Tuesday, January 26, 2010

Switching to Eliminite in Montana

Many of our Montana customers had property that was previously approved with a competing wastewater treatment system but decided that it was in their best interest to switch the system shown on their plans to Eliminite. Quite a few of these owners were told by the distributors of the competing systems that they had no other option and were required to install the system as shown on the plans. This is not true. In fact, the process is really quite simple. In many Montana Counties all that is required is that the swap be noted on the "As-Built" drawings. In other words, no advance permitting is required at all and the owner is free to select Eliminite in place of the other units. I will be posting a list of counties where this rule applies. In the other counties, MDEQ has implemented a simple procedure for completing the swap. I have done this for many clients and it only involves a short application, lot layout sketch, and administrative fee of about $200.00. The process takes 10 days or less. MDEQ decided to streamline the process for making the switch because so many people want to install a different wastewater treatment unit than the one their engineers decided to show on the plans. So what does this mean to you?




Everyone is looking to save some money these days and Eliminite will provide relief from other high priced Level 2 systems. You benefit from our local manufacture and use of local materials. If you are planning to install a system we can almost always save you money. In fact, even on single family residential applications, Eliminite can save you several thousand dollars over our competition. We also give you the option of selecting your own installation contractor and O&M provider. This means you will not be held hostage by a manufacturer to use their installer and pay their maintenance prices.



If you are an engineer, your clients will appreciate your effort to save them money and provide their clients with more choice. Plus, the people who buy lots in the communities you are designing will like the smaller, less obtrusive footprint of Eliminite as well as our less invasive maintenance procedures.



I also must tell you that this procedure works both ways; you may also swap an Eliminite for a competing system in the same manner I discussed above. Honestly, this almost never happens because when people compare advanced treatment systems they will almost always choose to go with Eliminite because we offer the end user so many more advantages, features and significantly lower cost.

Monday, January 18, 2010

This goes in the "I told you so" file

I have taken an excerpt from this newspaper article.  This is what I mean about the decentralized field....so much of it looks like a joke.  And, while the story below is amusing, it represents a real problem in this industry.  When you finish reading, give me a call and I can tell you why stupid problems like the one below do not occur with Eliminite. 


But, Kennedy's real concern is that his failed non-conventional septic system left him with about seven tons of toxic peat moss.



Peat moss is used as a natural filter in some non-conventional septic systems, Burton said. In Kennedy's case, the peat moss became saturated with waste, causing his septic system to fail and the peat moss to develop pathogens. Kennedy was instructed to shut off his septic system and remove the seven tons of toxic peat moss from the property; however, LCSA, waste management or the health department is not equipped to dispose of the pathogenic material.


Until Kennedy finds a disposal location-he mentioned a site in North Carolina-that will accept his dump-truckload of toxic peat moss, he has to pay $350 every few weeks to pump and haul the sewage and effluent off his property. Since June, Kennedy said he has spent close to $2,000.


"I'm really interested in getting rid of this stuff, and getting my system to where it needs to be, but I can't seem to go anywhere with it," he said during Monday's meeting.

The way to neutralize the contaminated peat moss, Chief of Environmental Health Alan Brewer said Monday, is to spread it across a parcel of land, treat it with lime and let it "bake" in the sun for a period of time. Supervisor Jim Burton (I-Blue Ridge) suggested LCSA attempt such treatment, but Supervisor Bruce Tulloch (R-Potomac) said Loudouners wouldn't tolerate the smell.
"If treated with lime, it won't smell," Burton said.
"Then let's use your front lawn," Tulloch countered.