Operator Certification Update Utility Technology Conference March 14, 2013 Alan Cranford, Chair...

Operator Certification UpdateUtility Technology Conference

March 14, 2013

Alan Cranford, ChairWater and Wastewater Operator Certification Board

Acknowledgements

• Joe Holmes (Director) - Fleming Training Center• Sherry Messick (Certification Program Coordinator) – Fleming

Training Center• Association of Boards of Certification (ABC)

Agenda

• Operator Certification Board • Examinations• Water Treatment/Distribution (Examination Results)• Wastewater Treatment/Collection System (Examination Results)• Exam Pass Rate Comparisons• Pass Rate Per Education Level• Certification Training Questionnaire Results• Top 5 Areas of Non Mastery• Key Points for Taking the Exam• Textbook Reference List• Biggest Issues Before the Board• General Notes• Questions

Operator Certification Board

Purpose• The General Assembly established the operator certification

program and created the Water and Wastewater Operator Certification Board in 1971

• As stated in T.C.A. §68-221-902, the Board's purpose is to administer a program of certification for operators of water and wastewater systems that will ensure proper operation of such systems and protect the public and environment


Duties of the Board are specified in TCA 68-221-906• Implementation and enforcement of rules necessary for proper

program administration• Holding at least one (1) examination annually• Advertising and promoting the program• Encouraging operators to become certified in addition to those

required by law• Distributing applications and notices• Receiving and evaluating applications• Preparing, conducting and grading examinations• Setting up a system of fees and late penalties for applicants


Duties of the Board are specified in TCA 68-221-906• Maintaining all records of the program, and maintaining a register of

certified operators• Promoting and scheduling regular training schools and programs• Hearing appeals from orders or ruling issued by the Commissioner• Recommending to the Commissioner the staff required to effectively

administer the program


Funding• Program fee revenues• Federal moneys from the Safe Drinking Water Act State Revolving

Fund and the Expense Reimbursement Grant

Staff• Certification Program Coordinator• Administrative Secretary• File Clerk/Receptionist


Board• Operator of the highest class representing certified operators –

Recommended by the Tennessee Water and Wastewater Association

• Operator representing certified operators – Recommended by the Tennessee Association of Utility Districts

• Representing Municipal Government – Recommended by the Tennessee Municipal League

• Representing University Faculty – Recommended by the Tennessee Society of Professional Engineers

• Ex-Officio member – Manager of Quality Assurance and Enforcement for the Division of Water Supply and representing the Department of Environment and Conservation


Current Board Members• Alan Cranford – Chair• Darryl Green • Randal Braker • Dr. Larry Moore • Sherwin Smith – Ex-Officio member (Representing the TDEC)

Examinations

• Examinations have Association of Boards of Certification (ABC) and Tennessee questions

• Initial development guidelines from the Tennessee Need to Know (NTK) criteria– Approximately 75% ABC, 25% Tennessee– ABC - Process, Operations, Maintenance, General, Procedures,

Data Interpretation, Public Health, Science, Safety and Rules– Tennessee – Math and Rules (to include ethics)

Examinations

ABC questions are written at three levels of knowledge (i.e., comprehension, application, analysis)• Comprehension is the most basic level of understanding and

remembering. Items written at the comprehension level require examinees to recognize, remember, or identify important ideas

• Items written at the application level require examinees to interpret, calculate, predict, use or apply information and solve problems

• Items written at the analysis level require examinees to compare, contrast, diagnose, examine, analyze, and relate important concepts

Examinations

• Need to Know is based upon specific certification– Knowledge required of an operator– Subject matter and understanding of each classification– Certify knowledge of subject matter

• Process– Biological, chemical processes– Machinery or equipment actions or functions

• Operations– Activities– Exercise judgment– Take action to affect processes– Plant design and plant construction

Examinations

• Maintenance– Preventative, routine and emergency– Troubleshooting and problem identification

