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Purpose
The overall goal of the program is to develop more qualified operators.
Participants learn about water or wastewater treatment and other
relevant subject matter---e.g., applied math and chemistry. During
this
program, the operator is exposed to the basics which s/he must know in
order to become licensed
and advance through the various levels of
licensure.
No attempt is made to structure the short school as a
direct prep school for licensure, although the benefits
to those
taking licensure examinations are evident.
About the Program
The training program for water and wastewater
operators at Virginia Tech has been offered annually for many years
and is recognized as one of the most successful programs in the
country. Gregory Boardman, a professor of Civil and Environmental
Engineering at Virginia Tech, has served as director of the program
since 1980. Typically, the total number of participants in water and
wastewater classes each year is approximately 200. Obviously, a
program of this size requires considerable effort on the part of
many individuals. Wayne Staples of Virginia's
Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) organize and coordinate
wastewater classes, and Mark Anderson and Renata Fonville of the
Virginia Department of Health (VDH) organize and coordinate the
water classes. The program is hosted by Continuing and Proffesional Education
personnel who are involved in all aspects of the
program.
The program is divided into eight short courses - four water
classes and four wastewater classes. Each course requires one
week to complete. The first level or first year in each area, water or
wastewater, is designed to be introductory. A person need not have
any prior training or experience to enroll in the first year class.
Additionally, the person need not have a job at a treatment plant to
enroll. One of the goals of the program is to bring more people to
the field of plant operations. Another very important goal is to
enhance the understanding, awareness and abilities of practicing
operators and those who aspire to become operators.
The program is not designed to simply "teach" the operator
licensing exams, although it is immediately obvious to participants
that the material being presented will help them pass licensing
exams. The material in the various classes is very applied and
practical. For example, applied math and chemistry are taught by way
of real world problems. Participants are shown how to maintain
equipment. Apparatus used in the laboratory and in the field (e.g.
valves and pumps) are demonstrated in classes. Included among the
instructors in the program are DEQ and VDH employees, plant
operators, industrial personnel, employees of firms working in the
field, and Virginia Tech faculty.
| NEW! Applied Math and Basic Sciences
Short Course (Math/Sci)
Under the auspices of a grant from VDH, a short course
(Math/Sci) and extensive training manual were developed for
waterworks operators in 2007. The course covers applied math
and basic sciences, which sets a foundation for the topics
taught in the Water 1-3 classes. It is recommended that
students take the new course prior to Water 1 or 2. Subject
matter from the other water classes is being transferred into
the Math/Sci class so that Water 1-3 instructors can entertain
more subject matter and current topics.
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Course Level/Year
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Audience
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Description
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| 1
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Water/Wastewater
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Introductory; helps with Class VI-III licensing
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| 2
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Water/Wastewater
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Intermediate; helps with Class III-II licensing
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| 3
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Water/Wastewater
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Advanced; helps with Class II-I licensing
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| 4
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Wastewater only
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Advanced; helps with Class II-I wastewater licensing and covers selected supervisory issues
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New!
Applied Math
and Basic Science
(Math/Sci)
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Water only
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Introductory; helps with Class VI-I waterworks licensing
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Participants should bring calculators to class.
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