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Certificate Program in Water Treatment Operations

Recognized by:
Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Labour
In Cooperation with: the Centre for Water Resource Studies (CWRS)

This program is designed for individuals who are stakeholders in the treatment and delivery of safe, clean drinking water. The curriculum features an integrated focus on environmental, biological, chemical, legal/due diligence issues and human behaviour protocols for safe drinking water. Focus is on the multiple-barrier approach, scientific principles and fail-safe approaches that will lessen the opportunity for compromising water quality at a treatment and/or distribution facility.

Graduates of the program will have acquired the knowledge necessary to:

• manage and/or operate a water treatment facility
• prepare against potential liabilities
• ensure compliance of existing federal and provincial regulatory requirements
• develop, implement and monitor management systems for water treatment facilities

California State University (at Sacramento) & ABC Examinations
The program is in line with material presented in the California State University (at Sacramento) correspondence courses with the necessary adjustments to replace reference to US regulations with Canadian regulations. Also, as Nova Scotia Department of Environment, Water and Wastewater Branch use the Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) examinations, our program is designed to support that process. Successful completion of this program can be used as part of the post high-school training or education requirement for operator certification. However, operators wishing to address the provincial certification requirements should contact their respective regulatory authority for operator certification examination details.

Our Instructors
This program has been developed in consultation with the Nova Scotia Department of Environment & Labour, Water and Wastewater Branch and the Dalhousie University Centre for Water Resources Studies. Lead instructor for the program is Dr. Graham Gagnon, P.Eng., with additional instructors and guest speakers drawn from regulatory bodies, the water treatment field and the legal profession.

Who Should Apply
Current water treatment plant operators or those wishing to pursue a career in water operations, facility managers and/or supervisors. In addition to the above, engineers, and technical managers in the public and private sector, pulp and paper, process industry, the legal profession and the agricultural industry who are involved with water process operations.

Certificate Requirements
To achieve the Certificate in Water Treatment Operations, participants are required to successfully complete all 4 courses, which amounts to approximately 104 classroom hours. Candidates for the certificate program will be required to meet certain criteria specific to each course. The student must attain a minimum of 60 percent per course. There is a student evaluation at the end of each course.

Attendance on an Audit Basis
Those wishing to attend courses for non-credit professional development purposes are welcomed.

Fees
The total cost for the 4 course program is $4045 or $4120 depending on early or late registration fees. The program is HST exempt and fees include the cost of all course materials.

Scheduling
Courses are offered over three terms: fall, winter and spring, beginning in September, running to the end of June. It is possible to complete the program in one academic year. A maximum of four years is allowed for program completion. All four courses will be offered each academic year.

Compulsory Courses
The program requirement is now four courses instead of the original five course requirement. As of 2006, Parts 1 & 2 have been combined into one four-day course.

Source Water Protection & Treatment Fundamentals - four days (formerly Part 1 & 2)
A solid introduction to water quality parameters of the common types of water sources, treatment processes and regulatory framework in the province of Nova Scotia. Features a hands-on approach for determining chemical dosages and flow rates, plant tours and focused laboratory sessions at the Faculty of Engineering, Water Quality Lab.

Process Fundamentals - three days (prerequisite: Source Water Protection & Treatment Fundamentals)
Operational perspective of plant operations, management of treatment operations, and maintenance operations through a hands-on approach to optimization of plant performance and benchmarking for success. Includes one day at a water treatment plant and an interactive session on water main disinfection regulations.

Facility Management (Benchmarking, Health & Safety, Budget & Planning, Human Resources, Communication) - three days
Operational perspective on key issues to improve facilities operations effectiveness and reduce operational costs.

Water Regulatory Framework (Environmental Law, Due Diligence, Emergency Response, Record Keeping & Reporting) - three days
Covers the environmental regulatory regime within which operators, utilities, and the government operates. Practical day-to-day operational issues are reviewed to gain a clear understanding of the regulatory requirements and the roles and responsibilities of facility personnel.

To view courses available in this certificate program click here.