• General– Basic knowledge

• Procedures– Lab– Industry procedure

• Data Interpretation– Received– Analyzed– Acted upon

Examinations

• Public Health– Impact on public health– Laws– Rules and regulations– Quality control– Compliance

• Math – Use of Mathematics Formula Booklet– Basic operations– Graphs– Tables– Formulas– Conversions

Examinations

• Science– Basic science– Biology– Chemistry– Microbiology

• Safety– Recommended or required safety practice– Identification categories, procedures and violations– Description categories, procedures and violations

• Rules– Federal rules (USEPA)– State rules (TDEC)

• To include ethics

Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % PassSWS 18 13 72% 19 15 79% 26 21 81%WT1 3 0 0% 4 1 25% 6 0 0%WT2 12 1 8% 19 2 11% 14 2 14%WT3 40 8 20% 54 19 35% 56 15 27%WT4 30 13 43% 43 17 40% 38 11 29%DS1 33 7 21% 37 13 35% 36 16 44%DS2 46 20 43% 61 36 59% 54 26 48%

Total 182 62 34% 237 103 43% 230 91 40%

5/2/199611/2/1995 11/7/1996

Water Treatment/Distribution

Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % PassSWS 4 4 100% 6 6 100% 8 8 100%WT1 2 2 100% 3 0 0% 1 1 100%WT2 16 6 38% 14 7 50% 11 2 18%WT3 40 20 50% 36 13 36% 33 5 15%WT4 42 26 62% 38 19 50% 36 10 28%DS1 14 9 64% 14 10 71% 14 7 50%DS2 81 57 70% 86 57 66% 69 24 35%

Total 199 124 62% 197 112 57% 172 57 33%

11/1/201211/3/2011 5/3/2012

Wastewater Treatment/Collection

Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % PassBNS 9 0 0% 12 5 42% 8 6 75%WW1 13 2 15% 8 1 13% 13 4 31%WW2 7 0 0% 10 5 50% 11 4 36%WW3 28 4 14% 20 6 30% 30 12 40%WW4 20 1 5% 30 12 40% 25 8 32%CS1 20 7 35% 18 12 67% 14 6 43%CS2 35 14 40% 28 10 36% 33 10 30%

Total 132 28 21% 126 51 40% 134 50 37%

5/2/199611/2/1995 11/7/1996

Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % Pass Examinees Passing % PassBNS 9 7 78% 4 3 75% 6 3 50%WW1 5 4 80% 7 4 57% 2 1 50%WW2 1 0 0% 5 3 60% 2 0 0%WW3 36 17 47% 26 0 0% 28 1 4%WW4 25 17 68% 29 3 10% 24 3 13%CS1 10 8 80% 13 8 62% 8 5 63%CS2 67 41 61% 66 28 42% 46 18 39%

Total 153 94 61% 150 49 33% 116 31 27%

5/3/2012 11/1/201211/3/2011

Exam Pass Rate Comparisons

Exam Pass Rate ComparisonsNovember 1, 2012 Exam

Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass FailSWS 2 0 1 0 4 0 0 0WT1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0WT2 1 7 1 1 0 0 0 0WT3 1 25 1 1 2 0 0 0WT4 4 10 4 2 1 12 1 0DS1 5 5 1 2 1 0 0 0DS2 18 38 1 2 3 2 0 0

HS/GED TECH/ASSOC BACHELOR ADVANCED

Pass Rate Per Education LevelNovember 1, 2012 Exam

Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass Fail Pass FailBNS 2 2 0 0 0 1 0 0WW1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0WW2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0WW3 0 19 7 0 0 1 1 0WW4 2 13 3 0 0 4 0 0CS1 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0CS2 16 24 1 1 0 0 1 0

HS/GED TECH/ASSOC BACHELOR ADVANCED

Pass Rate Per Education LevelNovember 1, 2012 Exam

Certification Training QuestionnaireNovember 1, 2012

Grade ExamTaken

(# taking Exam)

