LOCATION OF THIS COURSE IS TO BE DETERMINED

Colorado Soil and Site Evaluation Course

This course is designed to meet the requirements of the Section 43.5.I.2.b of Regulation #43 for a Competent Technician.  Passing the course examination will demonstrate competency in the visual and tactile evaluation of soil.  Certificates of Competency will be provided to participants that pass this exam. *THIS COURSE IS A PRE-REQUISITE FOR THE CPOW DESIGN COURSE*  If you are planning to attend the CPOW Design Course, you will need to have previously attended the CPOW Soils Course and obtained the Certificate of Competency from the class.

Below is the description of the course as it has been presented in the past. Changes to the schedule for our upcoming 2025 courses are possible. *PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MATERIAL COVERED FOR THIS CLASS DOES NOT COVER ANY INSTRUCTION IN SEPTIC DESIGN*

Day one of the course is primarily classroom instruction on the items noted below, along with a “hands-on” exercise where participants hand texture pre-determined samples of all soil types.  Day 2 includes a field component, where participants will learn to apply the site evaluation principles learned from day one.

Day One includes:

1. Basic Principles of On-Site Wastewater Treatment (OWTS) siting and design
2. Regulation specific requirements for conducting preliminary and field site investigations with “real world” examples
3. Basic geology and soil formation processes
4. Percolation test methods
5. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) soils classification system
6. Relationship between soil types and movement & treatment of effluent
7. Basics of how to identify limiting layers and high rock content (Type R soils)
8. Hands-on soil texturing

Day Two includes:

1. Preview of field site
2. Site visit and test pit evaluation
3. Re-cap of site visit
4. Review and Q&A
5. Exam

Upon successful completion of the course, you will gain competency in the following activities:

• Principles of OWTS siting and design
• Identification of:
  • soil types by hand texturing and observation
  • Soil structure
  • Limiting layers
• Determining the most promising location for the soil treatment area infiltrative surface

Certificates of Competency will be provided after completion of the course to participants that pass the exam at the end of Day 2. *CPOW Soils Certificates of Competency do NOT currently require CEU hours for renewal to remain valid*

Course Instructors:

Roy Laws, P.E.
Jefferson County Public Health – Retired
Environmental Health Services Division

Diana Rashash
Arapahoe County Public Health
Senior Water Quality Specialist

Cost:

2-day Attendance (Full Certification): $360 for CPOW members and $460 for Non-Members.

1-Day Attendance (Certificate Renewal): $285 for CPOW Members & $385 for Non-Members.

*A 1-day Attendance at this course qualifies for 8 CEU hours towards any current NAWT Certificate. Please note that each registration includes ONE (1) Certificate of Competency OR NAWT Renewal, and any additional requested NAWT renewals are $75/each.

You must have a 2025 CPOW membership to receive member pricing.

Registration is now available for the course:

For Course Registration, please click HERE to register.

*REGISTRATION FOR THE IN-PERSON OPTION WILL CLOSE AT 5:00PM MDT ON MONDAY, MAY 26TH OR WHEN THE COURSE REACHES CAPACITY, WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST*

You can also email Lisa Nicoll at cpow@cpow.net and include the registrant(s) Name, any applicable Company Name, Mailing Address, and Phone Number.

*The CPOW Soils Course can be used to renew any current NAWT Certificate. NAWT Certificates require 8 CEU hours every 2 years to remain current.*

CPOW EXAM POLICY:

• If the exam is not passed during the first attempt, a second attempt will be allowed, and will be scheduled after the first attempt. If the second attempt does not result in a passing score, or if the rescheduled exam date is missed with no notification, the participant will need to re-take the full course again, but at the Audit/Observe rate ($210) due to the certification being paid for with the first registration. The registration for the next class will provide for two additional attempts to take the exam to obtain a passing grade.