The Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services makes up half of the Office of Environmental Health Services. We are staff to the State Health Commissioner and are responsible for adopting and implementing regulations governing private wells and onsite wastewater treatment and disposal.
Our goal is to implement an onsite wastewater program based on sound scientific, engineering, and public health principles. Doing so within the framework of genuinely participative government is a challenge I find exciting. The Division provides guidance, training, technical, and administrative support to 300 field staff, who process over 40,000 permit applications annually. But this is only part of the picture. The onsite community also includes contractors, engineers, soil scientists, pumpers, academics, manufacturers, builders, real estate agents, and most especially, homeowners.
Keeping effective communication occurring among these different interest groups can be a formidable task. This web site is one attempt to provide a means to keep current with all aspects of changes in Virginia's onsite wastewater program. The Division is committed to providing an open form of government where a citizen can easily find out how decisions are made and the purpose and intent of various regulations affecting them, and learn how they can have input into future policy decisions and regulation changes. All of our regulations, proposed regulations, and policies are online and accessible. My hope is you find sufficient information, both general and technical, to help you understand not only what we do, how we do it, and why, but also what you need to make an informed decision about your wastewater needs.
You can e-mail me by writing to Don.Alexander@vdh.virginia.gov here at the health department. You can also contact me by regular mail, telephone or fax.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804)-864-7452
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: Don.Alexander@vdh.virginia.gov
I provide support and assistance to field staff, to coordinate the Department's preparation and presentation of formal appeals under the Sewage Handling and Disposal Regulations, the Private Well Regulations, and the Alternative Discharging Sewage Treatment System Regulations For Individual Single Family Dwellings. I represent OEHS in administrative proceedings as authorized by the Attorney General. I also assist in the preparation, review, and implementation of new or amended regulations. I review requests for variances to the regulations and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding these requests. My major goal as enforcement chief is to work toward fair and uniform interpretation and enforcement of the regulations statewide.
As I see it, the best way for the enforcement chief to affect the quality of Environmental Health programs in the Commonwealth is to educate and empower others to become leaders, thereby encouraging the entire environmental health team to perform at higher levels of efficiency. This means setting an example for field staff and managers, providing guidance and training, and most of all, recognizing current needs and trends (finding out "where we are") and working to define goals and a direction for the future.
You can e-mail me by writing to Allen.Knapp@vdh.virginia.gov here at the health department. You can also contact me by regular mail, telephone or fax.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804)-864-7458
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: Allen.Knapp@vdh.virginia.gov
My primary functions as a program manager at the Division are processing variances or consent orders, leading AOSE enforcement, and serving as a contact on the Private Well Regulations. I am also involved in training, data collection, and acting as a liaison to sister agencies.
After nearly eight years at the Central Office, I’ve witnessed the onsite program adjusting to the demands of Virginians in the 21st century. People continue to expect accountability and fast, efficient service, but they’re also concerned that natural resources are protected and that public health is being monitored and safeguarded. A large programmatic change has involved the work of the AOSEs. This program has evolved into a practical display of the changing business model for the onsite program in Virginia. It continues to expand and to add options for citizens with unique needs in wastewater design. I think the future bodes well for Virginians as the Department focus less on issuing permits and more on the 10 Essential Public Health Services as supported through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Environmental Health.
Our training program has improved leaps and bounds and the opening of the Virginia Center for Onsite Wastewater Training allows private and public professionals to stay sharp in their knowledge and skills. Our program strives to integrate the latest technology to improve services. We now regularly meet by Polycom using videoconferencing, enjoy a first-class data collection system in VENIS (Virginia Environmental Network Information System), and employ GPS instruments to locate sewage systems. This web site has also become an excellent resource for the public and a tool for the consulting community.
With pride and a renewed challenge to keep pace with citizen expectations, I look ahead to improving our program. According to a recent consultant’s study of the onsite program in Virginia, we can definitely improve our business model. Although we may be nationally recognized by colleagues and professional organizations as being on the cutting edge of regulatory requirements, we have work to do. It’s good to know that our outstanding team, in Richmond and throughout the Commonwealth, is also committed to innovation, to customer service, and to community health.
Please e-mail me at Duke.Price@vdh.virginia.gov or contact me by regular mail, telephone, or fax if I can be of service to you.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804)-864-7460
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: Duke.Price@vdh.virginia.gov
I implement the Indemnification Fund created by the Code of Virginia to assist any Virginia real property owner whose sewage disposal system has failed within three years as a result of negligence. I develop regulations and procedures consistent with the Code, perform field evaluations of failed sewage disposal systems and make recommendations for indemnification when appropriate. I may serve as the Virginia Department of Health's representative before the Appeal Review Board when decisions are formally appealed. I also provide training to VDH staff and appropriate private sector persons regarding indemnification policies.
