectiveness ofthe plan hatchedby Melancon,Kent and Rawlinswas becomingclearer as thespring and earlysummer wore on.As the busyseason wore on,these local hangouts forgood times and great foodsaw their business growand the complaints cease.After operating for sixmonths with their newkitchen practices and theZabel A300 Smart Filterin place, each system hada flawless record. TheEnvironmental Controloffice in Jefferson Countywent from getting acontinuous stream of complaints aboutthese three restaurants to zerocomplaints since the improvements.A six-month visual inspection madeby Shea Kent and Mike Melancon inlate September revealed that eachsystem was operating very well, withno visible grease in any compartmentother than the grease traps. "Thefilters are keeping the grease where itbelongs," explains Shea Kent. MikeMelancon, who was at first somewhatskeptical due to repeated failed effortsto deal with the grease in other ways,added, "These filters work. This wasa tough test and they passed withflying colors. Not only did they helpme solve my department's problemswith these establishments, but alsothey probably saved these businessesin the long run. They just work."SmartFilter TM 11Mae’s Fish CampAgreeing with MKM, Mike Melanconexplains, "The filter is really aninsurance policy for the system owner.It doesn't eliminate the grease, butkeeps it in the grease trap where it canbe removed, and out of the rest of thesystem which is ill-equipped to handleit." Melancon goes on to say, "Forthat reason we strongly recommend

By Bob Paulus, R.E.H.S.I've enjoyed training installers acrossthe country about Zabel ®products inour Certified Installer Programs.Included in these classes are service andmaintenance contracts. Recently,while presenting this, I noticed a VERYGRUMPY face. After the talk, I askedthis individual, " Why the menacinglook?" He replied, "The cat's out of thebag, now everyone's going to jump onthis!" I said that I hoped he was correct,but there would still be plenty of actionfor everyone.The biggest hurdle to overcome is theinstaller or homeowner who doesn'tbelieve conventional systems requiremaintenance, and you must be a believerto sell it. With heavy equipment notneeded, I've even converted regulatorswho provide these services outside theirjurisdictional boundaries. Imagine that,an entrepreneurial regulator earningsome extra cash.To make it profitable, you must useproducts that last, carry a good warranty,and require little attention once installed.In other words, you'dbetter be using Zabel.Our filters don't requireexcess cleaning. Ourpumps have a 3-year nohassle warranty. Zabelpump vaults have easilyaccessible filter panels oryou can install a selfcleaningpump vault.How's that for lowmaintenance! Why don'tother manufacturers instructabout maintenancecontracts? Because theirmaintenance is tooexcessive.Let's look at somenumbers. Most peopleproviding service and maintenancecontracts charge $100 to $150 per yearfor 3 years. Normal services include:checking the effluent filter, pumpoperation, tether lengths, pump drawdown levels or time dose intervals,pumping the tank if needed (additionalcost), walking the absorption field toobserve for any signs of ponding, andreporting findings to clients. (If youdon't own a pumper truck, you shouldbe able to get a volume rate from a localpumping company.)Total the number of systems you willinstall this year and add those installedthe last seven years. Multiply thisnumber by your fee. This is the potentialamount you can add to your business.Develop a professional mailer to explaincomponents of systems and how theywork. Describe what they protect, howyou will service it, how much it willcost, and how they can reach yourcompany. It is a low cost, low hassle,low-pressure sale.Here is another suggestion even if youaren't an installer. What is the onething that almost every regulator valuesbut never gets? You guessed it,MAINTENANCE. Go to surroundinghealth departments, tell them your planand ask for a list of every system installedover the last five years. They shouldbe able to print them from a computerdatabase. Most regulators will throw theinformation at you when they learn youwant to provide maintenance, but ifnot, remind them the information ispublic record.This could add 300 to 3000 potentialclients to your program. Some countiesin your state may issue over 1500 permitsper year! Ask them to separate the databy replacement versus new systems.Those who paid for a replacement systemwithin the last five years will likely bethe most receptive to your proposal. Ifyou have done your homework, you areon the way to a profitable business.Take 10% of the 3000 permits issuedfor a geographical area and multiply itby the $300. At only a 10% rate ofsuccess, using the example above, wehave increased revenue to the businessby $90,000.Wait, don't go running to the healthdepartment yet, there is more! Checkinto the Zabel Certified Installer program.You will get knowledge and productdiscounts. By replacing inferior productswith Zabel products, you earn more byselling more! Also, maintenance canbe performed on rainy days when youcan't use heavy equipment.Interested? Zabel can provide sampleforms and contracts. The cat's tryingto get out of the bag, but he hasn't madeit yet. Think of the new innovationsto the onsite industry. In the next 5 to10 years, service and maintenance willbe as common as a septic tank. So,now's the time! Don't be left holdingthe bag.13

Access SystemsTough EnoughTO BE A ZABEL®MADE IN USAQuality ConstructionQuality ConstructionEvery ZEUS Access System isconstructed of UV protected highquality polyethyleneWater ResistantWater ResistantProvides protection from groundwater infiltrationTamper ResistantTamper ResistantEvery Access System includestamper resistant screws ,and specialfastening bitInterlockingAll parts lock togetherfor a secure fitU.S. Patent 6,047,724NewProductPoly Tank AdapterDesigned to adapt Zabel Risers directlyto Norwesco and AK Poly tanks.Call for a free ZABEL ZONE An Onsite Wastewater Magazine 1-800-221-5742 • Website http://www.zabel.com14

