Listening to the Certified Operators: Updates on the Operator Certification Experience

 

In 2025, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (WWFOCB) issued a survey to the water sector to learn about your experience with the certification exam process. We’ve heard your feedback, and we want to ensure you have the most up-to-date information on the changes and resources available to you.

Enhancing Accessibility and Efficiency

We are committed to making the certification process as smooth and inclusive as possible. To that end, we have implemented several key updates:

• Spanish Language Exams: As of August 2025, both Class D and Class 1 examinations are available in Spanish. Operators can request this option during the scheduling process with PSI.
• Application Turnaround: We know you're eager to get to work. Between June 2024 and May 2025, our team reviewed 5,965 applications. We are proud to report that 91% of all applications were reviewed in less than 10 days.

Evolving the Exam Process

The Board recently revised Regulation 100 to better balance workforce entry with high professional standards.

Important Change: The eligibility period for retaking an exam has been shortened

 from 180 days to 100 days.

This change allows for three testing attempts under a single application while ensuring operators take sufficient time to study and prepare between tries. Our goal is to ensure the program produces quality operators, not just good test-takers.

Resources and Support

We understand that preparing for exams can be daunting. To help, we recommend utilizing the Need-to-Know Criteria on the WPI website. However, please ensure you are using the correct versions; Colorado operators should not use the new 2025 criteria yet, as they are not currently aligned with the exams our state administers.

If you run into trouble, knowing who to contact can save you a lot of time:

Looking Ahead

We are currently working on a public matrix of approved roles and narrative job descriptions to clarify experience categories. We also recognize the interest in partial credit for related backgrounds (like military or lab experience). While current regulations do not allow for this, we are exploring the regulatory changes that would be required to make it a reality.

Your feedback continues to shape how we serve the operator community. Thank you for your continued professionalism and for being the backbone of Colorado's public health.

➽ Kyra Gregory, Local Assistance Unit Manager

Thank you to Colorado’s Certified Operators

To Colorado’s Certified Operators: Thank You for What You Do

From all of us on the staff of Colorado’s Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification program, we want to take a moment to speak directly to you – the certified operators who keep Colorado’s water systems running safely, reliably, and with professionalism every single day. 

Quite simply: what you do matters, and it matters a lot.

Every time a community turns on the tap expecting clean, safe drinking water or flushes a toilet without a second thought, it’s because of your expertise. Behind the scenes, often unnoticed and sometimes underappreciated, you protect public health and safeguard the environment across our beautiful state. Colorado’s quality of life depends on you.

A Profession Built on Skill, Commitment, and Trust

Water and wastewater operations are not “just jobs.” They are professions that demand technical knowledge, sound judgment, adaptability, and a deep sense of responsibility. From managing complex treatment processes and regulatory requirements to responding to emergencies at all hours, operators are asked to do more with less and to do it flawlessly. 

Obtaining certification isn’t easy, and it isn’t meant to be. It represents your commitment to learning, accountability, and excellence. When you earn and maintain your certification, you demonstrate to your community, your employer, and your peers that you are a trusted professional. We see the effort that goes into studying, testing, continuing education, and staying current in a field that is constantly evolving. 

Showing Up When It Counts

Whether you work for a large utility on the Front Range or a small system in a rural mountain or plains town, your role is critical. During wildfires, floods, droughts, freezes, power outages, and equipment failures, operators are among the first to respond and often the last to leave. You show up when conditions are difficult, when systems are stressed, and when communities need stability the most.

In recent years especially, operators have navigated staffing shortages, aging infrastructure, tightening regulations, and increasing public expectations. Through it all, you’ve kept systems compliant and water safe. That resilience does not go unnoticed. 

More than Compliance

While regulations and certifications are part of the job, the heart of this profession goes beyond compliance. It’s about stewardship – of water resources, public health, and future generations. It’s about pride in doing work that truly serves people.

We also recognize that many of you mentor new operators, share knowledge across systems, and contribute to a culture of professionalism in Colorado’s water sector. That willingness to teach, learn, and support one another strengthens the entire industry. 

Our Commitment to You

As a program, we see our role as partners in your success. Our goal is to support a fair and credible certification process that upholds high standards while acknowledging the realities of the work you do. We continually work to improve guidance, communication, and outreach, as a strong operator workforce is essential to the strength of our water systems. 

Your feedback matters to us. Your experience in the field helps shape how we do our work, and we value the dialogue we have with operators across the state. 

Operator Certification Program staff can be reached at (719) 225-7339, info@coloradocwp.com, cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us, or cdphe.wwfocb@state.co.us. 

You can also find everything you need to know about Colorado operator certification using the Operator Resources webpage. 

Thank You

So, to Colorado’s certified water and wastewater operators: thank you for your dedication, your professionalism, and your service. Thank you for the long hours, the problem-solving, the vigilance, and the pride you bring to your work. Thank you for protecting public health and the environment, often without recognition and always with integrity. 

On a personal note, I (Jessica Morgan) also want to share my gratitude as I prepare to step away from public service after nine years, including three and a half years with the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification program. It has been an honor to serve the operator community and to support the important work you do every day. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to have worked alongside such knowledgeable, committed professionals, and I will carry a lasting appreciation for this field and the people in it. 

