CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Drinking Water and Waste Water Technology program at the Lake County Campus of Woodland Community College is now offered as a one-year cohort that starts in the fall semester and can be completed the following spring.

The college offers a certificate program to help fill the growing need for water and wastewater utility workers in California.

Due in part to the aging workforce, there is a need for certified water and wastewater operators throughout the state.

This program will assist students in acquiring the skills and the certification to begin this exciting new career.

There are about 8,000 public drinking water systems and 1,000 wastewater treatment systems in California, and around 100 systems in Lake County alone.

These public utilities deliver safe drinking water to their customers and provide for safe treatment and disposal of wastewater.

Federal and state law requires that the men and women that operate these facilities be certified through the State Water Resources Control Board.

This 18-unit certificate program is designed to educate the layperson on water and wastewater utilities, prepare students for taking exams to become certified by the state of California and to assist with the pursuit of a career in the water and/or the wastewater utility industry.

Three level-one courses are offered in the fall starting on Aug. 14: Water distribution system operations and management, water treatment plant operations and wastewater treatment plant operations.

The level-two courses in these three areas are offered in the spring semester, which begins in January.

Drinking water comes from groundwater wells and from surface water sources like lakes and rivers.

State and federal laws require that this water be tested, and treated if necessary, before it is deemed safe drinking water.

The testing and the treating of safe drinking water is a task performed by certified water operators.

The State Water Resources Control Board certifies operators for public drinking water systems by through a testing process.

This program at Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus will prepare students to take this exam, while learning the importance of testing and treating water for drinking and other purposes.

Protection of our drinking water sources from contaminants in California has become more important than ever. Often drinking water sources become contaminated by sewage.

Wastewater treatment and disposal is becoming more important as the need for safe drinking water sources increases.

One of the end products of wastewater treatment is the recycled wastewater, which used to be considered a disposable byproduct of wastewater treatment.

Today this product is in high demand, and only certified wastewater operators can produce and provide this valuable resource while also protecting drinking water sources.

The primary purpose of this certificate program is to assist individuals with acquiring the resources to become employed in a field that will always require staffing.

Call the campus at 707-995-7900 or instructor John Hamner at 707-277-0420 if you are interested in this exciting program.

For more information about the Lake County Campus, visit http://lcc.yccd.edu.