Model National Decentralized Wastewater Practitioner Curriculum

The model training curriculum for decentralized wastewater is designed as a series of coordinated short courses that build one upon another similar to that of a college curriculum.  However, they are framed within the context of the field practitioner's educational needs. The curriculum is presented in a planning framework that addresses appropriate adult education principles and training program administration/management strategies.

The Soil and Site Evaluation Module addresses the basics of soil morphology, landscape description and interpretation of data, and non-soil data for on-site wastewater applications. The target audience is onsite practitioners: soil scientists, system designers, installers, pumpers, regulators, maintenance personnel, etc. The module is a comprehensive guide that includes the basics of soil science (definitions, formation, morphology) as well as details regarding specific problem areas (water table monitoring, restrictive horizons, mineralogy). Each chapter consists of written reference materials, a scripted slide set and a suggested agenda for a short course. The reference materials include details on soil morphology (soil horizons, color, texture - field and lab methods of determination, structure, consistence, redoximorphic features [mottles], landscape evaluation/slope type, drainage concerns and landscape position).  Also included is information on soil and landscape relationships and non-soil issues that must be considered for a complete site evaluation. Additionally, details on the use of county soil survey (NRCS) publications are discussed. The accompanying PowerPoint presentations illustrate morphological features and demonstrate a quick method of making soil monoliths for teaching purposes.

This module is designed to present the key points of soil/water movement in reference to onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment and dispersal systems, thus promoting increased understanding of the relationship between biomat formation and system performance. Included in the module is a discussion of the difference between saturated and unsaturated flow and how these regimes affect wastewater treatment in the soil system.  Understanding the behavior of water in soil formations is critical for the proper design and operation of onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment systems. The target audience is onsite practitioners: soil scientists, system designers, installers, pumpers, regulators, maintenance personnel, etc.

This module provides general information on the complete range of onsite wastewater technologies, from the basic to the most complex.  The target audience is onsite practitioners: soil scientists, system designers, installers, pumpers, regulators, maintenance personnel, etc. The materials discuss onsite/decentralized wastewater treatment system components categorized according to their function in the treatment train.  The module includes information needed to select the appropriate set of components to design the onsite wastewater treatment system for a given site.  Varying levels of detail are then presented on technologies used for individual and cluster systems. The technologies are frequently useable for systems receiving larger flows, but such systems are outside the purview of this project.

Used on its own or in conjunction with materials developed for other practitioner and university modules, the scope of this section can vary considerably.  The instructional format can range from a multi-day practitioner training workshop to a quarter/semester-long course for college/university students.

This module provides the materials needed to teach practitioners basic information on septic tanks.  It is intended for use in courses offered with or without training centers.  The target audience is onsite practitioners: soil scientists, system designers, installers, pumpers, regulators, maintenance personnel, etc.  The information is presented in a stand-alone text document and illustrated with a PowerPoint presentation complete with instructor notes.

Typically, presentation of this module is preceded by a complete onsite system overview that defines and discusses all components of onsite systems.  This provides the practitioner with perspective on the importance of septic tanks and how they fit into the treatment train.