We are proud of the operator community in Colorado, and we are grateful to work alongside you – supporting a profession that is as essential as it is honorable. Keep doing what you do. Colorado is better because of it. 💧

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison for the Water & Wastewater Operator Certification Board 

➽ Larisa Oringdulph, Program Director of Colorado Certified Water Professionals

Why the Delegation of Duties is so Important

Resources: 

• You can find more information on the delegation of duties, including guidance documents, templates, and examples, on the Operator Resources webpage or on CCWP’s website.
• If you have any questions about the delegation of duties, feel free to contact Jessica Morgan (cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us). 

A written delegation plan is a tool that an ORC can use to authorize certified or uncertified individuals at a facility to perform specific tasks or activities related to the operation of the system. When used correctly, it enables an ORC to meet the regulatory responsibility of supervision over the operation of the facility and over the operational activities and functions of other facility operators, without having to be on-site 24-7. This may translate into cost savings, especially for smaller systems that don’t need and cannot afford a full-time ORC.

The written delegation plan also helps certified or uncertified operators understand the limits of their tasks and activities. That is, they know when they have to consult with the ORC. Keep in mind that only the ORC is authorized to make process control and system integrity decisions!

What makes an effective delegation plan? 

• Name of the facility/system, including the PWSID number or Permit number
• Name of the ORC who is delegating the task or activity
• Date range of delegation (delegation plans must be reviewed, and if appropriate, updated annually)
• Name and/or brief description of the task or activity
• Person(s) or Position Title of the individual(s) being authorized to perform the task or activity at the system
• Delegation limits identifying when the individual(s) must contact the ORC for further instructions
• Date of training provided by the ORC to the individual(s) being authorized to perform the task or activity
• If the task or activity isn’t already included in writing in the individual’s job description, the delegation plan should document the individual’s written acceptance of the delegated task or activity (regardless, this is best practice)
• Written standard operating procedures (SOPs) that provide detailed, step-by-step instructions for performing the task or activity.

A blanket statement delegating all operational responsibilities to an on-site individual does NOT meet the minimum requirements for a delegation plan because it does not identify specific tasks, nor does it identify the limits of each task.

Delegation is a specific ORC responsibility. An ORC cannot authorize a system owner or anyone else to delegate tasks to subordinate personnel. An ORC cannot delegate any responsibilities that are reserved to the ORC, such as process control or system integrity decisions. 

Keep in mind that an ORC is accountable for the consequences of tasks performed by individuals acting under a written delegation plan. Therefore, it is necessary for the ORC to provide adequate training and to routinely verify that each individual to whom tasks are delegated is performing the tasks correctly. Written SOPs are a best practice to help ensure consistency of performance.

Because the ORC has supervisory responsibility, the ORC needs to train the individual, verify the person’s understanding of the task, verify the individual knows where the written SOPs are kept and how to refer to them if memory fails, and confirm the individual’s willingness to follow the instructions. If an individual trained by the ORC is unwilling or unable to perform in accordance with the ORC’s verbal and written instructions, the ORC needs to take back the delegated tasks or activities from that person. Then the ORC must then perform the tasks personally or find another person to perform them.

Regulation 100 states that “certified operators in responsible charge shall protect the public health and the environment in the conduct of their duties.” An ORC who allows untrained or inadequately trained individuals to continue performing tasks or activities incorrectly is not protecting public health and the environment. An ORC who allows workers who do not adequately adhere to the training and follow established SOPs to continue performing delegated tasks or activities is not protecting public health and the environment.

Division field and compliance staff are seeing an influx of inadequate delegation by ORCs, uncertified operators making process control and system integrity decisions, or even instances where the ORC is a so-called “paper operator.” These are operators who are designated as operators in responsible charge (ORCs) but fail to adequately supervise the operation of their facilities. They are ORCs on paper only, or “an operator in name only.” The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) has revoked operators’ certificates for posing risks to public health and the environment when, as the certified operator in responsible charge, they have been inadequately and/or inappropriately delegating essential ORC duties and/or failing to provide adequate supervision of a facility. In Colorado, this behavior is considered negligence; it constitutes operator misconduct that can result in loss of certification. 

The bottom line is that the written delegation plan, when used correctly, is a great resource with benefits for the ORC, other facility operators, and system owners. When used correctly, it provides a lot of flexibility while still protecting the people we serve. Let’s keep our mission in mind and take the time to delegate responsibly and effectively!

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison for the Water/Wastewater Operator Certification Board 

REMINDER - Walter A. Weers Outstanding Achievement Award

In the past, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) annually issued the Walter A. Weers Outstanding Achievement Award to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Program (program) and to the water professionals operating facilities under the program.     

The award is named after Walter A. Weers, who devoted a half-century of outstanding volunteer service to the advancement of the certification of professionals in the Colorado water and wastewater industry. The award is intended to honor truly exceptional contributions and may not be presented each year or may be awarded to more than one recipient per year (at the discretion of the board). The award was last presented in 2019, and the program would like to raise awareness of this award in hopes of honoring an individual in 2026. 