Percentwithout

Any Course

Percent with Cram

Course Only

Percentwith Cram

Course and

Other Courses

Percentwith

Other Courses

Only

Numberof

Courses Taken

Majority of Study

Time

WT 1 (8) 0 0 10 100 0-3 41-100

WT 2 (1) 9 9 54 27 0-8 41-100

WT 3 (11) 12 18 48 15 0-8 21-100+

WT 4 (36) 13 16 50 16 0-8 21-100

DS 1 (14) 21 57 28 14 0-2 41-100

DS 2 (69) 15 52 39 26 0-7 41-100

Certification Training QuestionnaireNovember 1, 2012

Grade ExamTaken

(# taking Exam)

Percentwithout

Any Course

Percent with Cram

Course Only

Percentwith Cram

Course and

Other Courses

Percentwith

Other Courses

Only

Numberof

Courses Taken

Majority of Study

Time(Hours)

BNS (6) 0 16 10 83 1-2 10-20

WW 1 (2) 50 0 50 0 0-2 21-100

WW 2 (2) 0 100 0 0 0 41-100

WW 3 (28) 10 10 32 42 0-12 100+

WW 4 (24) 8 20 37 33 0-6 41-100

CS 1 (8) 12 75 66 38 0-5 41-100

CS 2 (46) 20 54 32 24 0-3 41-100

Certification Training Questionnaire

Passed Failed

Tested Before 12.5% 39.5%

Taken Courses and Cram Course 62.5% 31.5%

Taken Other Courses Only 23.5% 66.2%

Taken Cram Course Only 12.5% 17.0%

Post Secondary Education 26.3% 10.0%

Study Time Majority 41 – 100+ Hours

November 1, 2012

Top 5 Areas of Non Mastery

Water Treatment

1. Collect Samples

2. Evaluate Equipment

3. Lab Process Control

4. Monitor Evaluate Adjust Filtration

5. Monitor Evaluate Adjust Other

Distribution System

1. Administration

2. Disinfection

3. Maintain Equipment

4. Operate Equipment

5. System Inspection

November 1, 2012

Top 5 Areas of Non Mastery

Wastewater Treatment


2. Monitor Eval Adj Tertiary Treatment

3. Perform Lab Analysis

4. Secondary Treatment

5. Solids Handling

Collection System


2. Maintain & Restore System

3. Maintain Equipment

4. Monitor Evaluate Adjust System

5. Operate Equipment

November 1, 2012

Key Points for the Taking the Exam

• Requires dedication of study time in addition to classes• Attend multiple classes to better prepare• Utilize Operator Certification Study Guide as resource• Passing does not require a BS or higher degree• Textbook Reference List located on Fleming Training Center website• ABC has been involved in the Tennessee Certification Program

since 1978 to some degree

Textbook Reference List

Old References Water Treatment

PRIMARY SECONDARY SUPPLEMENTAL Water Treatment , Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations, Second Edition, American Water Works Association, Denver, 1995.

Cross-Connection Control Manual, State of Tennessee, Department of Health and Environment, Division of Water Supply, Nashville, 1988

Guidance Manual for Determination of Disinfectant Content Time & CT Requirements for Public Water Systems, State of Tennessee, Department of Health and Environment, Division of Water Supply, July 1991.

Regulations for Public Water Systems and Drinking Water Quality, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply, January 1994.

Occupational Safety and Health Standards for General Industry (29 CFR Part 1910), U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Commerce Clearinghouse, Inc., Chicago, 1993, #1910.1200,

Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Vol.1, 4th ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1993.

Basic Science Concepts and Applications , Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations, Second Edition , American Water Works Association, Denver, 1995.

Standard Methods for Examination of Water & Wastewater, 18th ed., American Public Health Association, Washington, DC, 1992.

Operator Certification Study Guide, 4th Ed., American Water Works Association, Denver, 1993.

Community Public Water Systems Design Criteria, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply, 1991.

Water Fluoridation - A Manual for Water Plant Operators, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, April 1994.

