David A. Pask
National Small Flows Clearing House, PO Box 6064, West Virginia State University,
Morgantown WV 26506-6064, USA
Tel: (304) 293 4191 ext. 5516, Fax: (304) 293 3161, Email: dpask@wvu.edu

This paper describes the National Small Flows Clearinghouse as a resource for individuals and small communities of the Caribbean seeking information and support for problems of sewage treatment and disposal or pollution control. The National Onsite Demonstration Project is also described with a discussion on some of the results of the monitoring program. The importance of management of small systems is discussed together with the rationale for selection of an appropriate system for a given circumstance. A method for the estimation of the hydraulic capacity of a site is given with a description of techniques for measuring necessary parameters.

The National Small Flows Clearinghouse (NSFC) and its sister organizations, the National Drinking Water Clearinghouse (NDWC) and the National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC) are national non-profit information services provided by the University of West Virginia and are located on campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funds NSFC and NETCSC, while the U.S. Department of Agriculture funds NDWC. All three organizations were founded to assist small communities affected by the need to comply with ever more strict environmental legislation.

The clearinghouses are staffed by engineers, technical and administrative assistants, writers and editors totaling approximately 65 persons. A number of national experts in various fields are also available for referral when the need arises. During business hours trained staff are available to receive telephone calls for advice on almost any subject related to water, wastewater and environmental training. Queries may be received by telephone (toll-free within U.S.A.), by Fax or regular mail. Most calls can be dealt with immediately, but referrals, and items requiring some research may take a little longer. The Clearinghouses each produce two quarterly newsletters relating to technical and administrative matters. Internet Web sites are maintained and include electronic versions of the publications. Access will shortly be available to the very extensive databases of technical and administrative abstracts. A very important service is the operation of a product distribution service covering books, manuals, pamphlets and videotapes published by the Clearinghouses, EPA and other government and independent organizations. Some items are free with a small charge for shipping and handling, other items may include the cost of copying and binding.

The Clearinghouses send representatives to many of the national and state conferences and workshops, usually operating a staffed display in the exhibit area. Members of staff are frequently asked to speak at these and other conferences.

The clearinghouses may be contacted –

This project is drawing to a close. Six communities in five states participated in a program intended to demonstrate proven alternative on-site technologies in sensitive areas where lack of way to knowledge and/or regulation inhibited current acceptance. These technologies ranged from modified standard septic tank/soil absorption through various forms of secondary treatment for nutrient reduction to wetlands and drip irrigation. Monitoring was a requirement and included some sophisticated sampling by lysimeter.

Results in general showed that the innovative technologies are indeed an improvement over existing systems in protecting public health, groundwater and the environment but also showed that more sophisticated treatment leads to the need for more sophisticated maintenance and management. This can no longer be left to the average homeowner and his untrained pumper!

The experiences of Phase 1, have steered the advisory committee towards asking for an emphasis on projects that will emphasize management aspects. All five participants will include management and maintenance in the objectives of their demonstration. One participant will concentrate all the effort into all the preparatory surveys and organization required to put in place on on-site wastewater management district. Others will also include some innovative systems not already in use in the area.

While advanced treatment systems do have their uses, there are examples where the public, installers and some professionals are advocating advanced treatment as the universal panacea for all the ailments of on-site systems. I must add a few words of caution. Many malfunctions of onsite systems are related to inadequate hydraulic conductivity of the subsoil. Advanced treatment has no effect upon the hydraulic capacity of a building lot, Darcy's Law still applies!

The following is a partial list of the many issues that may need to be resolved in setting up a Wastewater Management District or similar entity. Many of the decisions are both political and social, but must be addressed.

        1) Protect health and environment for all.
                Does this need explanation?

        2)     Minimize 'Failure" (malfunction).
                Failure needs defining.

        3) Ensure compliance with local and state regulations.
                Regulations may also require update.

        4) All treatment needs maintenance.
                From the simplest to the most sophisticated

        5) Many homeowners do not maintain.
                A non-budgeted item?

B HOW (alternate choices)?

        1) Management by homeowner with inspection.
                Simplest, least invasive

        2) Management by contractor with (less) inspection.
                Must be scheduled

        3) Management by PSD by contract.
                Must be scheduled

        4) Direct management by PSD.
                PSD employee and equipment

Note: For B(1) & (2) homeowner pays for each service
                For (3) & (4) homeowner pays monthly service fee

C POLICY ISSUES FOR B (3) & (4)

        1)    Access required for homeowner property.
                A turf issue

        2) Who brings system to standard at start?
                Can be an unbudgeted financial investment for the homeowner unless amortized into monthly charges

        3) Who pays for repairs/maintenance in continuum?
                Can be direct charge to individual homeowner or shared equally among all subscribers as a monthly charge

        4) How do you deal with low income homes?
                May be difficult unless universally amortized

        5) How do you enforce?
                If central water service, this could be cut?

D PROCEDURAL ISSUES

        1) Commitment of representatives is a prerequisite.
                Community must be sold on the idea usually means that a good PR campaign is needed

        2) New Ordinances may be required.
                These may cover enablement, regulation, enforcement, permits, licence to practice, design (prescriptive or
                performance based), easements and rights of way

        3) A plebiscite may be required.
                Depends upon local ordinances