This outstanding achievement award recognizes those individuals who:

• Have given their time unselfishly to educate operators,
• Have provided their expertise to the examination of operators, or
• Have used their creativity and tenacity to build Colorado’s certification program into one of the premier programs in the country. 

Anyone who has had a direct impact on the program and the water professionals operating Colorado facilities under this program can be nominated for this award. Nominations must be submitted before October 15th of each year to be considered and acted on by the board at its November meeting. If the board decides to honor an individual, the award will be presented in conjunction with the Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA) annual conference in March of the following year. 

Consider taking a few minutes of your time to submit an award nomination that can inspire others to continue providing outstanding service to the program and to highlight the importance of the profession and its impact on Colorado communities. Anyone can submit a nomination form, and nominations can be as short as one to two paragraphs. You never know what great acts of service and kindness you may inspire!   

You can find more information about this award on the board’s website, as well as a link to the nomination form, submission instructions, and previous recipients. 

If you have any questions about this award or the nomination process, feel free to contact Jessica Morgan cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us.

➽Jessica Morgan, Liaison to the Water & Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

Nominate Someone for the Walter A. Weers Award!

In the past, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) annually issued the Walter A. Weers Outstanding Achievement Award to honor individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Colorado Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Program (program) and to the water professionals operating facilities under the program.     

You can find more information about this award on the board’s website, as well as a link to the nomination form, submission instructions, and previous recipients. 

The award is named after Walter A. Weers, who devoted a half-century of outstanding volunteer service to the advancement of the certification of professionals in the Colorado water and wastewater industry. The award is intended to honor truly exceptional contributions and may not be presented each year or may be awarded to more than one recipient per year (at the discretion of the board). The award was last presented in 2019, and the program would like to raise awareness of this award in hopes of honoring an individual in 2026. 

This outstanding achievement award recognizes those individuals who:

• Have given their time unselfishly to educate operators,
• Have provided their expertise to the examination of operators, or
• Have used their creativity and tenacity to build Colorado’s certification program into one of the premier programs in the country. 

Anyone who has had a direct impact on the program and the water professionals operating Colorado facilities under this program can be nominated for this award. Nominations must be submitted before October 15th of each year to be considered and acted on by the board at its November meeting. If the board decides to honor an individual, the award will be presented in conjunction with the Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA) annual conference in March of the following year. 

Consider taking a few minutes of your time to submit an award nomination that can inspire others to continue providing outstanding service to the program and to highlight the importance of the profession and its impact on Colorado communities. Anyone can submit a nomination form, and nominations can be as short as one to two paragraphs. You never know what great acts of service and kindness you may inspire!   

If you have any questions about this award or the nomination process, feel free to contact Jessica Morgan - cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us. 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison to the Water & Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

Operator Exam Satisfaction & Feedback Survey - We want to hear from you!

At the Colorado Rural Water Association (CRWA) annual conference in March 2025, the Colorado facility operator certification program distributed a survey to gather feedback from Colorado operators about their exam experiences. For those of you who were unable to attend, we’d like to share the survey to gather your feedback. 

Click here to access the survey. 

Your responses will help the program identify trends and areas for improvement. All answers are completely anonymous and will be reported only in aggregate, meaning that individual answers will not be identified or linked to any specific participant. The data will be presented as a group to ensure privacy and confidentiality. 

The results of this survey will be shared with the responsible parties, and a sub-committee will review the feedback to make recommendations to the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board for improving the exam process. Additionally, these insights will play a crucial role in shaping the decision regarding the adoption of the 2025 operator certification examinations.

We value your input and appreciate your honesty in helping us enhance the exam experience for everyone!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact the facility operator certification program at cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us. 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison to the Water & Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

Mandatory Regulatory Training (MRT) Changes Coming in 2025!

In the Fall of 2023, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) formed a subcommittee to evaluate whether revisions or updates should be made to the board’s guidance for Mandatory Regulatory Training (MRT), Board Guidance 19-1, and associated content and to ensure the intent and purpose of MRT are being applied. The division (in collaboration with the subcommittee) determined there were areas for improvement and clarification. 

The division solicited feedback from stakeholders in May 2024 on the proposed changes to Board Guidance 19-1 and its associated content and presented the subcommittee’s proposed revisions to the board at its June 25, 2024 board meeting. The board approved the proposed revisions to Board Guidance 19-1 and its associated Specific Curriculum Elements. 

To allow time for implementation, the revised version will become effective on January 1, 2025, and the current Board Guidance 19-1 remains effective through December 31, 2024. 

The revisions that were approved: 

• Provide more detail, clarification, and consistency.
• Remove the two-hour cap on MRT courses. 
• Swap the term “required minimum content” with “specific curriculum elements.” 
• Change the format of the specific curriculum elements from PowerPoint slides to a “Reference Guide” that specifies which information is required and which is optional.
• Only allow an MRT course to count as core Training Units (TUs) once per certificate renewal cycle to ensure operators are diversifying their learning by not only taking MRT courses to renew their certification(s). 

Although not yet in effect, you can view the revised guidance document and associated Reference Guide on the board’s website. 

