West Virginia Infrastructure and Capacity Development Program

INFORMATION

What is Capacity Development?

West Virginia Capacity Development Strategy

Report to the Governor on the West Virginia Drinking Water System Capacity Development Program

A Public Water System is...

Why does WV need a Capacity Development Program?

Capacity Development Stakeholders

Water System Capacity Baseline Assessment

Capacity Development Questionnaire

Water On Tap:Consumers Guide to the Nations Drinking Water

PROGRAMS

Water System Operator's Certification and Continuing Education Program Index

SOURCE WATER ASSESSMENT AND WELLHEAD PROTECTION PROGRAM

TRAINING AND CERTIFICATION

REGULATORY DEVELOPMENT AND COMPLIANCE

CONTACT

STAFF

CONTACT US

LINKS

           West Virginia Department of Health & Human Resources logo

 

West Virginia
Water System Operators Continuing Education Information Index

Operator Certification

To ensure proper operation and maintenance of water treatment and distribution systems, West Virginia has required certification of water system operators since the 1920s. The classifications required (I-D through IV) are dependent on the size (capacity) and complexity of the water treatment system. Minimum operator certification requirements are based on education, experience and satisfactory completion of an examination administered by the WVBPH. WVBPH provides regularly scheduled training sessions and examinations for all operator classifications.

Continuing Education Requirements

In order to maintain compliance with the 1996 amendments to the Federal Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), states were required to have an operators certification program that included continuing education requirements. To maintain SDWA compliance and retain primacy for implementation of SDWA programs, West Virginia revised its operator certification regulations incorporating continuing education requirements. The revised regulations became effective July 1, 2001, and require Class I operators obtain 12 and Class II, III and IV operators obtain 24 continuing education hours every two years to be recertified.

The WVBPH has establishing the program elements necessary to implement the continuing education requirements (e.g., what training will be approved, how many hours of credit will be awarded for various training programs, how will these determinations be made, etc.). The Commissioner of the WVBPH will only recognize course work held under responsible sponsorship, qualified instructors and appropriate to the water treatment field. Obviously, the course content is the most important factor to be considered when evaluating a course for approval. The instructor or instructors of any training program are also critical to the learning process. It is mandatory for the course sponsor to submit a completed EW-78 WVBPH Operator Training Course Approval Application Form completed as outlined in the EW-78 Instructions along with all related materials in the format required. Courses must be approved by the Commissioner and attendance documented by the operator before WVBPH will accept the CEHs for operator re-certification.

Training Services/Classes

The WBPH provides regular training sessions for water operator certification. Numerous water industry organizations provide training necessary for water operator continuing education. WVBPH maintains a list of courses approved for water operator continuing education. WVBPH also publishes a annual calendar of training events for water operators.  Also listed are approved courses for wastewater continuing education.

Staff Directory

Richard Watson Capacity Development Manager
E-mail: richardwatson@wvdhhr.org
Philip Martino Certification/Training
E-mail: pmartino@wvdhhr.org

 


This site maintained by the West Virginia Water System Capacity Development Program. Please address any comments or questions
to the program or the webmaster.