1. NOWRA in 2014 An Agenda For Action Eric Casey NOWRA Executive Director
2014 NOWRA/CPOW Annual Conference
January 16, 2014

2. Today’s Presentation NOWRA Advocacy Effort Installer Academy
Onsite Design Standard of Practice & Training
Expanding Market for Large Decentralized Systems
Onsite Journal
Website/Septic Locator
Joint NOWRA/CPOW Conference

3. NOWRA Advocacy Effort Industry Challenges Failing Systems
Aging, poorly maintained systems
Nutrient removal
Commercial and residential waste streams getting stronger
Homeowners’ lack of knowledge/interest on OSDS
Inadequate training of industry professionals

4. NOWRA Advocacy Effort Industry Challenges (cont’d)
Fragmented and Contradictory Regulation
Prescriptive regulations
Too much local/state variation in codes
Budget cuts
Need for more research
Continued bias toward central sewer
Engineers and Utilities
Lack of understanding by infrastructure decision-makers

5. NOWRA Advocacy Effort Industry Challenges (cont’d)
Industry image is poor
Poor homeowner understand = poor system outcomes
Inadequate management requirements
Bad actors, lax enforcement
Terrible media coverage
Lazy, inaccurate reporting; no sense of proportion
Political football
Zoning proxy
Environmental groups

6. NOWRA Advocacy Effort
Lack of funding is perhaps the single greatest challenge facing the industry.

7. NOWRA Advocacy Effort What would increased funding mean?
Fix more malfunctioning systems
Improve public education and awareness
More training and professional development
Speed up technology transfer
Expand usage of onsite systems
Put more money in your pocket

8. The Case for Increased SRF Funding

9. The Case for Increased SRF Funding
Proportion of CWSRF funding
(There’s nothing fair about this)

10. NOWRA’s Vision for Action
Increase SRF Funding For Onsite Wastewater Infrastructure

11. Advocacy Tactics
Hire DC lobbying firm to advocate for changes in funding
Make campaign contributions to key Members of Congress
Develop alliances with related groups with strong government affairs operation (ex. NAHB)

12. Other Activities to Increase Funding
Seek grants to advance training, research and public education
Cultivate broader, deeper contacts within EPA, USDA
Expand Government Affairs and External Relations committees
Monitor changes/developments in water/wastewater funding legislation

13. The Role of State Onsite Associations
States will need to develop local strategies to secure increased funding from SRF
Effort need not wait for national initiative to bear fruit
Cultivate relationships with elected and appointed officials at the state level.
Seek legislative changes to make SRF funding viable
Support national advocacy efforts

14. Need Your Feedback!
A national lobbying effort is only viable if supported by the states
Is this an appropriate focus for NOWRA?
Is there a better area on which to concentrate?
Gaps in strategy?
Local tools?

15. Other 2014 Initiatives NOWRA Installer Academy Onsite system design
Standards of Practice
Designer training
Expand market for large onsite systems
WEF/NOWRA workshop
Economic impact of decentralized ww treatment – EPA MOU paper

16. Other 2014 Initiatives Continue publishing Onsite Journal
Refine and improve NOWRA website
Roll out new, improved Septic Locator
Joint CPOW/NOWRA Annual Meeting
November 2014
Specific dates/location coming soon

17. National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
Thanks for your time!
For More Information
National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association
601 Wythe Street
Alexandria, VA 22314