COMMUNITYSEWAGE SYSTEMS:By Pat LaceyContinued growth, increased density andthe lack of public sewer are the mainreasons communities are seeking innovativeways to treat and dispose of wastewater.In Hall County, GA., we have the foothillsof the Appalachian Mountains, Lake Sidney Lanierand many beautiful rivers and streams. Prime real estate isoften the most challenging for locating onsite sewage systemsbecause the parcels with mountain views frequently havesteep topography androcky soils, and the lotsalong the water arefrequently characterizedby flooding and/or wetsoils. By placingcommunity sewagesystems on land withsuitable soils andtopography, we canbetter protect the environmentally sensitive areas and allowthe use of prime real estate.Whether the wastewater comes from a residential orcommercial source, the technology to treat and dispose ofit far surpasses the mandated and codified requirementsassuring maintenance, and maintenance is the key! Eventhough community sewage systems have been around a longtime, there are very few of them documented and themaintenance trail has long been forgotten.Community sewage systems can be under one ownership ormultiple owners, for example a homeowners association. Ineither case, it is important to know who is responsible formaintenance and repairs of the system because at some point,both issues will need to be addressed. If maintenance isperformed on a routine schedule, repairs may not be necessary.If the maintenance is left to the private sector, the followingshould be part of the approval process:1. The developer should provide a surety bond or a fidelitybond for the replacement of the sewage system.2. The homeowners association will need a separate accountset aside and added to monthly/yearly for the routinescheduled maintenance and any needed repairs.3. A contract, with a company certified for wastewater systemmaintenance, must be developed and should includespecifics of what is to be checked, how often, and whoreceives reports. The homeownersassociation should be required to keepa maintenance contract for the life ofthe system.4. The county government should have theability, by deed, to repair the system and recoverthe cost from the property owners through a levy or lienon the real estate.These requirements along with enforcement powers shouldbe made part of the official code of the county. With allof the above in place, a government agency or departmentwill need to ensure the maintenance is being performed.Perhaps the ideal situation would be for the local publicutilities department to take over the ownership andmaintenance of community sewage systems. Following thesame procedure as for roads, the system would be contractedby the developer to meet the standards of the governingbody. The appropriate department of the governing bodywould perform the construction inspection. The system thenwould be deeded to the governing body for maintenanceand future repairs. The continued maintenance can beaccomplished by increasing trained staff or by contract withprivate industry. As with public water and sewer, monthlyfees can be collected from individual property owners inorder to pay for the maintenance.We are now experiencing record low rainfalls and necessarywatering bans, which brings forth a very importantenvironmental issue: re-use! The wave of the future will beto address the treatment and reuse of domestic wastewateron a local level. With this, the issue of maintenance arisesagain. Maintenance is the key. If local public utilitydepartments, county environmental health departments,state environmentalprotection departmentsand private industrywork together, we canensure throughmaintenance abalanced, affordableapproach whichbenefits both publichealth and theenvironment.15

Effluent Quality,Don't Forget it!By Wes Combs, RSIn another life as a regulator, one of my duties was to evaluatefailed systems, determine the cause of failure and makerecommendations for corrections. It was commonplace toconsider problems such as soil compaction or other systemdamage, excessive water use, installation or design problems,or misdiagnoses of the soil conditions.It finally dawned on me that there were important missingingredients from my evaluation of failed systems that, oncerealized, would be important not only to troubleshooting offailed systems, but would shape my view on new systems aswell. Any guesses? The first one was system maintenance.Doesn't it make sense that if systems are maintained, theywill last longer, possibly indefinitely? In reality, when willmunicipal sewers be in all places?What about the other missing and very important ingredient?Wastewater composition. It must be considered when designingnew systems and evaluating failed systems. Common wastewaterconstituents are BOD5 (biochemical oxygen demand or ameasure of the organic material), TSS (total suspended solids),nitrogen compounds such as nitrate, coliform organisms suchas fecal coliform, phosphorous compounds such as phosphate,and FOG (fats, oils and grease). Laboratories specializing inwastewater analysis will be able to determine the constituents.Consult with them, a system designer, and your local healthauthority for additional information regarding sampling,analysis and interpretation of the results.When thinking about how systems function, it's helpful toseparate them into two parts: treatment and the finaldisposal/recycling of the effluent. A conventional septic systemtypically consists of a primary treatment device or septic tankand a soil absorption system, which acts as the final treatmentand disposal system. In this system, the septic tank is responsiblefor partially treating the sewage by mostly anaerobic (withoutoxygen) processes that are characterized by inefficient andincomplete breakdown. The final effluent is usually high inBOD5, TSS, coliform organisms, possibly nitrogen andphosphorous compounds, and FOG depending upon theinfluent characteristics. The soil then is responsible for thefinal treatment, which is characterized in part by aerobic(with oxygen) processes and final disposal of the effluent.This means that the soil must remain aerobic, transmit largeannual volumes of liquid, and remove contaminants inwastewater while continually rejuvenating itself. Many soilscannot keep up with demand that's placed on them andeventual clogging develops, leading to anaerobic conditionsand eventual surfacing. Other considerations such as groundor surface water contamination are important when consideringthis type of system.Another way of thinking is to treat the sewage to a very highdegree before it's ever released to the soil system so that thesoil only polishes the effluent and disposes or recycles it. Thiscan be accomplished by using an advanced treatment system,which typically treats the wastewater by aerobic processes toa minimum secondary standard or

TheOf Zabel® Man202001, JAN NURSE Illustration by Lonnie Walker

ZABEL:EVERYTHINGYOU NEEDFOR ONSITEBy Brian Borders, R.S.Consumer wants and needshave changed dramatically overthe past few years. The hustleand bustle of our daily lives hasforced us to seek out theconvenience of One-StopShopping. We no longer havetime to shop for groceries, pickup dry-cleaning, get our carserviced, etc. We don't want togo to several locations to fulfillour needs; we are now shoppingat Supercenters, strip malls andconvenience stores. In the 21stCentury the Internet is now affordingus the opportunity to take care of all these mundane choresfrom the privacy and security of our homes. Fifteen to twentyyears ago who would have thought you could drive to onelocation pick up some sporting goods, cleaning supplies,furniture, new eyeglasses, fresh lobster, and rent a movie allwhile you are waiting for your tires to be rotated and receiveapproval for a home equity loan. It completely boggles theimagination!So where does that leave us? It left us with a very importantdecision to make. Do we continue to be a single productcompany or do we become the Supercenter of the onsiteindustry? Zabel made that decision several years ago. We havebeen expanding our product lines and increasing our servicesat a dizzying pace. Last fall I celebrated my 2nd anniversaryas a Zabel employee, the Zabel today is a totally differentcompany than the one I first got to know 2 years ago. Withthe addition of our new poly tank line we can now say wehave everything you need from the tank to the ground. Inthe short time I have been with Zabel I have seen ourproduct line grow from 80 parts and products to a productcatalog that now includes almost 250 different onsite productsand technologies. We are definitely no longer just a filtercompany!The best part of all is that we have just begun to scratchthe surface of our capabilities. There will be a day in thenot too distant future when you will be able to call our tollfreenumber or better yet use the Internet to order andreceive a plug and play onsite system. This system willcontain every component you could possibly need for systeminstallation. It will arrive from one source packaged andready to go. The possibilities are endless and the advantagesoverwhelming. Packaged systems shipped to your door withsingle supplier security and ease of service. All backed bythe onsite company with the best reputation for qualityproducts and absolute best customer service. We probablywon't ever rotate your tires but you can bet that we willprovide every possible onsite product or service you will everrequire. Come on in-the Zabel SuperCenter is now open forbusiness.21

On July 28, 2000, Wes Combs, Bob Paulus, Tom Petty andTheo Terry assisted in installation of an AeroCell TM AdvancedModular Treatment System at the Kentucky Regional OnsiteTraining Center. A twocompartment,1500-gallonseptic tank was donated byCloud Concrete of Lexington,Ky. Nathan Richards, P.E. ofCloud Concrete designed the tank toaccept Zabel ® cast-in adapters, risers, lidsand a A300-8x12 filter.Being the firstinstallation at the newcenter, the procedurewas filmed and used onlocal newscasts. So far,no one from Hollywoodhas called.Mike Davis overseeing the work. Theo ismaking sure our riser’s are up for the test.We told Wes when he started wewould make him a star!

By Harry L. Nurse Jr.I reconnected with mychildhood pastor, Dr. RobertWitty after reading how hewas using the Internet toshare the gospel. Thearticle was interesting butwhat was even moreamazing to me is that Dr.Witty now 94 years old ishost of his own website -www.rgwitty.com.I gave him a call and afterseveral conversations anda very pleasant visit lastOctober, he asked me towrite a series of articlesabout the issues thatconfront a Christian whentrying to conduct yourbusiness or work lifeconsistent with your faith inChrist.My first challenge was toask myself in what ways Iwas being a faithful witnesswithin the context of mybusiness relationships. Ithought about how I mightstart a weekly Bible study.Perhaps at theChristmasluncheon thisyear we couldread the storyof Christ's birthfrom the Bible.How aboutp l a c i n gChristianbooks in ourcompanylibrary foremployees toread? These are good ideasand I may do them.But I heard a story thattouched my heart.A man once prayed for hisunsaved friend for sixteenyears. One day shortly afterthe man retired from thepastorate, he approachedhis friend again encouraginghim to accept Christ. Theman saw for the first timethat the former pastoractually cared about him.He realized that his sixteenyearwitness was not basedon the desire to recruit anew member for his church,but on his heartfelt concernfor a lost friend. That day heaccepted Christ. Fourmonths later he died.I was told this story toemphasize how one who isnot in the 'professional'ministry can have a witnessthat reaches beyond thelimits of the pulpit. I got themessage, and I receivedanother message that day.The message was thatprayer is the foundationalministry of every Christian.We are told God will answerour prayer. We are also toldto pray without ceasing.I saw the result of what oneman being faithful in hisprayer life can do, becauseGod honors prayer. I mightnot be perfect. I might havedoubts. But I can pray.My first response to RobertWitty's challenge to write anarticle for his website is toput each ZABEL employeeand their family on myprayer list. I have committedmyself to praying for themevery day. I have asked Godto help me be faithful in thisprayer ministry.No doubt I'm going toimplement other ideas, butI am starting this adventureby seeing what God does inthe lives of those I pray foreach day.I invite you to take thejourney with me. Start yourown ministry praying eachday for those who are in theworkplace with you and seewhat God can do."As for me, far be it from methat I should sin against theLord by failing to pray foryou." I Samuel 12:23a (NIV).ALARMED FILTER SYSTEMAll Zabel TMFilters AreNOWSmartFilter ReadyCall today for more information1-800-221-5742• Alerts you when the tank and filter areready to be serviced.• Designed exclusively for Zabel Filters.• Each SmartFilter Alarm comes withSmartFilter switch and alarm.• SmartFilter switches are also availablewithout the alarm.27