What does this mean for certified operators?

Operators are still required to complete an MRT course when applying for a certification examination, applying for reciprocity, or renewing a certification. As mentioned above, come January 1, 2025, the completion of an MRT course will count as core Training Units (TUs) only once per renewal cycle. Operators may continue to take an MRT course more than once per renewal cycle but any additional attendance at an MRT course within that three-year cycle would count as flexible (or “flex”) TUs. This change helps ensure certified operators are diversifying their learning and not only taking MRT courses to renew certification(s). 

What does this mean for course providers? 

Should a training provider, utility, or other entity desire to provide MRT in 2025 (and thereafter), they must include all the Specific Curriculum Elements outlined in the Reference Guide during each MRT course delivery. The process for submitting and obtaining MRT course approval remains the same. 

As mentioned above, the content of the Reference Guide is not materially different from the current required course content provided in the PowerPoint slides. The format of the content was changed and now indicates which information is required and which is optional (items with a check box and in bold font are required course content; the optional content is bulleted and not in bold font). 

One approved change was to simplify instances where course providers are to show operators where to find division compliance tools, regulations, policies, and guidance documents. Course providers are still required to explain the differences and importance of each and where to find more information when needed. However, walking through examples, including providing the links, click-paths, and/or keywords to search for online, will now be considered optional content and not required course content. Clarification was also added to indicate that all courses, not only online courses, are required to have assessments, and examples of acceptable types of in-person assessments were added. 

Other important changes to note for course providers relevant to the learning objectives is that a certified operator’s mission to protect public health and the environment was added to the sections covering the role of a certified operator (Regulation 100), and for wastewater treatment, industrial wastewater treatment, and wastewater collection, an overview of the tables located at the end of each permit was added to the section on understanding how to read a permit. 

For questions related to these updates, feel free to contact Jessica Morgan at cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us. 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

2024 Operator Certification Board Vacancy

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (WWFOCB) is a 10-member rulemaking body with oversight responsibility for the operator certification program, Regulation 100, and supporting policies. Members are appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms. The board usually meets up to 10 times a year for half-day meetings. There will also be opportunities for day-long training sessions. While board members volunteer their time, they are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses.

Currently, there is a vacancy on the WWFOCB for a person that meets at least one of these criteria:

• A city manager, manager of a special district, or utility manager in a city, county, or city and county that operates a domestic water or wastewater treatment facility. This board member is not required to be a certified operator. 

The most effective board members have a strong interest in supporting public health and environmental protection through the operator certification program. They are good listeners who can articulate their perspectives in a professional and respectful way. When there is a difference of opinions, effective board members work toward building consensus.

If you are interested in serving on the WWFOCB, and you meet the criteria for the vacancy, please contact the board office at cdphe.wwfocb@state.co.us for more information. 

The application is available online at the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison to the WWFOCB

Colorado Certified Water Professional Code of Conduct

As the Colorado certified operator community continues to grow, there also needs to be a growing emphasis on professionalism. To acknowledge that water facility operations require a set of demanding professional and technical skills, more than the simple word “operation” may suggest, operators are deservedly referred to as “certified water professionals.” As facilities continue to take advantage of the many technological advances in the industry, certified water professionals need to be computer literate, gain knowledge of how to protect their water systems from cybersecurity threats, as well as be able to apply biological and chemical principles to transform raw water into safe water for drinking and/or recreation. They need to use mathematical equations to calculate appropriate chemical dosages, flows, pressure, etc. The qualifications for certification, including education, experience, ongoing training, and sufficient knowledge to pass a specialized examination, separate certified water professionals from unskilled laborers. 

In 2018, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) adopted the Colorado Certified Water Professionals Code of Conduct, to which every applicant for certification or certificate renewal must agree. A code of conduct clarifies a profession’s mission, values, and principles. It is both an internal guideline and an external statement of values and commitments. Internally, a written code of conduct provides benchmarks against which individual performance can be measured. Externally, it serves as a public statement of the profession’s commitment to high standards and right conduct.

The Colorado Certified Water Professional Code of Conduct emphasizes the profession’s commitment to protecting public health and the environment. It holds certified water professionals to standards of behavior that include honesty, excellence, responsibility, and compliance with state and federal laws, rules, regulations, and permits. At all times, certified water professionals are expected to use their knowledge to help safeguard water quality for Colorado residents and visitors.

The importance of this professional code is underscored by the fact that every certified water professional must agree to it. Failure to follow the code of conduct can be grounds for disciplinary action by the board. If you haven’t reviewed the Colorado Certified Water Professional Code of Conduct lately, take a couple of minutes to do so now.

For questions related to any of these updates, feel free to contact 

• Jessica Morgan cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us 
• Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) Program info@coloradocwp.com 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Liaison to the Water & Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board

OpCert Program: Updated TU Matrix

The previous version of the TU Topic Matrix (“the matrix”) had not been updated since 2018 and was due for a refresher. The Water Wastewater Operator Certification Board’s current contractor, Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) sought and obtained board approval to update the matrix with two goals in mind: 

1. To update and streamline the tool to make it easier for operators and trainers to use and to ensure it aligns with Regulation 100; and
2. To encourage further education on topics specific to an operator’s discipline. 

