Water & Wastewater Technician Training Institute

1. Water & Wastewater Technician Training Institute Andrew N.S. Ernest, Ph.D., P.E., BCEECenter for Water Resource StudiesWestern Kentucky University Alan Cranford Murfreesboro Water and Sewer Department Julia Kays Environmental and Public Protection Cabinet

2. FIELD OPERATIONS GPS/GIS Mapping Flow Monitoring Utility Troubleshooting Sample Collection Water Quality Monitoring Center for Water Resource Studies Water Resources Capacity Development Informatics Division WATERS Lab Field Operations Division TRAINING • Technology Tools • Laboratory Procedures • Utility Management • Pipeline Assessment Certification Program • Sample Collection & Transportation ☼ Technical Assistance Center for Water Quality ☼ Kentucky Center for Wastewater Research ☼ Kentucky Institute for Watershed Management Support ☼ Water & Wastewater Technician Training Institute • ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATICS • Applications Development • Decision Support Systems • Web Page Design & Hosting • LABORATORY SERVICES • DNA Cloning & Sequencing • Troubleshooting/ Investigations • Drinking Water & Wastewater Analysis

3. Motivating Rationale Retirements: Baby Boomers Operator Shortage Non-Competitive Wages Increased Training Burden Perception: Trade of Last Resort

4. KY-TN AWWA Alan Cranford KRWA Clem Wethington KWWOA Kim Davis Murfreesboro Water Joe Kirchner TAUD John Shadwick TN DEQ Brent Ogles WTTI Steering Committee • BGCC • Deborah Lively • BGMU • Terry Hendrick • CWRS • Andrew Ernest • Glasgow Water • Laurie Berry • HCWD#2 • Shaun Youravich • KY DCA • Julia Kays • KY DOW • Julie Roney

5. Elevation of Perception Operator Capability Career Mobility Accountability Elevation of Skill Public Health Environmental Career Advancement Targeted Recruitment Pool Scholastic Record Vocational <-> Academic Program Precepts A Profession of Choice • Integrate Practitioners • Recruit – Role Model • Retain - Mentor • Educate - Instructor • Integrated Environment • Education • Training • Capacity Development

6. Process Change

7. Learning Environment New Generation Changing Expectation Integration Professional Development Academic Credibility Career Mobility Holistic Approach Certification Capacity Development Workforce Development Goals • Model Process • Recruitment • Retention • Advancement • Extrapolatable • Other States • Differing Regulatory Structures • Other Environmental Trades

8. Objectives • On-Line Curriculum • Targeted Recruitment • Continuing Education Pathway • Modular Courses • Integrate Training into Academics • 4-Year Seamless Transition • Open-Source Cyber-Collaboratory • Virtual Mentoring Network • Retiree Engagement

9. Program Delivery • On-Line Professional Community • Open-Source (Drupal)‏ • Social Networking Precepts • Multiple Communities (KyWARN, KIWMS, etc)‏ • Operator Job Board • On-Line Course Management • Open Source (Moodle)‏ • Transportable • Virtual Laboratories • Local Experiential Programs • Utilities, Municipalities, Training Centers, etc • Locally Proctored • WATERS, Facilities Managements, etc

10. Content Management System • Blogs can be used for open discussions. • Books include a description of projects that are going on right now, and that are able to be commented on. • Contact allows you to report any problems that you have, or allows you to get answers to questions regarding the Drupal site. • Content allows you to add polls, agendas, events; it basically allows you to create content on the Drupal site. • Conferences allows you to view upcoming conference events. • Forum includes general discussion and Q & A.

11. Course Content

12. Utility Management Institute • Utility Management 101 • Utility Organization, Regulation, & Law • Utility Finance and Administration • Human Resource Management For Utilities • Modern Technology and Utility Management • Public Relations in Utility Management

13. On-Site Training • Wastewater • Discharge Monitoring Reports (DMR) • KPDES Permits • Laboratory Procedures • Sampling Procedures • Plant Troubleshooting • PACP/MACP • Water • Laboratory Procedures • Sampling Procedures

14. Pipeline & Manhole Assessment Certification Program (PACP/MACP)‏ PACP MACP • Background to technical issues • Overview of condition categorization • Standard CCTV Inspection Forms • Observation and Defect Coding (Structural Defects)‏ • Operational and Maintenance Defects (Construction and Miscellaneous Features)‏ • Upon completion of course and passing a written exam, students become certified users • Similar coding to pipeline assessment, with the following additions: • Manhole surface type • Potential for runoff • Access point type • Northing • Easting • Elevation • Evidence of surcharge

15. Crypto & Giardia Training • Introduction of what a Cryptosporidium is • Background information on the LT2 Rule • Defines PWS classification and what the requirements are for each classification • Monitoring Plan creation • Sampling requirements and techniques • EPA’s Data Collection and Tracking System (DCTS)‏

16. Recruitment • Regional Science Resource Center • Operator Role-Model • Target Higher-Ed Detractors • Time • On-Line • While-You-Work • Cost • Utility Internships • Trade Association Scholarships • Clarity of Job Prospects • Professional vs Academic • Internship Exposure

17. Retention • Modular Courses • Integration of PDHs • PDH vs Academic Contact Hours • Assessment of Learning • Maximize Engagement & Knowledge Retention • Complement Experiential Components • Mentoring • Retiree Knowledge Retention • On-Line Professional Community • Faculty Development • On-Line Instruction • Academician/Practitioner Interaction

18. Academic Progression Bachelors Applied Technology CEU Associate Water Utilities Management Masters Public Administration CEO? Certified Operator UMI Bachelors Public Administration

19. AS Water Utilities Management • General Education (21 hrs)‏ • Introduction to College Writing • Business & Professional Speaking • Introduction to Psychology • Humanities • Core (21 hrs)‏ • Basic Accounting • Introduction to Computers • Basic Business Communications • Business Seminar • Supervisory Management • Management (18 hrs)‏ • Utility Management 101 • Utility Organization, Regulation, & Law • Utility Finance and Administration • Human Resource Management For Utilities • Modern Technology and Utility Management • Public Relations in Utility Management Operations (18 hrs)‏ • Common (9 hrs)‏ • Water Supply and Wastewater Control • Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems • Water and Wastewater Instrumentation and Control • Water 9 (hrs)‏ • Introduction to Water Treatment Processes • Calculation and Hydraulics for Water • Advanced Water Treatment Processes or • Wastewater (9 hrs)‏ • Introduction to Wastewater Treatment Processes • Calculation and Hydraulics for Wastewater • Advanced Wastewater Treatment Processes Electives (3 hrs)‏ Electrical & Mechanical Systems

20. Timeline

21. Organization and Growth • Organizations • Academic Institutions • Certifying Agencies • Trade Associations • Utilities/Municipalities • Committees • Steering • Recruitment & Student Success • Certifications & Policy • Replication & Sustainability

22. Sustainability • Seed Funding • Workforce Development (Utilities, State, EPA, NSF)‏ • Educational Technologies (State, Dept. of Ed.)‏ • Marketing • Branding - “I Wasn’t Born an Operator, but I Became one as Soon as I Could…” • Outreach – “Save a Watershed, become a Wastewater Operator…” • Evolution • Policy – through multi-sector Dialogue • Technology – Industry Relevant • Open-Enterprise Philosophy • Knowledge is Free • Effort is Rewarding

23. Interested? • Steering Committee Meetings • Looking for Partners • Universities, Community Colleges, Vo-Techs • Utilities, Municipalities, Districts • Trade Associations • State, Tribal & Federal Agencies • Looking for Students • Contact • http://WATERKY.org • Andrew.Ernest@WKU.edu