What does a man do when he turns50? If it's Harry, he takes up horsebackriding. He has been riding about threeyears now, and about a year ago boughtBeau's Lucky Shamrock, a 10-year-oldSaddlebred. When not traveling, Harryrides 2-3 times a week. He andMorgan, who has also ridden for aboutthree years, entered their first show inDecember.Theo Terry, age 9, went on a fishing trip withhis Papaw and Mamaw last June and cameaway with this fine string of catfish. Theo wasthe only one with any luck that day and keptPapaw busy baiting his hooks! The fish werecaught in the farm pond of a friend in neighboringHardin County, KY.Zabel’s Vanessa Cox, with her 8-point whitetail.Vanessa harvested this trophy on November18th which was the second weekend ofKentucky’s modern rifle season. Ask her to tellyou the whole story, it’s a good one. Great deer,Vanessa.Allen Tartt the head of Alabama’sTraining Center took this beautiful 8-point monster on Thanksgivingafternoon somewhere in Alabama.28Zabel’s Tom Jenkins says, “Taking any animal witha bow is a challenge, but those of you who hunt knowtaking a wild turkey gobbler from the ground withouta blind is a very rare event.” Now he faces his greatestchallenge convincing his wife of how good they taste.Good Luck Tom!

AIM TO HOST NATIONALONSITE EXPO INSEPTEMBER 2001By Robin TerryIn 2001, the Association for Installers & Manufacturers, Inc. (AIM) will continue its tradition of providing regionalonsite training programs, while adding another twist.As AIM has traveled across the country this past two years, we've heard the same thing over and over again frominstallers and contractors: "Give us practical onsite education, but keep the cost low." So, because the time is right,AIM is working on plans to host a NATIONAL ONSITE EXPO, scheduled for early September in Louisville, Kentucky.This new national expo will offer a chance for installers and contractors across the country to convene in one location,receive continuing education credits (now required by many states for installer certification), and to view demonstrationsof the latest in onsite products and technologies available.In keeping with AIM's custom of 'going boldly where no man has gone before', we are totally re-designing thetraditional exhibit hall to maximize time that installers, contractors, plumbers and precasters spend with the manufacturersdisplaying at our expo. A win/win situation for all!AIM has invited experts to provide presentations on subjects today's onsite professionals should be on top of, includingadvanced and conventional treatments, and design and soil considerations. The trip will definitely be worth yourwhile!We are working to keep hotel room rates competitive and will see that entrance fees to the program are extremelyreasonable. You will also find that Louisville is easily accessible by auto and air. So, bring the family and come seewhat The Derby City has to offer.Be looking for more information in AIM Onsite, as well as in The Zabel Zone and other onsite publications.GET READY, FOLKS, 'CAUSE YOU WON'T WANT TO MISS THIS!Dates/Locations for 2001 AIM Training Programs:Friday, January 12Holiday Inn Select201 South ShacklefordWest Little Rock, AR 72211Phone: 501-223-3000Friday, February 2Holiday Inn Oklahoma City Airport2101 South Meridian AvenueOklahoma City, OK 73108Phone: 405-685-4000For further information, call AIM toll-free 877-323-5246Tuesday, April 10Little America Hotel2515 E. Butler AvenueFlagstaff, AZ 86003Phone: 800-352-4386Friday, March 9AmeriTel Inn645 Lindsay Blvd.Idaho Falls, ID 83402Phone: 208-523-1400NEW FACESBill Schneider joins Zabel as Vice President of Operations after 26 years experienceof business management, sales and marketing experience in the heavy equipmentand RV industries. He and his wife of 23 years (and he's hoping for a contractrenewal), Cheri, have two daughters, Amanda and Rebecca.Bill is a native of Louisville whose secondary interests include landscape architectureand photography. For all of you customers out there, Bill's motto is: "Whateverit takes to get the job done!"29

THE PUMPERBrought to you by Cole PublishingFounders of the first expo:Pete Lawonn (left) and Bob Kendall (right)“An early idea was to hold theshow in the best facilityavailable. The mom and popoperators who make up our industry deserveat least one weekend to truly enjoy the fruitsof all their hard work. This philosophy servedus well as we realized how important it wasfor the children of the industry to see theirparents and their businesses in a differentlight.”30