Water Transmission and Distribution, Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations, Second Edition, , American Water Works Association, Denver, 1995.

Water Sources , Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations, Second Edition American Water Works Association, Denver, 1995.

Water Treatment Plant Operation, Vol. 1, 3rd ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1992.

Water Treatment Plant Laboratory Manual for Chemical and Microbiological Analyses, State of Tennessee, Department of Public Health, Division of Water Quality Control, Nashville, TN.

Water Quality , Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations, Second Edition, American Water Works Association, Denver, 1995.

Water Treatment Plant Operation, Vol. 2, 2nd ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1993.

Approved by Board September 27, 2012

Suggested Water Treatment Exam References The following are approved as reference sources for the ABC water treatment examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.

Textbooks American Water Works Association (AWWA) Web site: www.awwa.org Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations Series:

Water Sources Water Treatment Water Transmission and Distribution Water Quality Basic Science Concepts and Applications

Other AWWA References:

Water Quality and Treatment Water System Security, A Field Guide

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and National Rural Water Association (NRWA) Web site: www.asdwa.org (available online in PDF format;

Security Vulnerability Self Assessment Guide for Small Drinking Water Systems

California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs (www.owp.csus.edu)

Water Treatment Plant Operation, Volumes I and II Manage for Success

Regulations

Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40, Part 141 (www.gpo.gov) Community Public Water Systems Design Criteria, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of

Water Supply, Nashville, 2008. Regulations for Public Water Systems and Drinking Water Quality, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and

Conservation, Division of Water Supply, Nashville. June 2009. Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and

Conservation, Board of Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators, Nashville, TN, December 2009, Section 1200-5-3.

Study Guides American Water Works Association, Operator Certification Study Guide: A Guide to Preparing for Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Certification Exams (www.awwa.org)


Approved by Board September 27, 2012

Suggested Distribution System Exam References The following are approved as reference sources for the distribution examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.

Textbooks American Water Works Association (AWWA) www.awwa.org

Water Transmission and Distribution Water Distribution Operator Training Handbook Basic Science Concepts and Applications Water System Security, A Field Guide Water Quality AWWA Standard for Installation of Ductile-Iron Water Mains and Their Appurtenances (ANSI/AWWA C600-93),

Association of State Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA) and National Rural Water Association (NRWA) www.asdwa.org

Security Vulnerability Self Assessment Guide for Small Drinking Water Systems

California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs (www.owp.csus.edu)

Water Distribution System Operation and Maintenance Small Water System Operation and Maintenance Manage for Success

Regulations Code of Federal Regulations, Labor (CFR 29), Part 1926 (www.gpo.gov) Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40 Part 141, www.gpo.gov) Community Public Water Systems Design Criteria, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply,

Nashville, 2008.

Regulations for Public Water Systems and Drinking Water Quality, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Supply, Nashville. June 2009.

Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Board of

Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators, Nashville, TN, December 2009, Section 1200-5-3.

Study Guides

American Water Works Association: Operator Certification Study Guide, Fifth Edition: A Guide to Preparing for Water Treatment and Distribution Operator Certification Exams.


Suggested Wastewater Treatment Exam References The following are approved as reference sources for the wastewater treatment examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.

Textbooks California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs (www.owp.csus.edu)

Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume I and II Advanced Waste Treatment Manage for Success

National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities (NETCSC)

Protecting Your Community's Assets: A Guide for Small Wastewater Systems A PDF version of this guide is available from: www.nesc.wvu.edu/training.cfm

Water Environment Federation (www.wef.org)

Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants - Manual of Practice No. 11 Activated Sludge - Manual of Practice OM-9.

Regulations

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment

and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville, TN, 1977.

Design Criteria for Sewage Works, State of Tennessee, Department of Health and Environment, Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville, 1995.

Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and

Conservation, Board of Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators, Nashville, TN, December 2009, Section 1200-5-3.

State of Tennessee Water Quality Standards, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation,

Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville, TN, December 1991, Section 1200-4-3.

