Register Now for the Premier Educational Event in 2009!

ASPE and the Plumbing Contractors of American are co-hosting the 2009 Plumbing Engineering and Contracting Technical Symposium, October 22–25, in Dearborn, Michigan. Don’t miss your chance to learn about residential fire sprinkler systems, solar energy systems, and rainwater harvesting systems, as well as many other exciting topics. A special hands-on BIM session will be offered as well. Register here now.

Have you visited ASPE E-Learning?

If you're looking to increasing your skill set, learn a new procedure, or just want to increase your opportunities for advancement, ASPE E-Learning is the most convenient and affordable way to achieve those goals. We offer a complete set of e-learning courses to help you increase your knowledge or earn CEU/PDH credits. New courses are being added.

ASPE Archived Webinars

Unable to participate in a live webinar? Miss a webinar you wanted to see? No problem. Access to ASPE archived webinars is now available, which allows you to view and listen to previously recorded events at a time that is most convenient for you. ASPE members can view archived webinars for free depending on if the webinar was sponsored during the original broadcast. 

EDUCATIONAL AND NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES

NEW! Washington, D.C., Fishing Trip Being Held Tomorrow

Join the ASPE Washington, D.C., chapter on the Chesapeake Bay for some rockfish fishing! Last year participants tore up the fish. This year, the vessel is the Loosen Up out of Deale, Maryland. Space is limited, so it is fist come, first to fish! Contact Juan Rojas for more information.

June 8: Kansas City Golf Outing

ASPE’s Kansas City Chapter is holding its golf outing at Sunflower Hills Golf Course in Bonner Springs, Kansas. Cost is $90 per person (includes dinner). Visit www.kc-aspe.com for more information.

Updated: Phoenix Medgas Seminar Rescheduled for June 12

RSVP to Dorothy Thrasher (602-824-5238) by tomorrow.

June 12: Pittsburgh Golf Outing

ASPE's Pittsburgh Chapter is holding its golf outing at the River Forest Country Club in Freeport, Pennsylvania. Cost is $85 per golfer. For more information, contact Joe Starr (412-782-3357) or Don Ditter (412-209-2903).

June 12–13: Ft. Worth Basic Design Class

ASPE’s Dallas/Ft. Worth Chapter and PVI North Texas Sales are holding this course, covering terminology, trade tendencies, a history of the profession, basic calculations, and other critical areas of design. Each attendee will receive the Course Handbook and 1.6 CEUs or 16 REUs. Contact Rick Lobb to apply.

June 15: Buffalo Golf Tournament

ASPE’s Buffalo-Niagara Chapter’s golf outing is being held at the Bridgewater Country Club in Ft. Erie, Ontario. Cost is $75 per golfer (includes lunch). Contact Irv Garleck (716-316-3545) to register. For sponsorships, contact Joe Eppolito (716-633-5300).

June 17: Southern California Golf Tournament

ASPE’s San Diego Chapter is holding its “Meeting in the Meadow” golf outing at the Carlton Oaks Lodge and Country Club in Santee, California. Cost is $99 per golfer. Click here for more information.

June 23: Salt Lake City Golf Tournament

ASPE’s Intermountain Chapter is holding its golf tournament at Mt. Dell Golf Course in Parley’s Canyon, Utah. Cost is 75$ per person. Registration deadline is tomorrow. For more information, contact Suzanne Kocherhans (801-322-0487).

June 23: Central Ohio Golf Tournament

ASPE’s Central Ohio Chapter is holding its annual golf outing at the Links at Echo Springs. Click here for a registration form (page 8).

June 24: Atlanta Golf Tournament

ASPE Atlanta Chapter’s annual golf outing is being held at The Golf Club at Bradshaw Farms in Woodstock, Georgia. Click here to register.

June 26: Interleague Evening at Camden Yards

ASPE’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C., Chapters have a limited number of $5 tickets to the Baltimore Orioles/Washington Nationals game at 7:06 p.m. Contact Ben Ploskon to request tickets.