By Bob KendallThe idea was simple. Bring the readersand advertisers of our new publication,Pumper, together. The thought was,once a year, it would be nice to gettogether and let the advertisers showthe readers the things that make theirproducts special.Having no tradeshow experience wasa real plus for us.We just did what wethought attendeesand exhibitors wouldwant. Now, 21 yearslater, we have a showthat most considerquite unique not justto our industry, butunique among tradeshows.An early idea was to hold the show inthe best facility available. The momand pop operators who make up ourindustry deserve at least one weekendto truly enjoy the fruits of all their hardwork. This philosophy served us wellas we realized how important it was forthe children of the industry to see theirparents and their businesses in a differentlight. Many shows do not allow childrento attend. We encourage the entirefamily to participate and don't chargefor children under 18.Imagine what kids deal with every day."What's your dad do for a living?"The standard answer is "the septicbusiness", or "excavatingand trucking". The answershould be, "My mom anddad are in the healthcareindustry, protecting thepeople who make up ourcommunity." We think itis great for the kids to seethe latest equipment, displayed in thefinest surroundings with thousands ofsuccessful people doing the same thingthat their mother and father do.The very first show was held at TheOpryland Hotel in January 1981. Oursecond show moved to Fort Worth,Texas, then on to Gulfport, Mississippi,and back to The Opryland in 1984.The Opryland had expanded, and theycould accommodate our show, whichhad grown significantly since 1981. By1986, we needed more space, so it wasoff to New Orleans where we used theSuperdome for the '86 and '87 shows.Then, The Opryland finished anotherround of additions and we havecontinued there, staying through furtheradditions. The show, which originallyutilized a 25,000 sq. ft. exhibit hall anda couple hundred guest rooms, nowneeds 300,000 sq. ft. of exhibit spaceand all of the 2900 guest rooms theOpryland has to offer, as well as mostof the rooms at an additional 10 hotels.Growth of the show occurred for manyreasons. People attending did so muchmore than pump septic systems. Manyof our attendees alsoinstall septic systems orclean sewers and drains,offer portable restroomservices, do piperehabilitation,waterblasting, hazardouswaste hauling, industrialcleaning, or some otherenvironmental service.As manufacturers becameaware of the types of services ourattendees offered, they becameexhibitors, and the more exhibitors thatcame, the more contractors were drawnto the show. Over the years, weexpanded the educational programs,which now begin a day before theexhibits open, and have added moreopportunities for contractors to sharetheir experiences with each other. Wehave also added live entertainment,and last year's program featured TheOak Ridge Boys.There are many people in our industrythat have been to all of the shows;several come every other year. It's thatkind of support that has not only madeThe Pumper and CleanerEnvironmental Expo a success, it makesus all part of an industry, or more, partof a family. Twenty years have allowedus to watch friendships develop, watchchildren grow, watch a new generationtake over family businesses, and watchan industry evolve where none hadexisted before. Over the years, we havebecome better at what we do as anindustry, working together to improveour role in protecting the health andenvironment of the communities weserve. We have gained respect, andimproved our self-image, but there isso much we can continue to do. I amproud of the last twenty years, and haveenjoyed every minute. I reflect fromtime to time on what has beenaccomplished, but I much prefer to lookforward at what is to come. We haveso many ideas that the future is wheremy thoughts and enthusiasm remain.31

Faces Behind the PhonesHarry NursePresidentJan NurseZabel Zone EditorTheo Terry, R.S.VP Government RelationsBecky PageVP Business ServicesAmy SparksAccounts ReceivableLesley JenkinsCredit & CollectionsBill RawlinsEnvironmentalSpecialistWes Combs, R.S.Advanced TreatmentSystems ManagerBrian Borders, R.S.VP MarketingTom PettyP.G., R.E.H.S.EnvironmentalSpecialistJoe MattinglyAccount ManagerAnn HinesAccount ManagerLarry NurseAccount ManagerVanessa CoxAccount ManagerLinda EllsworthProduction AssistantGary EllsworthRoto-MoldProduction ManagerWilliam SchneiderV.P. OperationsTom JenkinsMedia Services Manager32

Loyalty,Thenameof theGameLoyalty - a quality,state, or instance ofbeing loyal; faithfulnessor faithful adherenceBy Vanessa Cox to...Being a fairly newemployee here at Zabel(only 15 months) I am constantly amazed byZabel's loyalty to our customers. Most companiesI've had the experience of being associated withhave only been interested in doing the leastamount necessary to get a customer's business.Notice that I said, "get", not "keep" a customer'sbusiness. How do we, at Zabel, keep ourcustomers in this increasingly competitive onsitemarket? Loyalty. Zabel is loyal to ourcustomers, to our industry, and to ourenvironment; in turn, we receive loyalty fromthose we serve.To say Zabel is loyal is one thing, but forthose of you who haven't called and placed yourfirst order with us, you're probably wonderingif I can back that statement up. You bet I can.Let's start with product development. There isno better way to let people know you want tomake them happy than to give them productsthat help their business. Zabel is constantlycoming out with new or improved products thathelp to advance the onsite industry. How dowe know what you need? We listen! Whenyou call in and are talking to your accountmanager, we are paying attention. If you thinkthere is something that we can do to improveour products or something you'd like to seemade available, let us know, we'll take it to thedrawing board and see what happens.Another way Zabel shows its loyalty is qualityproducts. From the very first Zabel filter producedin 1959, we have been committed to producingproducts of the highest quality. Not only dowe produce the best products, but we also backthem up with the best warranty available. Byproviding quality products, we believe that ourcustomers will continue to come back time andagain because they know we'll stand behind ourproducts and continue to give them the bestservice available.Take care of those that take care of you. Ifyou aren't happy, then we're not happy. A partof being successful in the on-site industry isknowing how to takecare of your customers.Let's face it, people inour industry haveoptions. There are othercompanies that mayprovide a product that isa little cheaper, one thatlooks pretty in a picture,or one that makes falsepromises; but it's thequality of Zabel'sproducts, people, andideals that keep ourcustomers coming back.Take care ofthose that takecare of you. Ifyou aren’thappy, thenwe’re nothappy.33

