Small Water Systems Operator Training

Operator education is one of the most important services that BCWWA provides to its members. Training is key to meeting the association goal of safeguarding public health and the environment through the sharing of skills, knowledge and experience in the water and wastewater industries. The Operator Education Committee oversees the provision of training opportunities around British Columbia and the Yukon.

BCWWA currently offers over thirty programs from one-day workshops to week-long courses in all areas of water and wastewater. For Small Systems operators, BCWWA provides a two day course for both Small Water and Small Waste Water Utilities.

The BCWWA Training & Education department is dedicated to the development and delivery of excellent training opportunities for operators and employers in British Columbia and the Yukon. They work closely with the Environmental Operators Certification Program to provide operators the opportunity to write certification examinations following training courses. BCWWA courses offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) to assist operators in meeting educational requirements for higher levels of certification.

Keep an eye on the Operator Education web page

for an up-to-date Course Calendar.

Small Water Systems Course Descriptions

Managing Small Water Systems

Course Length: 2 Days

CEUs: 1.3

Recommended participants: managers, operations staff, trustees, councillors and anyone involved directly or indirectly with water systems. 

The Managing Small Water Systems course focuses on the fundamentals of managing and operating a well-run water system. This includes:

• establishing best practices for managing assets and maintaining a system

• developing effective communication

• exploring key planning tools and sustainable operations

• establishing effective governance and management functions

• hiring the right staff and consulting with the public

• identifying the basics of project delivery

• establishing proper budgeting

• understanding legal requirements

The course is participatory and involves several group exercises.

Small Water Systems
Course Length: 2 Days
CEUs: 1.2

The Small Water Systems course provides a working knowledge of water distribution and water treatment practices and focuses on the basic aspects of system construction, operation, and maintenance. This course will be of value to all operators of water distribution and/or water treatment systems, particularly those that serve a population of less than 500. Upon completion of the course, students will have satisfied the training requirements which, combined with appropriate experience, will make them eligible to write the Small Water Systems exam for the Environmental Operators Certification Program.