There are two categories for TU topics: Core and Flexible (“Flex”) 

• Core TUs are those course materials that cover topics that are directly applicable to aspects of water and wastewater facility operations that may affect public health and the environment, or the need to maintain compliance with established requirements. A few examples are physical, chemical, or biological treatment, disinfection, and hydraulics. 
• Flex TUs are training that is not essential for an operator to perform their routine job duties but is useful in the performance of those duties. A few examples of these are safety courses (OSHA), natural and manmade disasters, and technical writing.

The updated matrix reduces the Flex TU topics down to these 3 categories: 

1. Administrative Related Topics - including but not limited to planning, customer service, computer software, technical writing
2. Emergency Preparedness and Response - including but not limited to National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System (ICS), natural and manmade disasters, threat and vulnerability assessments
3. Safety Program Topics - including but not limited to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) topics, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), risk management

Effective January 1, 2024, all safety, management, and emergency management courses are now approved for Flex TUs instead of Core TUs. 

Please note that all TUs earned prior to January 1, 2024, will retain the 2023-approved TU classification and values. For example, if an operator completed a PPE class in 2023, he or she will be able to use those 2023 TUs to meet the core training unit requirement for upcoming renewals.

This update to the matrix will be rolled out in three phases. The emergency management and safety courses were the first to be updated, the next phase will be general maintenance and equipment operators courses, and lastly, the final phase will be for those courses covering each individual discipline (water treatment/distribution; wastewater treatment/collections). The target for completion of all updates is October 1, 2024. 

For questions on the updates to the TU matrix, feel free to contact CCWP info@coloradocwp.com or Jessica Morgan cdphe.facilityoperator@state.co.us. 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

Cause for Concern: A Trend in the Submission of False or Misleading Application Information

So, What’s the Issue?

The Colorado operator certification program is seeing an increase in the submission of false or misleading certification application information by those applying to take exams. Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) office staff are seeing: 

• Expired identification information; 
• Forged education documentation; and/or
• False work experience information, such as:
• Inaccurate start/end dates. 
• False employers. 
• False self-employment information. 
• Misclassification of job roles (such as incorrect percentages applied or claiming small water or wastewater system experience when one’s work history is not reflective of that). 
• Misrepresentation of duties performed.
• Providing false, outdated, or incomplete supervisor contact information. 

Keep in mind that…

Submitting false or misleading application information on any relevant document provided to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (Department), the Water Quality Control Division (Division), the Water or Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (Board), or its contractor (CCWP) is grounds for disciplinary action. 

Every time you submit an application through the CCWP Portal, you must affirm your agreement with the Colorado Certified Water Professionals Code of Conduct and with the Terms and Conditions, which includes your agreement to a thorough review of your application material. CCWP staff thoroughly review each and every application submitted by an operator to sit for an exam or to renew a certificate, and are obligated to submit a formal complaint of operator misconduct to the division upon identifying the submission of such false or misleading information. 

Disciplinary action can have serious consequences for an operator, not only negatively affecting their standing in the workplace and the community, but potentially their livelihood as well.

How to Avoid Submitting False or Misleading Application Information?

CCWP staff are extremely knowledgeable and more than happy to assist you in understanding the portal application process or to answer any questions you may have, including whether or not the information on an application is being accurately represented. If you’re not sure whether you’re accurately representing information on your application, don’t hit submit just yet. Contact CCWP for assistance. 

You can reach CCWP staff at (719) 225-7339 or info@coloradocwp.com. 

Set a Good Example and Uphold the Operator Profession

To become certified you had to meet specific regulatory requirements, demonstrate your special knowledge by passing an examination, agree to the Colorado Certified Water Professionals Code of Conduct, which insists that you protect the environment and the public health of the people you serve, and to maintain your certification by obtaining continuing education credit in the form of training units. If you hold an operator certificate, you are a professional and the Board holds operators to a high standard of professionalism. It also views as unacceptable any misconduct that undermines the integrity of the certified operator profession or puts the public health or the environment at risk. 

Be a good example for your fellow colleagues. If you see someone walking that fine line, stand up and say something; don’t turn a blind eye. The Board, CCWP, and the Division are your allies and we’re here to help you be successful, and we all want to uphold the operator profession. 

➽ Jessica Morgan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

Investigations of Operator Misconduct Complaints

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board)’s Guidance 16-1 and  Procedure 16-2 provide direction regarding Water Quality Control Division (division) investigations of possible misconduct by water and wastewater facility operators. It also describes the division’s approach to escalating from a division informal reprimand to a division recommendation of formal disciplinary action by the board.

Background

In Guidance 16-1, the board established that it is neither practical nor desirable for all instances of operator misconduct to result in formal disciplinary action by the board. Therefore, a division investigation needs to determine whether a violation of law or regulation occurred and, if so, whether the operator’s behavior rises to the level of formal disciplinary action.

