Onsite Installer

AdvanTex AX20 units are a dependable, proven technology for treating residential septic tank effluent to better-than-secondary standards, including nitrogen reduction. AX20 treatment pods are sturdy, watertight basins filled with lightweight, highly absorbent, engineered textile media that treats a tremendous amount of wastewater in a small space.

No one believes they're the problem on a job site. Not the young apprentice frustrated with a lack of understanding or the older site manager who failed to deliver instructions properly. Workforce expectations are shifting faster than management styles can adapt. Contractors are building the same projects, but the people doing the work — and what they expect from leadership — are changing rapidly. “We’re in a new era. We’re in a different time,” says Sydne Jacques, CEO of Next Level Leadership.

Dean and Joan Hanson had always imagined building their dream house on their lot on Lake Andrew in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. It is ideally elevated for a view of the lake. For nearly 10 years, they spent the summers in a travel trailer parked on their lot. When their family outgrew the camper, they made plans to build. They discovered, however, that the lot was too small to fit both their house plans and a “standard” septic system.

Orenco Controls engineers custom control panels and telemetry systems for residential and commercial systems, municipal water and wastewater systems, manufacturing controls, and original equipment manufacturing. Panel applications range from booster stations, irrigation systems, and rainwater collection to grinder systems, alarm systems, and stormwater monitoring.

Attending education sessions and involvement in industry associations are two ways you can continue to expand your knowledge and improve your skills. Staying abreast of new technology, getting familiar with different products, equipment, trucks and types of system, and expanding your knowledge of general business practices will help you take your business where you want it to go. With that in mind, here’s a roundup of courses and regional conferences and events coming up in the next few months.

Barnes introduces Atlas: a wastewater pump series designed for the realities plumbers face every day — clogs, callbacks, tight timelines, and tough environments. Atlas sewage ejector and effluent pumps are built to support demanding applications with dependable performance you can trust after you leave the job.

Back to the E-Newsletter Archive 06.24.2026 Residential and commercial onsite wastewater treatment system news for industry leaders A Pumping Crew Helps Out at the Zoo Inside Orenco Systems with Josh Billman, Technical Sales Rep After 10 years serving in the military, Josh Billman found a similar sense of purpose at Orenco — delivering advanced wastewater solutions for meaningful projects. View videoSponsored by: Orenco Systems, Inc.

From regulatory news to product roundups to tips on refining your installation technique, Onsite Installer strives to provide the most essential knowledge and trends shaping the onsite wastewater industry. Whether you’re a longtime business owner or an apprentice technician, we’ve got something on our website to help you level up.

It can be frustrating when your employees seem to care less about the success of your business than you do. But there are several strategies you can use to get your employees more engaged and invested in the company’s success. Communicate your vision and goals One of the main reasons employees may care less about your business is that they lack understanding of your vision and goals. Ensure you communicate your vision for the business and your plans for the future.

As an advocate of evaluating existing septic tanks from outside the tank, I have always highly recommended using a powerful spotlight and large mirror on a handle for evaluating septic tanks. Now it feels like we have gone from the stone age to the “we’re finally going to work smarter” age. An evaluator I know showed me pictures that he takes with a system he devised: a GoPro on an extendable handle with a drone light. I’ve seen his pictures and reports and they are remarkably bright and clear.