Industry Organizations and Information
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Excerpt from the NOWRA web site:

The National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association (NOWRA) is the largest organization within the U.S. dedicated solely to educating and representing members within the onsite and decentralized industry. NOWRA headquarters are located in Tacoma, Washington, with constituent local groups throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Visit the NOWRA web site at: www.nowra.org
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Excerpt from the NAWT web site:

The MISSION of the National Association of Wastewater Transporters is to unify the voice of the sanitary liquid waste management industry, while increasing its professionalism and public image through education of industry members and the public, and the development and national representation of individual, state, and regional chapters, allowing our industry to exchange ideas and concerns for the betterment of our members, the environment, and the general public.

Visit the NAWT web site at: www.nawt.org

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Portable Sanitation Association International (PSAI)
Founded in 1971, the Portable Sanitation Association International is a non-profit trade association serving the portable sanitation industry. PSAI membership is composed of two types of members, Portable Restroom Operators and Associates which include manufacturers of portable restrooms/toilets, restroom trailers, trucks, deodorizers, supplies, and services. Membership provides access to networking, education, PSAI Health & Safety Worker Certification, the PSAI Scholarship Program and a special Members-Only Area with access to Codes, Standards, Guidelines, the PSAI IN ACTION newsletter and additional resources.

Visit the PSAI web site at: www.psai.org
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NESC

Running a small community utility is hard work. Whether you're an operator or a manager, a board member or a local official, the need to understand regulations, responsibilities, and funding opportunities just keeps getting more complicated. How can a small staff keep up with it all? With our help, that's how.

The National Environmental Services Center (NESC) exists to assist small and rural communities with their drinking water, wastewater, environmental training, solid waste, infrastructure security, and utility management needs and to help them find solutions to problems they face. Our staff of environmental specialists, engineers, certified operators, technical writers, editors, and trainers understand the latest technologies, regulations, and industry developments. Over the last 30 years, we've helped thousands of communities find solutions to their environmental problems. We've also helped thousands of individuals learn more about environmental issues.

And the best part is: nearly everything we do is free.

NESC's services include:

  • Toll-free technical assistance from our staff of certified operators, engineers, and scientists;
  • Quarterly publications (On Tap, a magazine about drinking water; Small Flows Quarterly, a magazine about wastewater treatment; and Pipeline, a newsletter about wastewater topics for the general public);
  • A comprehensive Web site;
  • Databases with thousands of entries;
  • Demonstration projects at more than 100 sites around the country that show the latest onsite sewage technology at work;
  • Training sessions;
  • More than 1,000 free and low-cost educational products.

At NESC, we believe that you can't do the job correctly without the right tools and that knowledge is the most important tool of all. We're waiting to put NESC's assistance, solutions, and knowledge to work for you. All you have to do is ask.

Visit the NESC web site at: www.nesc.wvu.edu
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NEHA - National Environmental Health Association

The NEHA offers the annual Certified Installer of Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems national credential exam.

For further information call 303-756-9090 or visit www.neha.org
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State Onsite Regulators Alliance and Captains of Industry (SORA/COI©) Conference

This annual event brings together regulators and industry representatives to network and exchange information focusing attention on current wastewater issues and sustainable wastewater solutions. The conference offers a forum that focuses attention on current wastewater issues and increased opportunities for Captains (manufacturers) to present their products to those capable of permitting its use.
  • You should attend because you will have the opportunity to:
  • meet regulatory officials from across the country,
  • engage in forums and networking sessions with industry representatives and regulatory officials from the state, regional and federal level,
  • keep up-to-date with current research studies and field evaluations of decentralized technologies and approaches to wastewater treatment, and
  • view and discuss products and services offered by wastewater companies with decentralized and onsite wastewater expertise.

Captains of Industry (COI)
  • Captains of Industry (COI) refers to those companies that offer products and or services for decentralized, including onsite, wastewater treatment. COIs can be non-voting affiliate members of SORA, offering advantageous possibilities to represent their views at SORA meetings.
    We are also aware of the impact the economy has had on the Captains of Industry. Through our partnership, additional opportunities are available for industry representatives to reach wastewater regulators. Regulators look forward to interaction with industry representatives to stay current on technologies and be effective in their roles as state regulators. Opportunities to display products and discuss regulations and product approval procedures are vital to industry's success within the states. Networking with and exposure to industry representatives remains a central conference objective.
State Onsite Regulators Alliance (SORA)
  • The State Onsite Regulators Alliance (SORA) is the only national organization that represents onsite wastewater regulators from all 50 states, U.S. Territories, tribes and Canadian provinces.
    Because of state budgetary restrictions, regulators often must make difficult decisions with limited access to up-to-date information on science and technology challenges the industry. We are aware that the many benefits of the information and experience gained by conference attendees are implemented where they are most needed, at the state, tribal and local levels. The partnership between NESC and NEHA allows regulators to benefit from two educational events at one venue.
Vehicle Regulation Information
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Federal interest in preserving highways goes back to the enactment of the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956, which authorized the Interstate and Defense Highway System. To preserve our Nation's infrastructure and to keep trucks and buses moving efficiently, states must ensure that commercial motor vehicles comply with federal size and weight standards. FHWA is responsible for certifying state compliance with Federal standards. This site provides a ready source of information on Federal standards and guidelines, state enforcement activities, reporting requirements, and contacts.
The Bridge Formula Weights Calculator provides a convenient way to determine the maximum allowable weight that any set of axles on a motor vehicle may carry on the Interstate highway system.

Congress enacted the Bridge Formula in 1975 to limit the weight-to-length ratio of a vehicle crossing a bridge. This is accomplished either by spreading weight over additional axles or by increasing the distance between axles. Compliance with the Bridge Formula weight limits is determined by using the following formula:

This Bridge Formula states the maximum allowable weight equals the length between axles multiplied by the number of axles divided by the number of axles minus 1 plus the number of axles mutiplied by 12 plus 36; then multiply this product by 500.
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W


L


N

the overall gross WEIGHT on any group of two or more consecutive axles to the nearest 500 pounds.

the LENGTH in feet between the outer axles of any group of two or more consecutive axles.

the NUMBER of axles in the group under consideration.
Federal law states that two or more consecutive axles may not exceed the weight computed by the Bridge Formula even though single axles, tandem axles, and gross vehicle weights are within legal limits. As a result, the axle group that includes the entire truck—sometimes called the "outer bridge" group—must comply with the Bridge Formula. Interior combinations of axles, such as the "tractor bridge" (axles 1, 2, and 3) and "trailer bridge" (axles 2, 3, 4, and 5) must also comply with weights computed by the Bridge Formula (see figure). More detailed information on the Bridge Formula is available at www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/size_weight.htm.
Length (feet): (inches):
Number of Axles:
Weight: