As you are preparing to take one of our pre-certification workshop, we find reviewing the following pages, or sections of the OSTP Manual for Septic Professionals might be helpful for you to get your bearings.
Recommended readings by workshop title
Introduction to Onsite Systems
Section 1 - Introduction
- How a septic system works
- Random - cleaning up a sewage spill, odor issues, local programs
- Communicating with homeowners
Section 2 - Administration
- SSTS regulations framework
Section 12 - Soil Treatment Systems
- How they work, pp. 1-16
Installing Onsite Systems
Section 3 - Sewage Treatment Utilizing Soil
- Plastic limit, pp.28-29
Section 6 - Plumbing and Collection
Section 7 - Septic Tanks
- Tank construction, pp. 19-29
- Tank installation, pp. 29-37
- Tank abandonment, pp. 48-49
Section 9 - Pumping Systems
- Applications, tanks and pumps, pp. 1-15
- Installation practices, pp. 23-31
Section 11 - Distribution of Effluent
- Installing gravity, pp. 1-18
- Level pressure, pp. 18-28
- Installing non-level pressure, pp. 29-31
- Installing drip distribution, pp.38-39
Section 12 - Soil Treatment Systems
- Installing soil treatment areas, pp. 48-57
- Landscaping septic systems, pp. 70-75
Maintaining Onsite Systems
Section 7 - Septic Tanks
- Cleaning a tank, pp. 38-40
Section 8 - Tank Management and Land Application
Section 9 - Pumping Systems
- Troubleshooting, pp. 31-35
Designing Onsite Systems
Section 4‐ Site Evaluation
- Preliminary and field evaluation, pp. 1‐31
- Reporting requirements & Types II‐V systems, pp. 42-52
Section 5‐ Wastewater Sources and Flows
Section 7‐ Septic Tanks
- Tank design options, pp. 3-19
- Holding tanks, privies and graywater systems, pp. 49-63
Section 9‐ Pumping Systems
- Selecting pumps and sizing the pump tank, pp. 17-23
Section 11‐ Distribution of Effluent
- Drop box design, pp. 9-18
- Design of pressure distribution, pp. 18-32
- Design of drip distribution, pp. 32-40
Section 12‐ Soil Treatment Systems
- Examples & design basis for below, at, and above grade, pp. 17-76
Section 13‐ Forms and Reference
Soils
Section 3‐ Sewage Treatment Utilizing Soil
Section 4‐ Site Evaluation
- Soils’ impacts on SSTS Design, pp. 32-42
Inspecting Onsite Systems
Section 6‐ Plumbing and Collection
- Troubleshooting collection, pp.24-26
Section 7 – Septic Tanks
- Tank inspection and troubleshooting, pp. 40-46
- Holding tank and privy O&M, pp. 54-57
Section 9 – Pumping Systems
- Pump and pump tank O&M, inspection, pp. 31-35
Section 12 - Soil Treatment Systems
- Inspecting soil treatment areas, pp. 58-70
Intermediate Design/Inspection
Section 2 - Administration
- EPA Class V systems, pp. 2
- Type IV/V systems, pp. 8-10
Section 3 - Sewage treatment utilizing soil
- Soil treatment performance, pp. 4-6
Section 4 - Site evaluation
- Pressure distribution – varying elevations, pp. 50
Section 5 - Wastewater sources and flow
- Other establishments, pp. 7-13
- Flow determination Clusters and Other Establishments, pp. 13-15
- Hydraulics – Flow Rates, pp. 16-30
- Waste Strength characteristics, pp. 31-44
- Treatment Levels, pp. 45-46
- Nutrients – Nitrogen, Phosphorus, pp. 46-62
Section 10 - Pretreatment
Section 11 - Distribution of effluent
- NonLevel Distribution, pp. 28-29
- Drip, pp. 32-40
Advanced Design/Inspection
Prescriptive Design Guidance for Systems - MPCA link to .pdf
Section 2 - Administration
- Systems >2,500 additional compliance, pp. 17
- EPA Class V systems, pp. 2
Section 3 - Sewage treatment utilizing soil
- Soil treatment performance, pp. 4-6
Section 4 - Site evaluation
- >2500gpd Soil and Site reporting, pp. 43-45
- Pressure distribution - varying elevations, pp. 50
Section 5 - Wastewater sources and flow
- Other establishments, pp. 7-13
- Flow determination Clusters and Other Establishments, pp. 13-15
- Hydraulics - flow rates, pp. 16-30
- Waste strength characteristics, pp. 31-44
- Treatment levels, pp. 45-46
- Nutrients - Nitrogen, Phosphorus, pp. 46-62
Section 10 - Pretreatment
Section 11 - Distribution of Effluent
- Non-level distribution, pp. 28-29
- Drip distribution, pp. 32-40