Time to resume

We have all come to the realization that COVID-19 will be with us for ever and it will adapt and mutate continuously.

We have all learned how to carry on and conduct business in a face-to-face way via many different online discussion and meeting platforms.

Our hearts go out to anyone impacted by this catastrophic virus.

But if it has taught us anything it is to respect everyone who works in public and environmental health services, be they county or state health employees or sanitation service professionals or especially health care workers.

It should also have taught a hard lesson – that the devil is in the details and ignoring the scaffolding can collapse any structure?

And so we begin again to host this often tedious but oh so necessary arduous work of building the scaffolding and foundations on which future state wide rules for on-site wastewater will be crafted.

Please start at https://wp.me/PbSKmw-29 as we begin with the who what where and when- the under pinnings of how any statewide rules will be implemented.

The intent for emphasizing this section first is if the end result is to protect water quality and water resources in Michigan, by improving the oversight and management of all wastewater treatment systems, success will only be possible with a trained, regulated professional core of practitioners.

And these are the people who need an opportunity to have their say.

Getting back into the process…

Michigan has gone through, and is still dealing with, unprecedented times when talking about onsite sanitation systems has been well and truly put on the back burner – and in the priorities of life quite rightly so.

As we all adjust to the realities of working remotely and holding virtual meetings we have redesigned this discussion process to give participants the option of adding their thoughts both in written and in video format.

Anyone who thinks devising a meaningful eventual set of administrative and implementation rules for this vital component of public health can be fast tracked or short circuited is looking for a quick fix rather than anything comprehensive.

That’s not what we are trying to accomplish here.

We are attempting to invite everyone to the table, to roll up your sleeves and do the hard work to end up with a consensus based workable draft that can then be bought to the legislative body for adoption.

Anyone who thinks this can be done in the reverse order should look at how successful that has been in the past or is currently happening in other states?

A review of all the components that will eventually be necessary can be overwhelming so we re proposing to start with a foundation component – training and certification – who can do what, what qualifications they need, who issues those qualifications, who implements and verifies, penalties for operating without a license or certificate. Currently CEUs are only required to pump and haul – with a bare minimum of 10 hours required to get an initial license.

And so we ask that you please head over to the Training Page and leave your thoughts and suggestions and join the conversation.

And a reminder – please read the rules of conduct?