Wastewater Operator Apprenticeship Program

Wastewater Operator Apprenticeship ProgramAbstractBackground The Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) is made up of 17 metro-area municipalities, counties, and sewer districts in Central Iowa. They work together to protect public health and to enhance the environment by recycling wastewater and being the preferred treatment facilities for hauled liquid wastes. The Des Moines WRA has grown to be the largest wastewater treatment organization in Iowa and that has historically led to one major problem finding enough qualified employees to operate and maintain the treatment facility that serves half a million residents. In 2008, the Des Moines Wastewater Reclamation Authority (WRA) became one of the first municipalities in Iowa to take advantage of a Department of Labor (DOL) apprenticeship program by Iowa Association Municipalities (IAMU). The apprenticeship program was started because the WRA was struggling to find certified operators to hire. The job required that operators have an Iowa Grade 2 Wastewater Certification, and when a qualified candidate realized that they would be working overnights or evenings, they typically turned down the offer. With an apprenticeship, there are defined milestones that must be achieved in a timely manner, which allowed WRA managers to hire under-qualified candidates that would be required to complete the apprenticeship. Program Details The apprenticeship program is three years long in duration, it requires each apprentice to complete six thousand hours of on-the-job training and pass seven community college treatment and maintenance classes (with a C grade or better). Additionally, they must achieve their Iowa Grade 1 Wastewater Certification within the first year of employment, Class A CDL within two years and their Iowa Grade 2 Wastewater Certification by the third year. New hires that have pervious experience in the wastewater treatment field can receive previous experience credit for up to fifty percent of the on-the-job training hours. New employees that have already completed the any of the seven required classes will receive credit for them. With the acceptance of previous experience credit and classes previously taken, more experienced employees can be fast tracked while less experienced are allowed ample time to learn the ins and outs of working in the wastewater industry. When starting the apprenticeship program, WRA management created the position of Wastewater Training Specialist, in part to assist in the in the training of new Wastewater Operator Specialist employees. The first two apprenticeships classes (2009 SourceProceedings of the Water Environment FederationDocument typeConference PaperPublisherWater Environment FederationPrint publication date Feb 2024DOI10.2175/193864718825159312Volume / Issue Content sourceUtility Management ConferenceWord count5