• Complete package• Ready to install• Easy to maintainIn the Fall 1996 issue of The Zabel Zone ® , Dick Otiswrote an article about septic tanks titled, 'It's A BeautifulThing'. He was describing the functionality of a septictank but he could just as easily have been describingZabel's new line of Poly-Tanks.Seven models of septic tanks are available ranging insize from 750 gallons to 1500 gallons. The 1000-gallon,1250-gallon and 1500-gallon tanks come in both singleand dual compartment models. In addition to theseseptic tanks, Zabel also has a new 500-gallon pumptank to go along with our full line of filtered pumpvaults.So what makes these tanks so special? Well, let's startwith the fact that they have a structurally superiordesign due to their parabolic shape and unique ribdesign. The ribs have uniform wall thickness throughoutthe tank. This structurally superior design makes themmore tolerant of installation variations with minimumaccess deformation when the tank is under load.In addition, the one-piece, seamless construction ensureswater tightness of the tank. Then topping off the tanksare Zabel's patented risers and lids. These risers andlids have been proven to be the both water tight andstructurally sound when added to Precast concretetanks. Now the connection to the tank itself will bethe same-patented design as therisers themselves thus ensuringa watertight seal each and everytime.Theo B. Terry, III, RSAdd our patent pending inletand outlet tees along with ourquality patented effluent filtersand you do indeed have a trulybeautiful thing, Zabel's New PolyTank line.1-800-221-5742TM35

JOINThe LeadersThe Zabel Zone is the most effective advertising medium in the Onsite Industry.Call to JOIN the industry leaders in the Zabel Zone.800-221-574236

By Harry L. NurseWhy do environmental advocacy groupsseem to always use their politicalinfluence to promote centralized sewersover onsite solutions? Their attitudecan be summed up as, "If you can't sewerit, don't develop it.”No one in the onsite industry advocatesthe use of onsite technology over centralsewers for treatment of human waste allthe time. There are times that centralsewers make environmental andeconomic sense. However, with theadvent of new and better advancedtreatment technologies and sophisticatedcluster system disposal methods, thosetimes are fewer and fewer.But I have never heard of anenvironmental advocacy group promotingan onsite solution to a waste treatmentproblem. The reason is they lackknowledge about the proper use of septicsystems, the growing development ofnew advanced treatment technology andthe move of the onsite industry towardperpetual maintenance paradigms.Whose problem is it that they don't havethis information? It is ours.There are several things onsiteprofessionals can do to bridge thisenvironmental information gap. First,as individuals we need to joinenvironmental groups. Second, we shouldinvite them to attend and participate instate and national onsite conferencesand training programs. And third, weshould join forces on common issues.Join environmental groups.There is always the tendency for peopleto demonize those with whom theydisagree, but if we have established oneon-onerelationships it is more likelythey will listen to our point of view andwe will hear theirs. After all, we are allconcerned about our environmentallegacy and when onsite issues arise theywill look to you for information. Wemust not underestimate the value ofbuilding personal relationships throughparticipation in local chapters of groupssuch as the Water Watchers Association.Include environmental organizations inonsite conferences.At onsite conferences, it is not unusualto have forums dealing with onsitetreatment issues and regulations thatinclude every member in the industryfrom regulator to installer. However, Ihave never attended one whereenvironmental groups were regularlyincluded.These groups need to be included sothey will receive good technicalinformation and training as well as theopportunity to discuss their concernswhere our industry members can hearthem.Enlist environmental groups’ supportfor onsite issues.Onsite professional organizations shouldjoin forces with environmentalists tocreate laws and regulations that preservethe environment using single site andsmall cluster technologies. Do not waitfor a crisis to initiate action.If these single focus groups becomeconvinced the people in our industry,who are also their neighbors, truly careabout environmental issues and thatwe, as a profession, have expertise thatwill help them in their quest forenvironmental protection, they willbecome allies instead of enemies.Let's stop fighting with environmentalistsand enlist them in our common cause.Take the initiative and build bridgesacross the environmental divide.The planet will be a better place to liveif we do.37 27

TM“Begin a Career with Zabel”Zabel Environmental Technology is currently lookingfor highly trained and experienced onsite professionalsto fill the following positions:• Technical Sales Representative• Environmental Specialist“It is very exciting to offer products andcomponents designed to strengthen on-siteprograms throughout the country andworld!”“Zabel provides its people with the latesttechnology that makes doing my job moreproductive and enjoyable.”Excellent salary and benefits package including:Incentive programMedicalRetirement ProgramIf you want a career and not just a job we would like to talk to you.Zabel is an equal opportunity employer.1-800-221-574238