Protection of Environment, (40 CFR Part 136), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

Study Guides

Applied Math for Wastewater Plant Operators. Price, Joanne. 2000. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press (www.crcpress.com)

WEF/ABC Wastewater Operators’ Guide to Preparing for the Certification Examination, Water Environment Federation, (www.wef.org)

Updated September 27, 2012

OLD REFERENCES GRADE III AND IV WASTEWATER TREATMENT

PRIMARY SECONDARY SUPPLEMENTAL

Advanced Waste Treatment 2nd ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1993.

Activated Sludge: Manual of Practice No. OM-9, Water Pollution Control Federation, Alexandria, VA, 1987.

Design Manual: Odor and Corrosion Control in Sanitary Sewerage Systems and Treatment Plants (EPA/625/1-85/018), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Research Information, Cincinnati, OH, October 1985.

Applied Math for Wastewater Plant Operators, Price, Joanne Kiirkpatrick, Technomic Publishing Company, Lancaster, PA, 1991.

Industrial Waste Treatment, Vol. 1, 2nd ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1994.

Manual of Water Supply Practices: Safety Practices for Water Utilities (AWWA #M3), 5th ed., American Water Works Association, Denver, CO, 1990.

Design Criteria for Sewage Works, State of Tennessee, Department of Health and Environment, Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville, April 1989.

Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Vol. 1, 4th ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1993, p. 352.

Performance Evaluation and Troubleshooting at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Facilities Field Manual MO-16 (EPA/430-9-78-001), Culp, Gordon L. and Helm, Nancy Folks. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water Program Operations, Washington, DC, January 1978.

National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville, TN, 1977.

Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Vol. 2, 4th ed., California State UniUniversity, ac Sacramento, 1993.

Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Vol. 1, 4th ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1992.

Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, Manual of Practice No. 11, Vol. II, Liquid Processes, 2nd ed., Water Pollution Control Federation, Alexandria, VA, 1990.

Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Vol. 2, 4th ed., California State University, Sacramento, 1993.

Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Board of Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators, Nashville, TN, December 1984, Section 1200-5-3.


Suggested Collection System Exam References The following are approved as reference sources for the collection examinations. Operators should use the latest edition of these reference sources to prepare for the exam.

Textbooks California State University, Sacramento (CSUS) Foundation, Office of Water Programs (www.owp.csus.edu) Operation of Wastewater Treatment Plants, Volume I and II Operation and Maintenance of Wastewater Collection Systems, Volume I and II Manage for Success Water Environment Federation (www.wef.org) Operation of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants - Manual of Practice No. 11 Existing Sewer Evaluation and Rehabilitation - Manual of Practice FD-6 Wastewater Collection Systems Management - Manual of Practice No. 7

Regulations Code of Federal Regulations, Title 40 (www.gpo.gov). Design Criteria for Sewage Works, State of Tennessee, Department of Health and Environment, Division of Water Pollution Control, Nashville,

1995. Rules Governing Water and Wastewater Operator Certification, State of Tennessee, Department of Environment and Conservation, Board of

Certification for Water and Wastewater Operators, Nashville, TN, December 2009, Section 1200-5-3.

Study Guides

WEF/ABC Collection Systems Operator’s Guide to Preparing for the Certification Examination, Water Environment Federation, (www.wef.org).

Applied Math for Wastewater Plant Operators, Price, Joanne. 2000. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press (www.crcpress.com).

Biggest Issues Before the Board

• Extension of time to replace certified operator• Extension of time to acquire continuing education• Receipt of application after deadline• Receipt of renewal payment late• New certification exam

General Notes

• Online Services– Renew your Operators Certificate*– View Continuing Education Status– Update your Personal Information

• 2013 Exam Application Deadlines– March 2, 2013– September 7, 2013

• 2013 Exam Dates– May 2, 2013– November 7, 2013

*Go to http://www.tn.gov/environment/fleming/online

http://www.tn.gov/environment/fleming/online

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