I strive to provide program guidance to VDH staff and help assure that all regulations and policies are consistently and fairly implemented. I may be involved in other Division activities such as reviewing variance requests, replying to constituent concerns, interpreting policies or providing guidance for effective problem solving. I believe that I can have a positive influence on Virginia's Environmental Health programs through education. I want to provide the necessary resources for VDH staff to succeed when they assist citizens of the Commonwealth with their water and wastewater needs. I'll strive to maintain program excellence by keeping us all informed of the latest wastewater trends and technologies, working with our neighboring state partners, and being responsive to all inquiries.
You can e-mail me by writing to Dwayne.Roadcap@vdh.virginia.gov here at the health department. You can also contact me by regular mail, telephone or fax.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804)-864-7462
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: Dwayne.Roadcap@vdh.virginia.gov
You can e-mail me by writing to John.Aulbach@vdh.virginia.gov here at the health department. You can also contact me by regular mail, telephone or fax.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (540)-463-5207
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: John.Aulbach@vdh.virginia.gov
I am joining the team as a Technical Services Engineer with the primary goal to assist the division's staff in finding environmentally sound, cost-effective, permanent, onsite wastewater management solutions for our clients who do not have sanitary sewer.
Prior coming to Virginia, I spent two years in Gloucester, MA, a beautiful town in Cape Ann that is currently faced with a federal court order. Gloucester must abate coastal water pollution from inadequately functioning onsite systems (mainly cesspools). Serving as an in-house Engineering Consultant, I coordinated implementation of the National Onsite Demonstration Project. This project was undertaken to evaluate performance of alternative onsite wastewater systems. I provided training and technical support to the local contractors in installing cost-effective alternative on-site systems. We installed the first Waterloo Bio-Filter(tm) treatment system in the country as one of several alternative systems. Other systems evaluated included various types of sand filters, Bioclere(TM) and Orenco(TM) trickling filters, Infiltrator® chamber systems, as well as a shallow trench system. I developed and implemented a monitoring program to determine treatment efficiencies of these systems and their impact on ground water quality. The monitoring program also included collecting information on operational issues such as aesthetics, and odor or noise problems, and power consumption related to the use of individual home alternative systems. The final report on the Gloucester project should be ready in 1997.
My career in the onsite field started with the National Small Flows Clearinghouse as a Technical Program Coordinator. I was responsible for promoting innovative and alternative onsite wastewater systems nationally. While there, I learned about conventional and alternative onsite systems from studying available literature, attending conferences, and visiting small flows projects all over the country. In my almost five years tenure at Small Flows, I never actually got involved with the design, construction, and operation of onsite systems. So, when I was professionally challenged, by the newly elected mayor and a few citizens of Gloucester, to prove myself and my "preaching" by actually working in the "real" world, I had no choice but to accept their challenge.
In Gloucester, I thoroughly enjoyed working in the field, getting my feet wet and hands dirty. Most importantly, I learned that it's going to take more than just alternative technologies to utilize onsite systems. Onsite systems are currently available to treat wastewater in an environmentally sound, cost-effective manner, but there are limitations to the widespread use of such systems. The biggest limitation is the lack of an entity to "manage" and assure the public that adequate health and environmental protection will occur. A related limitation is many onsite regulations discourage the use of alternative onsite systems because there is no way to assure adequate long-term performance. Which comes first, proactive regulations or a management entity? Solving this chicken and egg dilemma is my biggest challenge.
How reliable are alternative systems? What's their long-term performance record? How hard is it to manage and maintain them? Who can manage them? Do we need to manage even a conventional septic system? What's this talk about "performance" code versus "prescriptive" code? How can we minimize adverse impacts from onsite small flow wastewater systems? These are some of the questions that I want to answer. I strongly believe that onsite solutions to wastewater issues makes more sense economically and environmentally. However, successful implementation of onsite solutions can only occur within a system that addresses health, environmental, management, and cost, issues related to the widespread use of onsite systems.
I look forward to sharing my knowledge and experience with everyone working in the onsite industry and learning more so we can all move forward into the 21st century.
You can e-mail me by writing to Anish.Jantrania@vdh.virginia.gov here at the health department. You can also contact me by regular mail, telephone or fax.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (804)-864-7457
Fax: (804)-864-7476
Email: Anish.Jantrania@vdh.virginia.gov
My position is to provide engineering support to the Division. This includes assisting with the review of new onsite wastewater products and drafting or reviewing of new regulations and policies. I also assist the local and district offices by reviewing site specific designs for alternative wastewater systems to ensure adherence to sound engineering principles and complaince with VDH regulations. My role includes meeting local Health Department personnel and designers at preliminary engineering conferences. I also review requests for variances to the regulations and make recommendations to the commissioner regarding these requests. I chair the Steering Committee for the Virginia Center for Onsite Wastewater Training (VCOWT) and teach one or two courses annually at VCOWT. My email address is Thomas.Joy@vdh.virginia.gov, or you can reach me by mail, phone, or fax using the information found on the right.
Contact Information:
Division of Onsite Sewage and Water Services
109 Governor St.
Richmond, VA 23219Phone: (540) 961-8424
Fax: (540) 961-8455
Email: Thomas.Joy@vdh.virginia.gov