Zabel® Comes to You!The development of new on-site technologieshas resulted in many organizationsscrambling to educate and train theirmembers and employees. Zabel'sEnvironmental Specialists spend the majorityof their time working with groups ofprofessionals in their educational efforts. AtZabel, we pledge our support to the educationof the on-site professional. Whether yourorganization is that of installers,manufacturers, regulators or designengineers, Zabel wants to assist you in yourtraining efforts.Simply complete the blanks/boxes below,and return the form. Your EnvironmentalSpecialists will contact you to arrange a time,place and date. Zabel can participate inyour agenda of on-site training, or we canconduct a complete training session over thevarious technologies new to the industry.We look forward to sharing in the successof your organization.Organization Name __________________________________________________________________________Address ____________________________________________________________________________________City ____________________________________________________ State __________ Zip Code ____________Phone _______________________________ Fax _____________________________ Email _________________Complete Training Class _____ One of Participants at Training Class _____Expected Number of Attendees _______________Topic(s): Check all areas of interestEffluent Filters Effluent/Sewage Pumps and Sizing Discharge Systems Alarms & ControlsAccess Systems Grease Traps Peat Systems Basin Systems & Aerocell Codes/StandardsAerobic Systems STEP Systems Other _________________________________________________Bill RawlinsTom Petty, R.E.H.S., P.G.Environmental Specialist Environmental SpecialistEmail: bjr1171@aol.com Email: Tpetty@zabel.comPh: 904-543-1607 Ph: 1-800-221-5742MAIL TO:Zabel Environmental Technology/TrainingP.O. Box 1520 Crestwood, KY 4001439

2001January1st - 3rd, No-Dig 2001, Nashville, TN., Faye Boyle 301-468-32109th, NE MO Onsite Workshop & Expo, Hannibal, MO., Phillip Shatzer, R.S. 660-327-465312th, AIM Conference, West Little Rock, AR., Robin Terry 877-323-524623th - 25th, Auburn Conference, Auburn, AL., Elaine Ridgeway 334-844-572023th - 24th, Missouri Smallflows 5th Annual Conf., Mike Volrath 888-264-914626th - 27th, FOWA WinterFest, Kevin Sherman 850-402-923030th - 31th, IOWWA Conference, W. Des Moines,IA., Mike Volrath 515-830-1229February2nd, AIM Conference, Oklahoma City, OK., Robin Terry 877-323-52468th - 12th, NPCA & MCX Convention, Charlotte, NC., Pete Tensley 800-366-773114th - 17th, Pumper Show, Nashville, TN., Cole Publishing 800-257-722225th - 28th, Southwestern States RC&D Conv., Odessa, TX., Jimmy Apel 915-235-4300March4th - 6th, PASEO, Gil Longwell 717-761-8648 or PASEOS@aiol.com5th , Granite State Designers & Installers Conference, 603-228-12319th, AIM Conference, Idaho Falls, ID., Robin Terry 877-323-524611th - 14th, ASAE Conference, Fort Worth, TX., David Gustafson 800-955-863626th - 27th, Ontario Onsite W.W. Conference, Mississauga, ONT., Shelly Bonte-Gelok 519-824-4120x468729th - 31st, NCSTA 11th annual Conf., Greensboro, NC., Doug Lassiter, 336-784-5311April13th, AIM Conference, Flagstaff, Arizona, Robin Terry 877-323-5246June30th - Jul. 3rd, NEHA 2001, Atlanta, GA., NEHA 303-756-9090July19th - 21th, FL Onsite W.W. Assoc. Tradeshow,Daytona Beach, FL., Kevin Sherman 850-402-9230September17th - 18th, NW Onsite W.W. Treatment Exhibit, Robert Seabloom 206-543-5539At the time of printing those shows highlighted in red will have someone fromZabel speaking or exhibiting at the conference.For the most up to date listing, or to submit a Conference or Trade Show seethe Trade Shows page under the Coffee Shop section on our website.ReservationsSchedulingPlanningOrganizingTravelRegistrationIf you are having a Conference orExpo, and would like the informationprinted in the next Zabel Zone TM or toappear on the Internet, please send yourinfo to us. Or go online towww.zabel.com, click the CoffeeShop, then click Trade Shows, thenclick the Post button and start typing.Name of ConferenceDate(s) of ConferenceContact PersonTelephone numberSend this form to: Zabel TM Environmental Technology, c/o Tom Jenkins/Conferences, P.O. Box 1520, Crestwood KY 4001440