Specific Allegations

According to Guidance 16-1, an investigation of operator misconduct is limited to the specific allegations against an operator. The division’s task is not to examine the operator under a microscope to see if any possible infraction might be found. Rather, the investigation must determine whether or not there is evidence to support the claim about the operator in question.  

Considerations

When there is evidence of operator misconduct, the division, guided by Board Guidance 16-1, considers the following factors before deciding whether to resolve the issue informally or to recommend formal disciplinary action of the board: 

• The gravity of the incident(s) at issue, including the level of risk posed to public health and the environment.
• The operator’s degree of control over the incident(s).
• The operator’s attitude during and after the incident(s), including the operator’s willingness to cooperate with the division during the investigation.

The division also considers whether correction through training, instruction, and/or coaching might be effective.

Informal Action

When a complaint can be resolved informally, the division notifies the operator, and possibly the operator’s supervisor, of the division’s findings through an informal letter of reprimand. The division may suggest approaches to address the behavior that resulted in misconduct and/or recommend training or coaching to improve the operator’s knowledge and skills. The issuance of an informal letter of reprimand does not close the investigation of possible misconduct. The investigation will remain open and confidential for up to three years. If there is evidence of repeat misconduct or escalation of misconduct during that time, the division will request that the board take formal disciplinary action against the operator. Informal division action does not affect an operator’s standing as a certified water professional. 

Recommendation of Formal Disciplinary Action

Only the board has the authority to formally reprimand an operator or to formally suspend or revoke the operator’s certificate. However, the division does have the authority to immediately suspend or revoke an operator's certificate to protect public health in emergency situations, but then the board must confirm and formalize the division's action at a later date. The division requests formal board action for severe offenses, as well as repeat or escalated behavior. The board follows procedures detailed in Procedure 16-2 when responding to a division request for formal board action. While division informal action is confidential, the board’s disciplinary action decisions (formal reprimand, certificate suspension, or certificate revocation) are made in open meetings and are posted on the board’s website for three years.

➽ Jessica Morgan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

2022 Operator Certification Board Vacancies

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (WWFOCB) is a 10-member rulemaking body with oversight responsibility for the operator certification program and Regulation 100 plus supporting policies. Members are appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms. The board usually meets up to 10 times a year for half-day meetings. There is also an annual day-long training session, usually in August. While board members volunteer their time, they are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses.

Currently, there is a vacancy on the WWFOCB:

• A member to achieve geographical representation and to reflect the various interests in the water and wastewater facility certification program. This board member must reside west of the continental divide. This board member is not required to be a certified operator.

The most effective board members have a strong interest in supporting public health and environmental protection through the operator certification program. They are good listeners who can articulate their perspectives in a professional and respectful way. When there is a difference of opinions, effective board members work toward building consensus.

If you are interested in serving on the WWFOCB, and you meet the criteria for the vacancy, please apply online at the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

Or contact the board office at cdphe.wwfocb@state.co.us for more information.

➽ Brandy Valdez-Murphy, WWFOCB Administrator 

Highlights of the CCWP and Operator Certification Board websites

The Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) website contains a wealth of information to answer frequently asked questions about the operator certification program. From the home page, you can move to two other main sections: one dealing with the CCWP Portal and the other concerning certification and other operator issues. The home page also includes links to:

• Contact information for the CCWP office
• Search engine for looking up certified operators 
• Course catalog for training opportunities approved for continuing education credit
• List of jobs boards that post certified operator positions

The CCWP Portal page provides links to:

• The CCWP Portal Log In
• Free, online courses approved to meet the mandatory regulatory training requirement
• Video tutorials to help operators and course providers navigate the portal and enter data 

The CCWP Program section answers the most common certification and operator questions. It links to pages that: 

• Provide step-by-step instructions for becoming certified in Colorado, including information about:
• Submitting applications through the CCWP Portal
• Fees
• Scheduling exams
• Remote testing option
• Exam preparation
• PSI test center guidance for exam candidates
• Explain the certification options and process for operators coming to Colorado from other states to seek reciprocity 
• Detail the requirements for upgrading certificates
• Explain the criteria and process for certificate renewals
• Provide information about accommodations for military and veterans, including how credit is calculated for military training and experience

The CCWP Program section links to a page for operators in responsible charge. From this page, ORCs can find information to help with the development of written delegation plans for subordinate operators, as well as information about the required written agreement between ORCs and facility owners. There is also a link to ORC contact update forms.

From the CCWP Program page, you can open a link to a listing of contract operators who provide services in Colorado. Finally, the CCWP Program page includes information and a form for operator misconduct complaints.

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board maintains its own website. In addition to meeting and hearing information, the board’s website posts the following documents you may be interested in:

• Current version of Regulation 100 
• Colorado Certified Water Professionals Code of Conduct
• WWFOCB board’s formal policies, guidance and procedures

➽ Nancy Horan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison

2021 Operator Certification Board Vacancies

How to apply for 2021 WWFOCB membership

The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (WWFOCB) is a 10-member rulemaking body with oversight responsibility for the operator certification program and Regulation 100 plus supporting policies. Members are appointed by the governor to serve four-year terms. The board usually meets 10 times a year for half-day meetings. There is also an annual day-long training session, usually in August. While board members volunteer their time, they are entitled to reimbursement of travel expenses.

