IOWWA Conference

IOWWA 28th ANNUAL CONFERENCE
January 6 - 7, 2027 (Pre-Conference - Jan. 5, 2027)
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel | Cedar Rapids Convention Complex
350 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids IA

Plans are being finalized for the 28th IOWWA conference! Exceptional breakout session presenter information is listed below. Updates to the list will be made as details are confirmed. The Exhibit Hall will be open throughout the conference to see state-of-the art technology and learn from knowledgeable manufacturing representatives. Registration is open and listed in the Trainings and Events, Upcoming Trainings!

Continuing Education: Each conference attendee receives a punch card listing all presentations and the number of CE hours that can be earned by attending various sessions on Wed. and Thurs. These can be used for the CIOWTS credential renewal and Time of Transfer inspector CE requirements (Time of Transfer hours are ONLY given when indicated on the punch card.) NOTE: Continuing education hours are based on actual class time only.

Lodging: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids IA, Ph: 319-731-4444
Use this link: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel
The room rate is $163.00, plus tax and fees. Book your room early! Room block cut-off is Dec. 10, 2026.

CONFERENCE SESSION PRESENTERS

Presenter: Cory Frank, Iowa Department of Natural Resources
Title: Iowa DNR Update and Education
Content: Iowa DNR staff, Cory Frank, will discuss and educate the audience on ongoing and emerging topics related to private septic systems, commercial septic cleaners, and time of transfer program issues.

Presenter: Aimee Devereaux, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Title: Hydraulic Loading for Time of Transfer Inspections
Content: This session will be a brief refresher of hydraulic loading during a Time of Transfer Inspection and proper documentation.
Presenter: Aime Devereaux & Katie Resor, Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC)
Title: It Looked Flat on Google Earth: Site Evaluation and Install 101
Content: This session covers the brief overview of the essentials of septic system installation, including site evaluation, system selection, soil considerations, and installation best practices. Learn how to work with homeowners, communicate with county sanitarians, and avoid common pitfalls that lead to costly mistakes. Whether you’re new to the trade or refreshing your skills, this class offers practical tips for compliant, efficient installations.

Presenter: Mark Gruwell
Title: 10 Terms and Conditions That Avoid Customer Disputes
Content: Assumptions, Iowa nice, and unclear expectations lead to unpaid bills, messy disputes, and wasted time. Walk away from this session with 10 essential terms and conditions to consider putting in writing before every job — from payment terms to property damage liability — so you get paid without getting hosed.

Presenter: Dr. Sara Heger
Title: Septic Tank Sizing: Bigger Is Better
Content: This presentation reviews the septic tank as a primary treatment unit and explores how sizing, geometry, hydraulic retention time, watertightness, access, and secondary protection contribute to system performance and longevity. Participants will connect settling theory with practical sizing and maintenance decisions. Learning Objectives: Analyze the septic tank’s role as a primary treatment unit, apply settling theory to tank geometry and sizing decisions, and connect hydraulic retention time to effective sludge and scum separation and storage,
Title: Sampling – Where, When and How
Content: Taking wastewater samples from onsite sewage treatment systems is an important task for service providers, operators, maintainers, designers, and engineers. This session covers sampling locations, timing, equipment, representative collection practices, and how sampling data can be used to compare systems, rate performance, and calculate loading rates. Learning Objectives: Select appropriate sampling locations and timing, collect representative wastewater samples, and use sampling results to compare systems, rate performance, and calculate loading rates.
Title: Overview of Aerobic Treatment Unit
Content: This session introduces aerobic treatment units, including common configurations, treatment similarities and differences, and the biological processes that transform solids into gases, cell mass, and non-degradable material. Participants will gain a practical understanding of how ATUs support advanced wastewater treatment.
Learning Objectives: Identify common aerobic treatment unit configurations, explain the biological role of oxygen in treatment, and evaluate factors that influence ATU performance and maintenance.
Title: Commercial Design Considerations
Content: This session examines design considerations for commercial and high-strength wastewater applications, including variable use patterns, waste strength, nutrients, solids, and organic loading. Participants will review characterization needs, flow equalization, and design strategies that support long-term system performance. Learning Objectives: Characterize commercial wastewater sources, evaluate high-strength design considerations, and identify design and management strategies that improve long-term performance.

Presenters: Trooper Job Huisman, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Dept. of Public Safety and Rick Miene, Miene Septic Service
Title: Oversize Permitting, Cargo Securement, Registration/Paperwork Clarifications and Q&A
Content: This hands-on session will cover information on the Iowa Dept. of Public Safety state enforcement and vehicle operations on cargo securement, necessary registration and paperwork, as well as time for questions.

Presenter: Laura Johnston, REHS/RS, Honest Ground Environmental Consulting
Title: Where Is the Wastewater Going?
Content: Using anonymized onsite wastewater case studies, this interactive session follows the evidence when permits, property records, system components, and site conditions do not agree. Participants will practice tracing wastewater, identifying contradictions, testing assumptions, and distinguishing what the evidence suggests from what it actually proves.