TMFilter plates in clear zone1. How long will the open cell foam last in the AeroCell TMAdvanced Treatment System?Open cell foam has been used as a wastewater treatmentmedium for approximately 10 years. There have been veryfew problems with foam degradation and plugging. Wepackage the foam in mesh bags (4 per module), which areeasily cleaned or replaced if a problem arises. We alsowarrant the foam to be free from defects and workmanshipfor a period of 10 years.2. Under what conditions are drip irrigation systemstypically used?Typically, drip systems are installed in a smaller areacompared to conventional gravel trench systems. This is veryadvantageous where limited space is an issue. Shallowinstallations of 6 inches are common and allow greatervertical separation distances to bedrock, water tables and restrictive soil horizons. Thisis very important because it allows the effluent to percolate through the soil, therebymaintaining a well drained and an aerobic environment in the soil system. Steep orcomplex contours are more easily dealt with by using drip irrigation because in part,smaller, more easily maneuverable equipment is used. In addition, there's no trench rockto move or significant backfilling required. These are only a few of the many advantagesof drip irrigation. Please contact us if you need assistance or have questions.3. How is the optimum filtered pump vault length determined?To determine the optimum length to use, first determine the application. For example,will the pump vault be located in a primary septic tank, a two-compartment septic tank,or a separate pump basin? If the pump vault will be located in a primary or two-compartmentseptic tank, it's important to locate the filter screens within the "clear zone" as much aspossible. The clear zone is located at approximately the same depth as the bottom of theoutlet tee or baffle for the chosen tank. If you don't know this depth, contact themanufacturer. If the pump vault will be located in a separate pump basin where timedosing will be utilized, it's important to located the bottom of the vault lower in the tankso more storage capacity can be maintained in the pump basin. This will prevent orminimize high water alarm conditions during times of higher water use. Please contactus if you need assistance with sizing a filtered pump vault.When it all goesDOWNHILLFrom Flow Dividers, Flow Directorsand D-boxes, Zabel ® has a completeline of gravity distribution products.GRAVITY DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMDS-DB-4D 4 Hole Drop BoxDS-DB-4L 4 Hole Level BoxDS-DB-6L 6 Hole Level BoxDS-DB-7L 7 Hole Level BoxDS-DB-9L 9 Hole Level BoxDS-DB-4DFlowDirector1-800-221-574241

A Balancing ActBy Richard J. Otis, P.E.Ayres AssociatesSuccessful performance of an onsitewastewater treatment system dependson effective removal of the BOD orBio-chemical Oxygen Demand inthe wastewater. BOD is an analyticalmeasure of the amount of oxygenthat micro-organisms need (oxygendemand) to oxidize or degrade thewaste materials present. In domesticwastewater, the source of the largestshare of BOD is carbonaceous ororganic carbon materials. If notremoved, the organic carbonaccumulates on the infiltrative surfaceof the drainfield in the form ofparticulate wastes or active biomassclogging the soil pores.Hydraulic failure of the system soonfollows. Organic carbon can beremoved from an onsite system bypumping and hauling septage fortreatment and disposal elsewhere orby converting the organic carbon tocarbon dioxide (CO2) or methane(CH4) gases. However, the amountof organic carbon that can beremoved by removing septage islimited because of the digestion ofthe settled solids that occurs in theseptic tank.This digestion process partiallydegrades the particulate BOD andreleases soluble BOD that enters theseptic tank effluent, which flows tothe drainfield. Some removal oforganic carbon as carbon dioxideand methane may occur in the tank,but the micro-organisms that cangenerate methane are strict anaerobes(cannot tolerate any oxygen) andare most efficient at temperaturesgreater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit.These conditions seldom, if ever,occur in septic tank systems, so littlecarbon is lost via thisroute. Therefore, carbondioxide generation mustbe the predominatepathway for organiccarbon removal. Carbondioxide generationrequires that freeoxygen be presentfor the microorganismsto use intheir metabolism. As withany chemical reaction, sufficientoxygen must be present to meet thestoichiometric requirements orquantities necessary for the reactionsto proceed. In addition,reoxygenation must occur to replacethe oxygen consumed in thesereactions. If either of these conditionsis not met, anaerobic conditions willbe created because the oxygendemand applied is greater than theavailable oxygen supply. drainfields,the organic carbon will accumulateon the infiltrative surface. Therefore,to maintain hydraulic performanceof an onsite system, the rate thatBOD is applied to a drainfield mustbe balanced with the rate thatoxygen can be re-supplied to thesystem. Do we design onsitewastewater treatment systems withthis in mind? We should but ourseptic tank codes are based onhydraulic loadings rather than onBOD loadings. This is why hydraulicfailures are common, particularlywith high strength wastes or inhomes with large families. Instead,we should base system design onorganic loadings and the reaerationpotential of the drainfield. Howshould we do this? Unfortunately,we donot knowenough aboutwhat appropriateBOD loadings should befor various soils and drainfielddesigns. However, what we can dois to enhance system performanceby designing systems to bettermaintain the balance between BODloading and reaeration. This can bedone through siting, design, andoperation ofthe systems. In siting a system, theelevation of the infiltrative surfaceof the drainfield should be placedwell above the capillary fringe ofthe water table to maximize thevolume of air-filled pores.Designs should incorporate dosingin a manner that applies the septictank effluent onto the infiltrativesurface uniformly in space and time.The dose volume should be sized tolimit the BOD loading to theavailable oxygen in the soil and thetime between doses be sufficientlylong to allow re-aerationof the soil before the next dose.Another method would be to reducethe BOD loading to the infiltrativesurface. This can be done byremoving BOD before applicationto the soil through the addition ofaerobic pretreatment or by increasingthe infiltrative surface area to reducethe hydraulic loading. Several othermethods can be used.It’s nothing more than a balancingact! .

Introducing the Zabel 8” filter.• Built in Reducer• Case hub accepts 3”, 4”, or 6” pipe• Flow rates from 800 gpd to 3000 gpd• Available in 4 different lengths• Redesigned filter plates1-800-221-5742Visit our Website www.zabel.comMADE IN USAWith Zabelyou can:Certified toANSI/NSFStandard 46OrderDirectZabel Environmental Technology TMP.O. Box 1520Crestwood, KY 40014Change Service RequestedPatents Issued & PendingPRESORTEDSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGEPAIDLOUISVILLE KYPERMIT #1925