NEW! Minneapolis-area Golf Outing Being Held July 15

ASPE’s Minnesota Chapter is holding its golf tournament at Crystal Lake Golf Club in Lakeville, Minnesota. Cost is $95 for ASPE members and $125 for nonmembers. Contact John Bennerotte to register.

July 18: Cleveland Minor League Baseball Outing

Join the ASPE Cleveland Chapter in watching the Lake County Captains take on the Greenville Drive. Cost is $9. Request tickets from Mitch Clemente no later than June 12.

August 3: Johnstown-area Golf Outing

ASPE’s Johnstown Chapter is holding its golf tournament at the Windber Country Club in Salix, Pennsylvania. Cost is $100 per golfer (includes lunch and dinner). Contact Jim Spinelli for more information.

August 6: Cleveland-area Golf Tournament

The joint ASPE/ASSE golf outing will be held at Fowlers Mill Golf Course in Chesterland, Ohio. Cost is $115 per golfer (includes dinner). Click here for a registration form (page 6).

INDUSTRY NEWS

Texas Legislature Passes Bill to Prohibit Enforcement of Sprinklers

In the 81st Legislature Regular Session, both the Texas House and Senate passed Senate Bill 1410, relating to the licensing and regulation of plumbers and multipurpose residential fire protection sprinkler specialists, to which a last-minute amendment was added that prohibits municipalities from requiring a sprinkler system in a new or existing one- or two-family dwelling. The bill has been sent to the governor for approval or veto.

Krispy Kreme Blamed for Raw Sewage Leaks

According to the Associated Press, Fairfax County, Virginia, officials are blaming Krispy Kreme doughnuts for clogging and damaging the county’s sewer system by dumping yeast and grease from a plant in Lorton. Officials filed a lawsuit after the company refused to pay a $1.9 million bill for repairs to the system. The lawsuit says the damage was caused by "excessive quantities of highly corrosive wastes, doughnut grease, and other pollutants" and that clogged pipes resulted in raw sewage leaks that shut down the southern Fairfax sewer system. County workers say they once ran a closed-circuit camera inside a pipe to show the grease deposits, but the camera got stuck in the goop. Krispy Kreme says the charges are unfounded.

Wastewater Plant to Turn Grease and Food Scraps Into Energy

West Lafayette, Indiana, has nearly completed a major renovation project at its wastewater treatment plant that will allow the city to convert FOG and food scrap waste from Purdue University to produce energy to help power the plant. An efficient, externally pumped mixing system is housed inside a digester building, which also incorporates a sludge heating system, with heat exchangers and a boiler, and a cogeneration system that will use the digester gas (methane) to generate electricity and heat. The methane gas will generate between 20 and 30 percent of the total electricity needed to operate the plant.

Water Efficiency Is Next Critical Stage of the Green Building Industry

Architecture and engineering firms, contractors, and owners report that water efficiency is rapidly becoming a higher priority than other aspects of green building, according to McGraw-Hill Construction's latest report, Water Use in Buildings. Owners are especially committed to water-efficient practices, with 42 percent reporting that more than three-quarters of current projects incorporate water-efficient designs. Business benefits are the key growth drivers, as companies focus on the bottom line. Primary motivators include reducing energy use (87 percent) and reducing operating costs (84 percent). Increased government regulation and the desire to lower energy costs are also expected to trigger faster adoption of water-efficient products and methods.

India Develops Plumbing Engineering Training Program

IAPMO, the Indian Plumbing Association, and the Indian Institute of Plumbing have developed the Plumbing Education to Employment Program to help train plumbing design engineers, plumbing construction managers, and plumbing installers. The program will be implemented in partnership with colleges, polytechnics, and industrial training institutes in India.

California No-lead Show Being Held July 16

Anyone who buys, sells, or installs products that must comply with California AB 1953 should attend this conference at the Hyatt Orange County, hosted by the California Metals Coalition. It will include panel discussions providing the latest information about California’s no-lead law, as well as a product show where manufacturers will be explaining how they are making the transformation. Click here to register.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

First Lead-free Point-of-Use TMV Released

Bradley Corp. has added a lead-free compression thermostatic mixing valve to its Navigator line. This TMV contains less than 0.25 percent lead content and meets lead-free requirements as defined by CA AB 1953.