Practical Applications | 2007 August Newsletter

Compliance: Wastewater Operator License Renewal

Caitlin Green – Marketing & Communications

Wastewater Management Team

Licensed Wastewater Treatment System Operators are required to earn 20 Training Contact Hours (TCH) every two years to maintain their license. They must earn these TCHs through DEP approved courses such as Practical Applications' next course on Pumps & Valves. You automatically earn your first 10 TCHs when you pass your Wastewater Treatment System Operator Exam.

Once you have completed the required TCHs you must mail the TCH certificates to the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission (NEIWPCC), the current licensing agency, before December 31st. Due to state budget cuts the DEP contracted license exams and renewals to the NEIWPCC in 2005.

Engineering: Operator Tips

Christopher McLaughlin - Chemical / Field Engineer

Wastewater Management Team

It is important for both experienced and new operators to keep the following items in mind when working on a system:

1) Always use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) when touching wet parts. A simple hang nail exposed to clear, seemingly clean water can result in an infection. When maintaining high purity water systems, PPE use will prevent reverse organic (oil and grease) and biological contamination.

2) Report any unusual smells or sounds. These can be some of the first indicators of a major change or problem within a system.

3) Always wash your hands thoroughly when leaving any process room or laboratory.

4) When changing parameters on a system or piece of equipment, always write down the previously programmed parameters in case you need them in the future.

5) When recording data (e.g. daily totalized flow), always check whether the value is logical or not. If not, report this to your supervisor.

6) If a critical piece of equipment is down and the system is still operating, perform system checks twice as often as normal.

7) If you ever feel uncomfortable performing a task, speak up. Safety is paramount to all else.