Presenter: Louis Licht, Ecolotree Inc.
Title: Sustainable and Scalable Phyto Treatment Using PhAGR
Content: PhAGR (Phyto-attached Growth Reactor) has made septic tank effluent into a legal discharge year-round. The patented and permitted system uses a combination of aerobic stuff sacks and anoxic basin filled with basalt rock to grow poplar and willow trees. The source water from a 49 RV park in Hermiston OR averages 2,500 gpd. Uses 94% less energy than a package treatment plant.

Presenter: Sam Lines, MBA, Concrete Sealants, Inc.
Title: Watertight Precast Concrete Tanks
Content: From joints to walls, the need for holding water in an assembled concrete structure is an increasingly necessary task. Infiltration can overload the system, and exfiltration may cause contamination of soils. In this presentation you will learn about the differences between watertight and dampproof. Joints are often thought of as a concern for water passage; concrete is a porous material and can contribute to seepage as well.
Title: Microbially Induced Corrosion in Concrete Tanks
Content: Hydrogen sulfide gas in a septic tank is a nuisance and a health hazard. Bacteria above the liquid converts the gas into acid, causing spotty corrosion of concrete. Research over the past decade has provided information that is leading to modifications that reduce the gas in tanks. After attending this presentation, you will know how to mitigate the exposure to the gas and stop the acid that damages the tank.

Presenter: Jamie Olenick
Title: Preventive Maintenance
Content: Machine walk around with daily maintenance. Preventive maintenance discussion and the importance of machine upkeep.

Presenter: Will Parker, Liberty Pumps
Title: Sewage and Wastewater Pump Sizing
Content: An overview wastewater pump applications and factors that go into pump selection.

Presenter: Troy Resor, R & R Septic Solutions
Title: "I'm Certified, Now What?"
Content: This session is for new to 1 year in recently certified CIOWTS contractors. Open discussion on what has been working and what mistakes have been made. We’ll cover what didn’t go right, what was forgotten, and what could have been done differently. Do you have questions about the CIOWTS renewal process, continuing education that’s required, where do I go for answers? What problems were encountered that need correction or clarification. A “Question Card” will be available in your Registration Packet to turn in when you arrive at the session. This is your opportunity to talk about your experiences in the field.

Presenter: Jeff Sherman, Sherm's Septic Services
Title: Installing with Maintenance in Mind
Content: In this class presenter is going to show you some ways to save time and money down the road when doing maintenance on conventional and alternative systems. This session is for installers and service providers.

Presenters: Josh Snyder, Contractor Solutions
Title: Trench Safety: Keeping your Workers Safe
Content: Brief overview of OSHA sub part P excavations. Review of shoring, benching and sloping rules and regulations. As well as excavation rules, soil analysis and types of shoring equipment.

Presenter: Mary Tiedemann, Iowa State University
Title: Decoding Soil Properties for Septic Suitability Assessments
Content: This session outlines how on-site soil characteristics help determine a site’s suitability for septic. Texture, color, and other features provide clues about a soil’s ability to hold and process wastewater, which is essential for septic design and installation. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, photos, or physical samples to discuss.

Presenter: Matt Wilshusen, T. G. Rankin Company
Title: Planet Care Biofilters Certification and Training Session
Content: Join us for a session on information about Planet Care Biofilters. When completed, septic providers with ongoing septic business will be factory certified to install, maintain and complete a coir exchange. We will show you what is unique of this secondary filter and how it protects Iowa. Planet Care biofilters is a hybrid filter containing 90% Coco-Coir and 10% Peat. This filter has no moving parts, making it simple to install and maintain. The peat is included to provide a “ready to serve” microbial environment that stimulates action on day one and eliminates short inactivity concerns. Planet Care distributes kits through Iowa concrete pre-casters and their contractors to install systems for homeowners.
Title: Control Panels and Alarms
Content: Matt will have a review of common electronic schematics and how to match up the schematics to common components inside a simplex panel. The session will focus on simplex/duplex panel theory for demand dose and time dose applications. Matt will discuss different floats for pumping and panel control scenarios. It will also touch on alarms for most high-water situations. Matt would love to see you in the session.

Presenter: Greg Witzenburg, One Call Investigator/Pipeline Inspector, Safety & Engineering Bureau, Iowa Utilities Commission
Title: The Anatomy of an "Oops": 811, Dig-in Disasters, and Surviving the Investigation
Content: Calling 811 is easy, surviving a utility strike is where it gets real. Discover tools that can help, immediate damage-response protocols, and how to navigate line-hit investigation. Protect your crew, your cash, and your reputation before the next bucket drops!

2026 ROE-D-HOE CONTEST - Special thanks to Housby Heavy Equipment & Rexco Equipment Inc. for sponsoring and providing the Roe-D-Hoe Equipment at this years conference! Housby is providing a Volvo ECR25 Electric Compact Excavator and Rexco Equipment will be providing a Bobcat E19-e Electric Compact (Mini) Excavator for the Roe-D-Hoe contestants to try their skills on. If you would like to sponsor an hour of the context, email penny@iowwa.com.

