PSMA Members

Code of Ethics

PSMA Code of Ethics

Adopted January 8, 2000

Preamble

The Pennsylvania Septage Management Association (PSMA) Board of Directors holds all members to a high ethical standard. PSMA wishes to remind all members to conduct business in a professional and ethical manner.

PSMA believes in the importance of environmental protection and in complete compliance with all applicable laws, regulations and standards.

The Board of Directors has, therefore, defined the ethical standards which its members must accept as a condition of membership.

Compliance
PSMA members are committed to the compliance with all state and local regulations.

Onlot Wastewater Treatment System Inspections
The use of the PSMA/NOF Inspection Standards is restricted to individuals who have completed the required training and achieved a passing test score. When performing a PSMA/NOF Inspection, inspectors must fully apply the Standards. No part of the applicable PSMA/NOF Standards may be excluded.

Quality Management
PSMA members shall practice sound management in all activities, including but not limited to: inspections of onlot wastewater treatment systems; installation of onlot wastewater treatment systems; and, the processing, transport, storage and final use or disposal of septage and other biosolids materials.

Complaints Procedure
If the PSMA Ethics Committee receives a written complaint concerning a member not abiding by this Code of Ethics, an investigation will be performed and a report will be presented to the Board of Directors. The member against whom the assertion is made may present a report as well. The Board of Directors will hear all parties and a decision will be made based on majority agreement. If the assertion(s) pertain to the Onlot Wastewater Treatment Inspection Standards, the Board of Directors will have the option to revoke or suspend any individual,s Inspection Certification, preventing them from performing PSMA/NOF inspections, if such individual is found not to be fully implementing the inspection Standards.

Performance Standards for Treatment Tank Pumping and Cleaning of the Pennsylvania Septage Management Association.

Revised 2004

Safety
At all times, the technician's personal safety, as well as protection of the environment and the customer's property, shall receive the highest priority.

Generally, tanks should not be entered as they are a hazardous environment. If entry is required, appropriate safety measures and equipment consistent with OSHA requirements should be employed.

Accessing tanks
Tanks shall ONLY be pumped from/through the manhole/access port of each tank or tank compartment.

Tanks shall NOT be pumped from/through the observation port.

No liquids or solids are to be discharged into/through the outlet pipe.

Tank Cleaning
The liquid, solid and semi-solid material in a treatment tank is removed by a vacuum or centrifugal pump fitted with a hose which delivers the material to a truck-mounted, sealed tank.

Where necessary to break-up solids, back-washing with clean water or material of a similar nature already on board the pumper truck may be employed.

Another process that breaks up solids is the removal of a large portion of the material. Then, air is forcefully blown back into the liquid remaining in the tank. This thoroughly agitates and breaks up remaining solids. Finally, the loosened material is pumped out.

Mechanical means (scraping, raking, etc.) are NOT necessary but may be employed provided that appropriate safeguards are taken to prevent injury.

When backwashing or injecting air, care shall be taken NOT to fill/refill the tank to a level greater than 12" below the elevation of the outlet pipe.

How clean is clean?
Tanks shall be deemed to be clean when all organic solids are removed and the total average liquid depth remaining in the tank is less than 1".

Standard Services
Every pump-out shall include a visual inspection of the interior of the tank and its environs. The inspection shall include a determination regarding the presence of baffles and their condition as well as the physical condition of the treatment tank. Presence and condition of observation port(s) and manhole extension/riser shall also be reported.

Additives
PSMA has no position on the use of chemical or bacterial additives for treatment tanks as the research on these is inconclusive.

Local, State and Federal Laws and Regulations
At all times, and in all phases of operations, pumper businesses and equipment operators shall comply with all laws and regulations regarding the activities associated with onlot wastewater system maintenance and disposal of materials removed therefrom.

Reports
In the event that the technician observes conditions that indicate a tank or its components or any other components are not performing in a satisfactory manner, i.e., they are not performing as intended, are broken or missing, this information shall be reported in writing to the landowner. This report may be incorporated with the bill for services, a receipt for same or may be a separate document as selected by the pump out service provider. These observations are independent of an actual "PSMA/NOF Inspection" and do not rise to that level of intensity or specificity.

Where the municipality requires documentation of pump-out and tank and site conditions, the pumper shall not be prevented by the landowner from complying with municipal requirements. A copy of any report sent to the municipality shall also be provided to the landowner.

SEPARATION OF REPAIR SERVICES PROPOSALS FROM INSPECTIONS REPORTS POLICY

To avoid a conflict of interest or the appearance of same, members of this association shall not combine an inspection report and a proposal, offer, or quote to provide the services described in said inspection report. To enjoy the freest access to the market place, PSMA members who complete inspections may, if they so choose, include any or all of the following statements in their inspection reports:

This company is capable of providing the services described elsewhere in this report and has provided the necessary price quote or estimate, a list of services to be provided, and any related documents under separate cover.

If requested, this company will providing the necessary price quote or estimate, a list of services to be provided and related documents.

Every inspection report that indicates that repairs are necessary must include this statement: "You may select any service provider, however work not performed by this company must be inspected by a PSMA/NOF certified inspector in order to verify satisfactory repairs and issue an updated inspection report."

There are three exceptions to the above.

1. When the system is to be pumped and the service provider is hired to excavate to the tank to gain access, the provider may at the time of service offer a quote to install an appropriate riser to enable easier access in the future.

2. When, at the conclusion of a treatment tank pump-out, it is determined that one or more baffles is missing or their repair or replacement is necessary, the provider may offer a quote to install a new baffle or repair the damaged baffle(s) at the time of pump-out service. This will enable the work to be done without requiring a second tank pump-out.

3. Identification of services and corresponding pricing to complete additional services necessary to complete the inspection process.