At the end of June 2021, there will be two vacancies on the WWFOCB:

• One position must meet the statutory requirement for a water or wastewater treatment operator holding the highest level of certification (Class A) in Colorado. 
• The other must meet the statutory requirement for a member reflecting the various interests of the facility operator certification program and considering geographical representation. State statute does not define the specific geographic region for this vacancy, but there is current representation from the east, west and north areas of the state. This board member does not have to be a certified operator.

The most effective board members have a strong interest in supporting public health and environmental protection through the operator certification program. They are good listeners who can articulate their perspectives in a professional and respectful way. When there is a difference of opinions, effective board members work toward building consensus.

If you are interested in serving on the WWFOCB, and you meet the criteria for one of the vacancies, please apply online at the Governor’s Office of Boards and Commissions.

Or contact the board office at cdphe.wwfocb@state.co.us for more information.

➽ Nancy Horan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison
➽ Brandy Valdez-Murphy, WWFOCB Administrator 

Facility Reclassification: Make sure you have an ORC with the correct level of certification!

In November 2018, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board updated the criteria for facility classification in Regulation 100. These revisions are important because treatment facility and distribution/collection system classification establishes the minimum certification level for operators who act as the certified operator(s) in responsible charge (ORC). 

All facilities are required to have an operator certified at the appropriate level on file with the department who is performing the required duties as specified in Regulation 100. To change operators, a contact form must be submitted to the department (links below for drinking water and wastewater). The division has gathered information and resources to assist operators and facilities meet the ORC requirements for their systems: 

Upgrade operator certificate through examination

• CDPHE website explains the process of sitting for exams to advance your certificate 
• There are no longer any exam cycles. Instead submit an application for an exam through the CCWP portal. Your applications will be processed within 10 business days 
• Having issues with your CCWP portal? Contact the CCWP portal office at info@coloradocwp.com 719-225-7339 or view their tutorial videos.
• Schedule your exam with PSI.
• You will receive an email notification when your exam application is approved with instructions to schedule your exam with PSI. Follow the directions. You have the option to take your exam at a PSI testing center.
• ​Locate PSI testing centers
• Note: Having a hard time finding somewhere to get tested? Here are some creative options: 
• There are 8 PSI testing centers in Colorado. If the closest doesn't have capacity check another. 
• You can take the CO exam at PSI testing centers in neighboring states. 
• Self -proctored exam - You have the option to take a remotely proctored exam, if your equipment, environment, internet connection, and internet browser meet the requirements.
• Compatibility check: You must confirm that the testing computer is compatible for remote proctoring. Click here and use Google Chrome Browser to complete an audio/video check, webcam check and system check
• Study guides:
•  ABC's website provides Need to Know Criteria for exams
• American Water Works Association (AWWA): Principles and Practices of Water Supply Operations Series
• California Sacramento State University, Office of Water Programs: Operator Training Courses
• Water Environment Federation (WEF): Select study guides from the left panel of the web page
• National Environmental Training Center for Small Communities
• New Mexico wastewater study manual (free download)
• Kentucky wastewater treatment manual (free download)

Hire a contract operator until your ORC tests up: 

• List of certified contract operators providing service in Colorado  
• There must be a written agreement between the ORC and the facility owner, per Regulation 100.10.1(c).
• Resources:
• ORC Hiring and Contracting Guide
• Register for free, on-demand, orientation to Contracting Guide training video
• Template for agreement between permanent (employee) ORC and facility
• Template for contract between contract ORC and facility

Be sure to keep designated ORC contact info up to date with division 

• Drinking water facility contact update form
• Wastewater facility contact update form

Any additional questions

• If you have additional questions  please contact: 
• Drinking water: contact your facilities compliance officer. To find your compliance officer visit the Compliance Assurance website and select your county from the drop down list. 
• Wastewater: contact your facilities compliance officer. To find the compliance officer appropriate for the permit type, please see the list on the last page of the DMR Guidance document on the Clean Water Guidance website.

Do you think your classification is incorrect?

• To find the information on which your facility classification is based:
• Drinking water: Use the drinking water monitoring plan generator form and select your treatment processes. You will then receive an emailed template that lists your facilities treatment specifications the division has on file. 
• Wastewater: contact David Kurz david.kurz@state.co.us to discuss what the division has on file for your facility
• To learn more about facility classification visit the division’s facility classification website and the factsheet
• To find the criteria for classification in Regulation 100: 
• Drinking water: 100.4
• Distribution: 100.8
• Waste water: 100.5
• Collection: 100.9
• If you think your facility classification was made in error please contact:
• Drinking water: Tyson Ingels tyson.ingels@state.co.us
• Wastewater: David Kurz david.kurz@state.co.us  

➽ Kyra Gregory Drinking Water Training Specialist

Coming Down the Pipeline - Direct Potable Reuse Rule & Facility Classification Update

Direct Potable Reuse Rule - Stakeholder Process

Process kicks off March 16, 2021
Resource: Regulation 11 - Direct Potable Reuse Website

The state of Colorado expects to double its population by the year 2050, adding to demands on the state’s most precious resource (water). The state Colorado Water Plan lays out strategies to address projected gaps in water supply and demand, and direct potable reuse (DPR) is one of those strategies. DPR involves an extensive public outreach process and the installation of advanced water purification steps to ensure that wastewater can be safely reused for drinking water. There are no DPR systems approved in Colorado to generate potable water currently, but some utilities have previously operated pilot projects to showcase DPR's ability to address water needs for future generations. 