2027 CONFERENCE SPONSORSHIP
Event sponsor opportunities are available to showcase your company during the conference! Receive special recognition throughout the conference as well as specific inclusion in the conference program and on the IOWWA website. A slide show runs continually during the conference highlighting the conference sponsors and exhibitors. The 2027 Contract SPONSOR can be downloaded below or email penny@iowwa.com and request the sponsor contract today!

Altorfer C AT, Cedar Rapids IA - INTERNET ACCESS AND AUCTION
Cedar Rapids Winpump, Cedar Rapids IA - ESCALATOR GRAPHICS
Des Moines Winsupply, Des Moines IA - AUCTION
Planet Care Biofilters, Clive IA - PLATINUM PLUS AND ROE-D-HOE-SESSION
Rexco Equipment Inc, Cedar Rapids IA - ROE-D-HOE SESSION
Swales Precast, Strawberry Point iA - BUSINESS MEETING LUNCHEON
Synagro Technologies, Inc., Baltimore MD - AUCTION
Wastewater Supply, Riverside IA - LANYARDS

2027 EXHIBIT INFORMATION
The exhibit hall will be open throughout the conference for viewing state-of-the-art technology and learning from knowledgeable company representatives. A wide range of activities are planned in the exhibit hall including the Wednesday night “President’s Reception.” You have the option to sign-up for the Wed. morning opening vendor product showcase. A slide show also runs continually during the conference highlighting the conference exhibitors and sponsors. Download the 2027 Contract EXHIBIT below or email penny@iowwa.com and request the exhibit contract!

Altorfer C AT, Cedar Rapids IA - INTERNET ACCESS AND AUCTION
Cedar Rapids Winpump, Cedar Rapids IA - ESCALATOR GRAPHICS
Des Moines Winsupply, Des Moines IA - AUCTION
Eljen, Windsor CT
Infiltrator Water Technologies, Old Saybrook CT
Inspector Cameras LLC, Manchester NH
Martin Equipment, Cedar Rapids IA
Mid-Tech Services, New Hampton IA
Norweco, Inc., Norwalk OH
Polylok, Wallingford CT
Rexco Equipment, Inc, Cedar Rapids IA - ROE-D-HOE SESSION
Roth North America, Syracuse NY
Synagro Technologies, Inc., Baltimore MD - AUCTION
T. G. Rankin Company, Chesterfield MO
Wastewater Supply, Riverside IA - LANYARDS
Waterloo Biofilter Systems Inc., Guelph ON
Wieser Concrete, Maiden Rock WI

TRADE SHOW INFORMATION - The Trade Show will be held in the Exhibit Hall

Counters, Freight Shipment/Storage, etc. R & D Events, 1220 Capital Dr SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404, Phone: 319-202-8374, Email: office@randdevents.com. Freight and storage information are posted below in the "Documents & Files" section of this page. The forms will also be included with your confirmation.
Hilton Encore Utility Order (online): DoubleTree Hilton
Power, internet and other event technology are NOT included. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, Erik Hagen, Director, Event Technology, Ph: 319-731-4519.

Move-In - Loading dock door #1 is located on the A Avenue side of the Convention Center. The trade show will be held in the Exhibit Hall.
Vehicles/Large Equipment - Drive-in door #1 is located on the A Avenue side of the Exhibit Hall. Loading in through the drive-in door will be scheduled in advance. You will be contacted for your assigned move-in time.
VEHICLE/LARGE EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES:
* Less than ¼ tank of fuel (must be less than 5 gal.)
* Once in the building, the battery must be disconnected.
* Fuel tank must be locked/sealed tampering.
* Vehicle may not be refueled inside the building.

Set-Up: Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2027 - 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Loading dock door #1 is located on the A Avenue side of the Convention Center.
Vehicles/Large Equipment - Drive-in door #1 is located on the A Avenue side of the Convention Center. Loading in through the drive-in door will be scheduled in advance. You will be contacted for your assigned move-in time.

Exhibit Hall Schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2027. Various times throughout the day. President's Reception in the Exhibit Hall from 4:00 to 6:00 PM.
Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027. Various times throughout the morning.

Tear-down: Thursday, Jan. 7, 2027. Loading out through the drive-in door will be scheduled in advance for large equipment.

IOWA ONSITE WASTE WATER ASSOCIATION
The Annual Business Meeting of the Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association (IOWWA) will be held at 12:15 pm on January 7, 2027, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Cedar Rapids Convention Complex, 350 First Avenue NE, Cedar Rapids IA. Prior annual business minutes are posted in the below "Documents & Files" section.

	2027 IOWWA Conference Attendee Registration Form.doc	0.09 MB
	2027 Contract SPONSOR.doc	0.08 MB
	2027 Contract EXHIBIT .doc	0.09 MB
	2027 AUCTION Agreement.docx	0.02 MB
	2027 R&D Events - Exhibit Order Form.pdf	0.56 MB
	2027 R&D Events - Exhibitor Freight Instructions.docx	0.01 MB
	2026 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.06 MB
	2025 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.02 MB
	2024 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.09 MB
	2023 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.12 MB
	2021 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.14 MB
	2022 IOWWA Annual Business Meeting Minutes	0.11 MB

Iowa Onsite Waste Water Association

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