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SOIL ENVIRONMENT TECHNOLOGY LEARNING LAB

Published by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, St. Joseph, Michigan www.asabe.org

Citation:  Paper number  701P0104,  . (doi: 10.13031/2013.15830)
Authors:   K. M. Mancl, B. K. Slater
Keywords:   Onsite wastewater treatment, onsite sewage treatment, septic systems, educational program, training curriculum

A 1987 survey (Mancl, 1990) revealed that 27% of Ohio onsite sewage treatment systems were failing to operate effectively. Local health departments indicated that in 85% of counties these systems failed because they were installed in slowly permeable soils. In 48% of the counties, systems were failing due to installations in areas with high groundwater. The development of the Ohio Soil Environment Technology Learning Lab drew upon the strengths and tried to avoid some of the problems observed at the first training centers. Many of the early training centers are technology-centered. Since the major problems identified by the Ohio needs analysis is soil and site evaluation and matching appropriate technology to the soil and site conditions, the name, philosophy, curricula and facilities all center around the soil. The first word of the title Soil reflects the foundation of the entire program. Drawing from the needs analysis of designers, regulators and installers, 3 curricula were initially developed. Programs for all three groups were fully subscribed. All three groups greatly increased their knowledge of matching systems to soil conditions. Combining the previous knowledge with that learned during the program increased the ability of all three groups to match the technology to the soil to 84%.

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