EPA 2018 Update Operator Certification and

Workforce Initiatives

31st Annual ABC Conference

Matthew Reed and Leslie Temple Office of Ground Water and Drinking Water

January, 15 2017

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Topics

• National OpCert Program Updates

• CapDev/OpCert Workshop • Water Sector Workforce

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Operator Certification

• EPA National OpCert Workgroup – Consistency in Oversight – Oversight Tools

• Regional OpCert Coordinators Handbook – State Handbook?

• Tabletop Exercise • Region 1-5 Workshop

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Table Top Exercise

• Exercise to simulate small system triage based around “real life” small system challenges from various state staff perspectives.

1. Capacity Development 2. Operator Certification 3. DWSRF 4. Enforcement 5. State Drinking Water Administrator

• Demonstrate that better communication and collaboration will result in better assistance.

• The Table Top Exercise materials are posted at: • https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/table-top-exercise-collaborating-across-

state-drinking-water-programs-support-sustainable

Region 1-5 CapDev/OpCert Workshop

• Great Attendance – 21 states (+) • Positive Feedback

– Other state work – Networking – New approaches

• Future Workshops – More interaction & case studies – Managerial and financial

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2018 National Capacity Development and Operator Certification Workshop

Indianapolis, Indiana

Please join us for the 4th National Capacity Development and Operator Certification workshop co-hosted by the EPA and the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators. Sessions of the workshop may include how Capacity Development and Operator Certification programs work together; best practices for collaboration with Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) and enforcement programs; methods for building sustainability through asset management, water system partnerships, and operator training; building capacity in tribal drinking water systems; and much more! The workshop will provide the opportunity for participants to share success stories and brainstorm new ideas on program functions. For more information contact Adrienne Harris at harris.adrienne@epa.gov.

S A V E T H E D A T E AUGUST 8-10 , 2018

EPA, primacy agencies, tribes and technical assistance

providers are welcome to attend.

Workforce

• Knowledge Retention Tool

• Electronic O&M Cards

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Workforce Tools

• Developed by the Workforce Workgroup formed after the 2015 National Capacity Development & Operator Certification Workshop.

• Knowledge Retention Tool • A comprehensive Excel Spreadsheet containing a wide

range of system information. • Electronic Operations and Maintenance Cards

• A fillable PDF containing preventative operations and maintenance tasks for ground water systems.

Knowledge Retention Tool

• A comprehensive tool to provide a single location for system information that new or substitute operators need to know.

• Topics include: • General system information • Emergency response information • System operation • Administrative information • Neighboring system information

Links for Easy Navigation

Links for Easy Navigation

Linked Tables – single data entry

Linked Tables – single data entry

Emergency Info

Stepping stone to asset management

Pilot Feedback

• The tool being so comprehensive removes any assumptions of the existing knowledge base and prevents any information being overlooked.

• This tool is helpful not only in preparation for retirement-eligible operators leaving the workforce, but also for emergency situations and operator vacations.

• Due to the comprehensive nature, it is best completed in stages, not all in one sitting.

• Other suggestions of additional helpful information and methods for streamlining the data entry process.

Electronic Operations & Maintenance Cards

• An electronic update to the Preventative O&M card file. • An interactive PDF package to assist operators in their

preventative O&M practices, incorporating daily, weekly, and monthly tasks.

• Helpful in maintaining records of the daily tasks while also planning ahead for long-term maintenance.

What’s Inside

• The package includes a file for each month, instructions, annual logs, and security & customer complaint logs.

• Operators can choose to use the files electronically, or print them and enter information manually.

Conversion Tables

Calculations

• Calculations are completed for the operator, eliminating human error

Customizable Long-Term Plan

System Information

• A brief summary of commonly used system information for quick recall

Emergency Information

Rollout

• Knowledge Retention Tool piloted summer 2017, under final review

• Electronic O&M under final review • Coordination with partners expected in late fall to

promote the launch of both new tools • Pilot volunteers to present their experience and helpful

hints in a webinar in early winter.

Water System Partnerships • Water system partnerships provide opportunities

to increase system capacity through collaboration • Improve public health protection at lower cost

– Solve compliance challenges – Share costs of operations and maintenance activities

• States, and EPA fund small system technical assistance activities – The most successful partnership solutions will be those

that are locally-driven and respect community priorities

Partnerships Website

https://www.epa.gov/dwcapacity/water-system-partnerships

Questions?

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Contact information

Matthew Reed, US EPA National Operator Certification Coordinator

reed.matthew@epa.gov (202) 564-4719

Leslie Temple, US EPA

National Water Sector Workforce Coordinator Temple.leslie@epa.gov

(202) 564-4734