A Privatized Solution for Wastewater Certification in New England

Training and certifying qualified wastewater treatment plant operators is essential to the protection of our waters and to the millions of dollars invested in our water infrastructure. But as state resources diminish, so does the state personnel who coordinate training, technical assistance, and certification programs—lost to retirement and attrition. Organizations such as NEIWPCC can efficiently coordinate efforts on a regional basis and serve as a valuable resource to state agencies who seek solutions to these challenges.Two northeast state environmental agencies have successfully transitioned non-essential wastewater programs to NEIWPCC. The Massachusetts wastewater operator training and certification program have been coordinated by NEIWPCC for the past six years. Recognizing the success of Massachusetts's experience, in January 2006 the state of Maine likewise transitioned its wastewater certification and license renewal program. With the administration of these programs by a third-party agency, both the states' agencies report greater flexibility and improvements.