While DPR is not prohibited in the state, there are no federal or state regulations specifically for DPR. Regulated entities have requested that the division begin developing a DPR-specific rule through an engagement process to help ensure consistent implementation and outreach across the state. The addition of a DPR rule will allow water systems across the state to partner with the department to properly plan and communicate with their public about what is needed to safely accomplish DPR. Stakeholders have been actively helping develop the appropriate foundation for a Colorado DPR Rule. They have supported the development of a key guidelines document authored by the National Water Research Institute and an independent panel of national experts (December 2019).

The department will host virtual stakeholder meetings with public members and regulated entities to obtain feedback and begin drafting a proposed DPR rule for insertion within the Colorado Primary Drinking Water Regulations (Regulation 11).

Facility Classifications 
Effective March 1, 2021
Resource: division's facility classification website

Regulation 100 has updated facility classifications defining the required level for the Operator in Responsible Charge (ORC) that became fully effective on March 1, 2021. The change was adopted in 2018 when the Water and Wastewater Facility Operator Certification Board modified regulation 100 at the November 27, 2018 Rulemaking. The regulation included a phased application of the revised facility classification table.  First, the Engineering Section began using the regulatory update on March 1, 2019 to specify facility classifications for new/modified facilities.  Second, the facility classification tables became effective March 1, 2021 for all water and wastewater facilities. As a result of these regulatory updates becoming effective, some systems have a change of water and/or wastewater facility classification(s) that may cause a subset of drinking water and wastewater facilities to not have operators certified at the appropriate level to be the ORC. Not having an operator in responsible charge certified at the proper level will result in violations being issued. A summary of the violations that are anticipated is as follows:

• Drinking water: ~124 systems of the ~2100 systems regulated by the department will receive a violation (~6%). Of the 2100 systems regulated, about 460 systems have a changed classification starting on March 1.  
• Clean Water: ~122 of the ~764 permitted entities requiring ORC will receive a violation (~16%). Of the 764 permitted entities, about 153 systems have a changed classification starting on March 1. Note: By the same estimating method, ~96 of the ~764 permitted entities requiring ORC would receive a violation in February based on the current classification (~12.6%), or an increase of 3.4% with the classification change. 

The division urges you to verify your facility classifications per Regulation 100 and verify that your operator(s) has the correct certifications to be the ORC of your system.  If you have any questions, first check our webpage or your drinking water monitoring schedule to make sure you have the proper certification for your facility. Also, feel free to contact us - see below.

Contact 

• Drinking water facility classification and direct potable reuse: Tyson Ingels tyson.ingels@state.co.us
• For wastewater facility classification issues: David Kurz  david.kurz@state.co.us

Facility Operator Certification: Stakeholder Input

The Facility Operators Certification Program recognizes the value and importance of stakeholder involvement in any initiative to improve the program. However, depending on the issue, the program may invite input in a variety of ways. In May 2017, the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Board (board) conducted a customer satisfaction survey. The survey was sent to nearly 10,000 individuals. Eight hundred and ninety one (891) responses came back to the board, approximately 70% from certified operators. Based on the feedback, the board took action to improve operator services with minimal increase in costs to operators. The Colorado Certified Water Professionals (CCWP) Portal is a direct result of feedback from the survey.

In 2019, following the board’s adoption of a new mandatory regulatory training requirement, a stakeholder group was formed to develop guidance for the new requirement. Interested individuals met in person and by phone to draft the guidance document and present it to the board for approval. The board adopted the guidance on June 25, 2019.

The board expects the division to seek stakeholder input whenever substantive revisions to Regulation 100 or board policies are proposed by the division. This allows the division to consider other perspectives and potentially modify its proposal prior to the board’s formal hearing process. If stakeholder suggestions to the division do not result in changes to the proposed revisions, stakeholders can still present their views about the revisions to the board through the formal hearing process.

In addition, the board sets aside time at each of its meetings for public comment. We encourage you to attend a board meeting, which can be done virtually now.

There is a difference between a survey and a stakeholder work group. There is a difference between a stakeholder work group and an opportunity for stakeholder comment on proposed document revisions. The division’s stakeholder process invites stakeholders to speak to a different audience than the board’s formal hearings. A board or division-initiated invitation for feedback limits comments to the issue at hand, while the invitation for public comment at board meetings gives stakeholders an open-ended opportunity to raise any concern with the board at any time.

Through all these processes, stakeholders have a say in program improvements. Stakeholder perspectives and ideas are invaluable to the board and to the certification program. Let’s keep on working together, and listening to each other, to continually improve the operator certification program.

➽ Nancy Horan, Facility and Operator Outreach and Certification Board Liaison